Disney Pixar Cars - Ebay Contraband!

American Intellectual Property rights have been severely infringed on in places like China. An Ebay seller from Hong Kong is selling Disney Pixar Cars characters that Mattel has not even released. I spoke to a contact at Mattel who agreed with me that the items are highly likely to be stolen. Take a look...

I'm one of the most fervent of collectors and am aware that people want to get the newest release, but why buy stolen goods?! Not just that, but people are paying ridiculous prices for items they could get for $3.47 when they are legally released to the public. Sally With Cone sold for $101.23, Dexter Hoover for $40.99, Spinout McQueen also went for $40.99! How about some racers? Shiny Wax was low at $20.50, while View Zeen was the highest racer at $44.02, and Transberry Juice sold for $39.99!

It is not as if these Cars are not going to be abundant and easy to get folks!! So, what are you willing to pay for something that is truly rare? We see the lofty prices the Motor Speedway of the South set has hit (found one that sold for $1450 today). Right now Lightning Storm McQueen is looking like a bargain as he's selling for between $34.00 to $39.00! A supremely done Limited Edition of 7000 is selling for the same as these contraband Cars! Cars that will soon be out on the market by the hundreds of thousands. Use your brain people and boycott stolen items.

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Big Fred & Little (Chase) Fred

I went to Saint Pete last night to see my Red Sox play the Devil Rays and witnessed some of the biggest idiots at a sporting event ever! Two rows of thirty-somethings that were drunk, obnoxious and inconsiderate. The entire night was spent trying to watch the game as the buffoons stood up and blocked everyone's view while acting like morons. What's this got to do with Fred?! Well, I'm not going to tell you the entire night's events because it is just too long to go into. What I'll tell you is that the night was a mess until I decided to go into a Wal-Mart on the way home. I went to the toy department and saw pallets stacked all over the place. I looked, and to my amazement found a T-Case! For the first time ever, I was lucky enough to get to a coveted case before the Ebay Hogs! I asked an associate if I could open it and get what I wanted. He pulled out his razor knife and cut it open for me. There inside was Fred with Bumper Stickers and Axel Accelerator!! I was elated and shocked to make the find. I decided to see if there were any other Cars cases. I saw a few E Cases and an M Case, all were already opened and picked over. Then, I spied one last Case and it had the letter T on it! How could they have missed it? I opened it and got my second Fred! So, my night finished up with a positive and unexpected bang!

So, how does Big Fred compare to the New Little Fred? To start, Big Fred is 2-5/8 inches long, while Little Fred is 1-7/8 inches long. Little Fred has bumper stickers on him, while Big Fred is sans stickers. They are the same otherwise. The packaging is slightly different. Big Fred has the World of Cars backer with NEW Shield, and the #44 for the collector's checklist. Little Fred has the Chase Shield, with the #87 and a fancier white name plate. I like both, and want to actually take a look at the film to see which is more in scale with the rest of the characters. As some have pointed out, the New Fred almost looks like a Mini. Either way, I scored for once and as any of you know, that's a great feeling! Good luck finding your Fred with Bumper Stickers.

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Customer Service Phone #'s

Ever try to find a phone number to check on your Red Line Club order? How about a mess up with your MattyCollector.com Lightning McQueen order? Maybe you want to go to a Disney Special Event and need to find out more info. Well, to help make our readers' lives easier, we have posted Customer Service phone numbers just under "Our Preferred Site Links." So, if you are like me, and can't find a number when you need it, just make a quick visit to Alternator Valley and we're here to help!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Check Your Receipt At TRU!

I went to Toys R Us today to buy five more Cars die cast toys. I got my first Sidewall Shine yesterday and was blown away by how well it was done, thus I wanted to order another. I got home, looked at my receipt and realized the stupid woman rang in the same item twice! Why is this a problem you ask? Because now, my receipt doesn't match the UPC codes on the backer cards I need to send in to complete the offer. So, now I have to go back to the store and make certain the next person scans each one individually.

So, take my advice and learn from my misfortune...Make certain each car is individually rung in and matches the list of the UPC codes for the offer.

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - The Arrival of Sidewall Shine

Many have started to receive their Sidewall Shine die cast cars! I got mine today. Sidewall Shine was greeted by Lightning McQueen and Luigi. His packing was very thorough and he needed help being unpacked...

Sidewall Shine in his temporary transport vehicle

Luigi gets to work on unpacking Sidewall

Lightning awaits Sidewall's unveiling

The folks at Mattel packed Sidewall very well

Sidewall says hello to Lightning

This is a very nice addition to my collection. I have to say the display case is fantastic! Mattel does this right. Both Sidewall and Lightning Storm are superbly done. Wait till you see what they come out with on MattyCollector.com!! Today was a happy day!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars Short Card Backs - News or Not

I was in a Kmart about a week ago and saw New short card backs. It was the first time I had seen such an item. I recall reading something a number of months back, but have not seen or heard anything about them since. So, if this is News to you, then you'll eventually see them showing up in stores. If you've heard about these new short card backs, then this is old news to you and you are super cool!

The question now is, do you want short card backs as a collector? They take up less space, but don't cost you less. They cost Mattel and Disney less in packaging costs since the card back is about half as tall. How about those of you who've purchased Card Protectors as I have that are made for the tall card backs. Does this upset you? Is this the future for the entire "Mainline?" I'll have to ask my contacts at Mattel and let you know.

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars Kmart Collectors Day 10/18/08

Mattel will be partnering with Kmart on October 18, 2008 for a Disney Pixar Cars "Collectors Day!" Similar to the Hot Wheels events they've done with Kmart, collectors can go to Kmart with the expectation of seeing Brand NEW releases, raffles and fun!

Here are the Cars die cast toys we can expect to see...

Edwin Kranks will be the first of what I've coined,
the "Old Route 66 Days" characters released.

Fred will be released in his New, smaller scale size.
I don't believe he will be the Fred with Bumper Stickers Chase version.
But, you never know!

Get ready to see "Shiny Wax," a.k.a. Darren Leadfoot, Car #82!

You'll also meet "Sputter Stop," a.k.a. Murray Clutchburn, Car #92!

"Transberry Juice," a.k.a. Lee Revkins, Car #63 will be stopping by!

You'll clearly see "View Zeen," a.k.a. Ryan Shields, Car #39 on the 18th!

"Spare O Mint," a.k.a Ernie Gearson, Car #93 will freshen up your day!

You know I'll be there! I'll report how things went and let you know any other details leading up to the big day!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney's Pin Celebration Unveils New Cars Pin Bag

I just attended the Annual Disney Pin Celebration at Epcot. Since things have been slow, I know many of you also collect Disney pins and would be interested in this news. I saw that Disney will be releasing a New Pin Bag with Cars characters Lightning McQueen and Mater on the cover.

Disney will also be releasing a starter set with four pins and a lanyard. They'll be doing something different with the New starter set. Instead of just two different pin designs, there will be four different pins. I wasn't told what they'll be, or when they will be released. As with past starter sets, it will be an open edition set.

You rarely see Disney Pixar Cars pins and accessories. These items should start appearing in the next few months.

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars Display Case Team Xmas Gift

Would you like one of these!? I know I would! The only people who have this incredible display case are the team members who work on the Cars product line. It was given to them as a Christmas gift from Pixar and John Lasseter in 2007. The case is a large shadow box type capable of displaying twenty of the normal sized Cars die cast toys. In the above photo, you see that Guido and Luigi share a spot giving it a capacity of twenty-one Cars.

It is framed in a black lacquer finish and is signed by Pixar chief, John Lasseter! You'll also notice it has a small plaque stating, "50,000,000 and counting..." I asked my friend from Mattel about this, and yes, it is how many Cars die cast toys had been sold at the time! Is it any wonder that Cars are burning hot and tough to track down by collectors! Those types of numbers mean Cars are a bona fide blockbuster product line.

I've spoken in detail with the team at Mattel about collectors wanting a truly fantastic Display Case. A truly fine, high quality case may become a reality on MattyCollector.com. How much would you pay for a Limited Edition Case, commissioned by Mattel, and made exclusively for your Disney Pixar Cars collection? I personally want one that can hold a large number of Cars. Maybe a Case for the Piston Cup Racers, one for the townsfolk of Radiator Springs, how about one for the Fans, another for the Old Route 66 Cars!

Only time will tell us if this will become a reality. You can consult a Magic 8 Ball, or you can subscribe to Alternator Valley!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com