Mattel Disney Pixar Diecast CARS: Target Supply Line Final Lap CARS
“CrushnRush” asks an intriguing question – for the seemingly small Final Lap distribution numbers, from what we have seen on the shelves, don’t ALL Final Lap CARS qualify as “Chase” CARS?
So far, it’s not far off base. The simple math is there are @1,700 Target stores … since there are 4 Dexter Hoover’s in CASE B (for example) – right now, we can presume there are @6,800 Dexter Hoover’s out there if each store got one case.
But let’s backtrack to 2008.
Last year, there were about 20,000 CASES available for each case code. So, for the most part, each CHASE CAR’s availability was @20,000 and in that same case, there was usually 1 or 2 other “NEW” CARS and they were generally packed 2 to a case so generally, you can presume 40,000 were made for each new CAR. Plus, generally that “NEW” CAR was packed 1 to a case in the next case code so the general availability of a “NEW” CAR in a month-6 week period was around 60,000 spread out over the three retailers and all resellers. There were some exceptions as on occasion if a retailer got an early ship on a case or it was packaged as some special case code, other retailers often decided to bypass the re-order when it was available so for some CARS, there might be fewer available than 60,000 … and certainly, 60,000 was not an unreasonable number as case in point, the last Race O Rama Singles included Andrea, Hank Halloween Murphy & Patti (not even counting a beloved CAR, Todd-Pizza Planet) … how long did they hang around on the shelves? Not for long.
So, now it’s 2009. Of course, the CASE A & CASE B Final Lap CARS are not just one to a store, some report seeing more but not much more – even presuming that some stores get up to three cases – it’s seems safe to guess at the present, there is no more than an average of two cases per Target or about @14,000 Dexter Hoover’s …does anyone know the exact number? No. But based on the reports of what people have been finding, I don’t believe anyone has reported seeing 8 or more Dexter Hoover’s on the shelf (2 CASES) and in most cases, 4 or fewer is what everyone is reporting (1 CASE) … so based on visual evidence, it seems safe to presume there are only about 14,000 Dexter Hoover’s present.
What’s also odd is that in CASE B, unlike last year, there are no “catch-up” CARS (like Polly Puddlejumper who was in CASE A) so far, all the Polly Puddlejumpers released was in CASE A.
Keep in mind that there are 40 (ish) CARS listed to make their appearance as a Final Lap CAR so that means an average of over 3 new CARS have to appear each and every month for a year.
There is also a wild card. There are a slew of gift packs (aka: 3-packs) that so far are only showing as lenticulars but will some of the CARS make it as a “Final Lap” Gift Pack? Like the one with Blowing Bubbles Mater, Doc Hudson & Sheriff? Seems pretty likely. Or other box sets? Since it’s Target, they could appear anytime. My feeling is many of the Final Lap CARS will make an appearance in a 3-pack or a box set. This way, they can package one or more “classic” CARS in there along with one or more “new” ones. That’s not to say ALL 40 Final Lap CARS will re-appear in another form.
Here are the Gift Packs (three packs scheduled as new or as new configurations) …
Also keep in mind this is the first list and it could be expanded at anytime.
Of the 24 CARS listed here, 9 are listed as “New” Final Lapers*, So, out of the 40 “new” scheduled to be released, that’s 31 that is not currently listed. Is it likely we will see another 10-15 Gift Packs? Seems unlikely but theoretically possible.
They could easily do a 8 CAR reporter-Piston Cup Box Set type setting which would a) include a lot of the reporters coming in 2010 (and of course include Lightning McQueen & Damaged King) for $39.99 🙂
*Yes, Waitress Mia & Waitress Tia are unlikely to released as singles so I did not count them.
Bottom line?
Right now, it does correct to presume the Final Lap single releases are like CHASE CARS in terms of quantity and its release configuration (on a card).
HOWEVER, this could change at anytime unbeknownst to us.
In January, Target could get a giant endcap of Final Lap CASE A, B & C.
So, trying to speculate on its value and its low quantities could change at anytime.
In March, Mattel & Target could reuse that Canadian Tire pyramid box and put 10 Final Lap CARS on card in a box.
Or we see a slew of Gift Packs and other releases so even though Blowing Bubbles Mater on single card might number slightly over 14,000 – it might see a lot of releases in other formats.
In other words, what might be true now might change in a few weeks or as noted before, the FINAL LAP CARS do not say ONLY AT TARGET anywhere on them anymore … so who knows what 2010 might bring?
In this case, there are too many possibilities so don’t plan too far ahead.
Meanwhile, Collect Them All, We Double Dog Dare You.™
| « Merry Christmas From Jason P. AND Win a Holiday Custom Contest! | Mattel Disney Pixar Diecast CARS: Canadian Tire Sale » |
7 December 2009
27 Comments
Perhaps this line should be renamed to Final Slap?
found 2 cases of Final Lap B in one Target today. So at least some stores are getting more than one case.
I do believe these will come out again in some form or another.. Mixed in with future cases, complete reorders, ToysRus? …
And oh yeah – STOP THEM LENTICULARS!!!
What is crazy though is that these now cost 1.50 more than their evil lenticular step brothers.
That just hurts!!!
DOH!
We too have not seen case B Final Laps in Columbus Ohio, but we have had haulers hitting the city. No Stall, RPM and Mood Springs with RPM and Mood Springs scarce (high demand). So what am I doing (Chase)ing haulers, while on the look-out for Final Lap Case B. I got No Stall 2 nights ago, tonight found RPM at target #1 (best Target in town – fresh build), nothing at target #2 and last stop Target #3 (who usually has anything new) case B final laps – 4 dexter and 3 antonio hanging on the pegs, so I’m with you Met – they should be chase cars. I chased case A final laps to get the newbies and I been rolling almost daily to get case B before they get here and go away as it doesn’t take long. I’d rather get them on single card first. Then if they come out in gift packs I don’t have to open the singles to give to my boys. I’m in collect ’em all mode along with a big dose of get ’em while their hot thrown in there!
And yes all Target Only should be Chase Cars, they don’t get that many of them when they do get them in, and then it takes forever for them to stock the pegs/shelves. The floor personnel will even tell you that they may be in the stock room, but they are not interested in going to look and will admit that the only time they have to stock is if nothing else needs done on the selling floor and then none of the employees are very interested in stocking. Chase ’em all!
Just so you know…
The ONLY car on international-back that was new for me to find in the WOC Box of 10 from Canadian Tire, was Dale Jr.
The rest were all a part of the original released boxes that made it to The world Internationally…
And I think that they stopped makin’ international WOC-backs after Case J or somethin’ in and around there… For anyone in their rightish mind that is /has collected card backs from internationals as well as US…
Everyone will get there cars.it just might take some time.take it easy
This is cool
what kills me is that Case B just showed up today at the Targets I go to often. I also saw for the first time, the 3 packs of the storytellers. I have yet to see the singles.
So my next question is….are ALL of the Target only’s essentially Chase cars because I know that the NEW story tellers are just as hard to find as the Final Laps, at least here in GA. Who knows…maybe I should go back to the Target that had them this morning and buy the other Dexters and Antonio’s.
WOW based on those numbers and the fact there is NO target nearby I may have to go back to evilbay for the final lap cars which I prefer not to.
With those numbers it doesn’t seem likely take5ers will be able to find many extras to sell.
Does anyone know if the Final Lap Dexter Hoover is any different than the original that came out other than the checkered flag?
I think just the flag is different
really, just the plastic flag, huhhhmmm well the party is almost over. I’m getting really close to boxing eveything up and hiding it in the basement for 30 years.
For any Canadians who care, the pyramid of cr@p, um Cars, is on sale at Canadian Tire…half-price…$24.99.
yup!
CIRCUIT CITY has the 1:43 slot cars set goin’ for 40% off ’til the ninth of December…
$59.99 – not so bad!?!?!
Did the Final Lap cars ever say “only at Target on them?”
Just what we need…a whole line of Chase Cars. Is Mattel trying to drive us crazy?
Does anyone know when/if the Tach-O-Mint launchers will come out? I really wanted to get these for my son for Christmas. I would seem perfect, and smart, for these to come out now and not in the spring.
Perfect and smart and therefore impossible.
Another set to collect?… shees
A ray of hope: Final lap no longer says “Only at Target”.
Did they ever say “Only at Target” anywhere on the package? I don’t recall that on the Case A final lap singles.
(MET: Proto packaging).
Wow, that is pretty crazy! So is it safe to say get them while the gettin is good? or hold out for the multipacks??
Come on! Let’s just get to the end already!!
Another question…… If you were to collect one of each – how much have you spent? (including the DS Frank – he has to be the coolest one so far!) You can even throw in the storytellers and the MTT cars…..
Care to share? 😀
Mr. T,
Thus far in my “One-of-Each” collection, I have 334 cars carded in one form or another. A VERY conservative extimate of $3.50 per car gives me a grand total of $1,169.
Now some were more than others and some were gifts and some were exclusives costing way more than 3.50. So you can do you own math. And yes I do keep a spread sheet of my collection. Another thing ot think about is I collect two of each realease, one to open and one packaged! Again, you do the math!
That’s my story and I am sticking to it!
After you take into consideration the fact that u need one for opening too,
then there is the SOTS set,
the 2006 Factory sealed set,
playsets and playmats,
AND THEN…
top that with $$$ conversion to CND dollars +15% (at least) since we don’t get half the cars up here,
shippin’ costs,
and of course, the list goes on!!!
Noooooo! I am so glad my husband does not read this site 😉