Mattel is NOT discontinuing the 1:55 series single CARS.

Canceling CASE J is nothing new. Other than 2006, I do not believe they have gone more than 6 months without canceling a case here or there. Some of that is when there is a change in the group of people who make case assortment decisions, then changes are made – other times, there are motif changes and that case just gets caught up in the swell. Like most things in the toy industry, there are changes that are logical and there are changes that even squirrels can’t figure out.

Now, it is not really normal when a toy company takes a perfectly good to great selling line (except when they over-ship the obvious) and decide to replace it with a “different” version of the same thing. There are pretty much no examples of anyone pulling this off but what’s the fun in making money the normal way when you can convert all your nest egg into small bills, go to Vegas and put it all on snake eyes (or lenticular eyes).

Of course, Mattel is fortunate that there are half a dozen lines emulating from CARS so that even if the whole lenticular thing is a disaster, it will not take down the ship.

We still have Mater Tall Tales, Storytellers, Megasize, launchers, haulers and even the Kmart CARS to tide us over.

So worse comes to worse, Mattel asks us for forgiveness and picks back up in September 2009 … after all, they are NOT discontinuing making “classic” (non-lenticular CARS) … but instead of making those available to EVERYONE as they are now, only Target (again, it sounds like it’s Target but no one is absolutely 100% certain).

When will this branching occur?

No sure. In theory, June, 2009.

Will it be a smooth transition?

Sure, anything is possible. On that note, I might find a woman on my doorstep about to hand me a million dollars.

In other words, don’t count on it going smoothly but it’s not an impossibility.

Just as ROR Movie Moments are a Target only item … how’s that working out for us?

Here’s where Matty comes in.

And if I caused any confusion because while I’m clear when I say Mattel and when I say Matty … to me, Matty is a division.group within Mattel and also used as a whipping boy embodiment of all that is wrong with Mattel, it might seem I use them interchangably  🙂

First backtrack – originally Matty was supposed to be a beacon of light for CARS. If you could not find it on the shelf and you were willing to pay full list and shipping, Matty would be there for you.

How about exclusive items that retailers might not be that interested such as the 1:24 series or the plused 1:55 JL Signature series? The big three have about 7,000 stores total so clearly a production run of 10,000 or so is not of that much interest to them – unless it’s a giant item, they are not interested in a few on a shelf nor at the price point to satisfy Mattel’s margins so Matty would be a woodland friend, squirrling CARS for you in his cheeks and giant head.

Matty – Big Love CARS.

Only when you were at the window ready to elope, Matty went out the back door with Mr. He Man to get his shorts relined. So whilst you wait, Matty was oiling up the loins of … oh, never mind – you get the drift.

So, during the transition from “classics” to lenticular, the classics was supposed to available at an exclusive brick & mortar retailer such as Target AND at MattyCollector.com but that is DEFINITELY NOT THE CASE NOW.

We know the “classics” singles sales are not happening.

We know the plus+ JL Signature Series is on hold and may be permanently on hold.

We know the 1:24 CARS should be arriving soon – but Matty does not look like it will be selling the special rubber tires versions – available to everyone? available at all? Unknown.

As I like to say when golfing, “Three strikes, you’re out!”

As Collector Mom noted with her MattyCollector.com shipment ad flyer, CARS is no longer on the team. Is it permanent? Maybe? And sure, it’s just a piece of paper but it’s a piece of paper that at LEAST 5 people signed off on including lawyers … they either saw the CARS logo wasn’t on there and did not notice (still not good), did not care (also not good) or it’s 100% correct … so it’s not everything but it’s something.

It’s still odd …because only Matty would do this on the internet …

So, 1;55 mainline singles CARS. Still at Target (one thinks).

CARS on MattyCollector.com? – other than SDCC Mater/Mia/Tia – not so much and CLOSED for now.

Why doesn’t MattyCollector.com sells CARS on the website?

Don’t know.

All clear? Well, not clear as logically clear … so Matty says, instead of wasting e-energy selling CARS, please go on the internet and help out a fellow woodland creature.