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Matchbox Diecast Model Car Collecting and More > Matchbox - General Discussion > Matchbox Ambassador Reports > John Nijhuis' 4th Ambassador Report |
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Matchbox Diecast Model Car Collecting and More > Matchbox - General Discussion > Matchbox Ambassador Reports > John Nijhuis' 4th Ambassador Report |
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| John Nijhuis' 4th Ambassador Report | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Sun Feb 28th, 2010 10:43 pm |
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1st Post |
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David Tilley Moderator 
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It took more time than usual for Mattel to answer our questions of January. My guess is that this has on one hand to do with the actual workload of the Mattel people and on the other hand with the number and nature of our questions of January. Some questions haven’t been answered satisfactory and unfortunately I have to take them to my next report as I didn’t want to wait any longer. On the questions and answers of Mattel you may notice that Mattel has really done a great effort to answer all questions on a proper and professional way. For this I would like to thank Mattel greatly for the effort done. Main questions which are still open are amongst other: 1. Mattel’s Policy on Convention Models 2. The extension of the Voucher expiration date of the 40th Anniversary Superfast Models 3. Availability of the Posters for the Club’s 4. Manufacturing Numbers of the 2010 New Items If I get in the coming week(s) a final answer on those 4 questions I will inform by an extra Ambassador Bulletin. AMBASSADOR’S REPORT FEBRUARY. Question 1. Availability. The main questions I received in December and January had to do with the poor availability of the regular MB75 line in Europe. In Europe the question is around the last European Wave. It’s very frustrating to read on all the message boards the discussions in the USA on wave A and B as where until mid January there was no sign of the last two waves of 2009. After mid January models were sporadically available in some European Countries like Czech Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom. A number of other European countries (Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Switzerland) haven’t seen anything of the last wave of 2009 and are still waiting to fill in their gaps of the last two waves. In the big department stores there is in general space for the models on the pegs but they are either filled with old stock or just empty. The question is whether there is any special reason known by Mattel why the availability is so poor and what are Mattel’s expectations for the next 3 months. Response Mattel Still working on obtaining a more thorough response to this. Not satisfied with the response received so far. Question 2. One Range Many collectors outside the USA are very disappointed that we do not get the same range of MB75 miniatures as in the USA. One reaction from the UK with is a good example of the many reactions I did get over the last weeks. Quote Too many models are exclusive to the USA. Please go back to one range available worldwide. The same packaging should also be used throughout the world. Surely this would be a more cost effective and simpler way of operating? As a UK collector it costs me a fortune to obtain all the various 'market exclusives', with profits from my purchases going into the back pockets of ebay sellers and the Post Offices of various countries - i.e. not Mattel. Has consideration been given to making such models available to collectors in the UK? Unquote Question 2a. Why is Mattel still keeping the ROW and LAAM range limited to 75 models? Please explain in such a way people can understand the reasons behind it in order to get an understanding. Response Mattel The reason for keeping a separate mix in the US vs. ROW is primarily due to: 1. regional preferences in those markets that do not align with all 1-100 offered in the US We have found that certain vehicles within our 1-100 line are not favored in various markets. For example, Latin America prefers more adventure vehicles and does not have the same affinity for emergency service vehicles/construction vehicles as we do in the US. 2. lack of available retail space dedicated to Matchbox in those markets. The limited shelf space and retail ordering practices in these regions means we need to reduce the total quantity of vehicles and adjust the mix ratios accordingly to avoid having peg warmers. Question 2b. Will there be one range in 2011? Response Mattel There will not be one range in 2011. Question 2c. Is there a possibility to ship to a central point within the E.E.G. (Europe) or South America to ship a number of U.S.A. only models and ask collector clubs to take care for the distribution amongst collectors? With the massive distribution of Mattel products from Macao/China to those countries that can’t really be a big problem. Response Mattel Logistically, tracking those small quantities for distribution to collector clubs is unfeasible. If a collector club wants to submit an order for a sizeable quantity and serve as a distributor for these vehicles, we should be able to accommodate that. Question 3. Superfast 40th Anniversary Why is Batch B of the Superfast 40th Anniversary so hard to come by after almost three months following its release? Response Mattel Batch B was shipped later than scheduled due to tooling issues. By the time the product was available, most retailers were placing orders for the new 2010 Lesney Line. Batch B is available for purchase (as a complete batch) on the Mattel website. See link at: http://shop.mattel.com/product/index...ductId=3879726 Question 4. Lesney Edition models What are Mattel’s distribution plans are for the Lesney Edition models? Response Mattel The 2010 Lesney models are available in the U.S.A. at Wal *Mart, Toys R Us & KMart. (Target is not carrying the line). There have been no retailer orders in from South America. The only overseas market who has requested the line is Australia/New Zealand. Question 5. Numbering. The following is a point raised over the last months by several people and just to give you an example I have copied here on of the reactions in full. Quote I have been a collector of Matchbox since I was a little boy and I probably consider my status as a Matchbox collector started at the age of 7 in 1980 when I got my first collector's catalogue which i still own to this day. As a child I had other brands: Corgi, Majorette and Hot Wheels. But I always liked Matchbox more. I always thought the castings were better, definitely in the case of Hot Wheels and Corgi. Majorettes were good, but Matchbox had something else all together. It was called collectability. They had better boxes, catalogues, and a cool numbering system. Yes, numbering. The numbering to me made sense, and it enhanced the brand's collectability. I liked that the numbers continued on from year to year, and when a model was retired, a new one took its place and its number. It was easy to understand, logical and fun. It made me enjoy another aspect of collecting Matchbox: cataloguing. To the uninitiated, this would seem rather boring and a waste of time, but to me it was another fascinating side of the hobby. I got an immense amount of enjoyment from it. The system that has been in use since 1998 whereby the numbers are re-issued every year is senseless and confusing. It doesn't really help anybody and causes confusion for new and old collectors alike. How does it help the consumer for example, issuing two Oldsmobile Vista Cruisers in different colors as #1, and then issuing it not less than 6 months after as #18? All I am asking, or suggesting, is that if a model stays in the range from one year to the next it retains its number. Unquote Please give us your thoughts on the above. Response Mattel Thank you for your note. For 2011, I will be setting up the numbering system and wherever possible ensuring that the same number is used from 2010. The Superfast line for 2011 will not consist of the same vehicle selection as 2010, so the numbers will change. Question 6. Quality. 6a. Our feeling is that since Mattel moved away from China that the quality is declining. It happens regularly that models bought have serious defects. Is Mattel involved with the Quality in the actual Production Site and is data collected on those sites supporting the feeling of a number of collectors that the quality in indeed declining? Response Mattel We (Matchbox design) don’t believe that quality has declined since production has moved from China. We have a very close relationship with our production partners in Thailand and have worked side by side with them and witnessed their dedication and commitment to quality when manufacturing Matchbox die cast vehicles. Mattel also has some of the most stringent requirements in the industry that are checked on site and in El Segundo before product reaches retail. There is, as always room for improvement but the teams in both Asia and the US strive to make the best product that we can. If collectors do feel they have a defective product we encourage them to contact our consumer affairs department and quantify what the defect is. We can then take any corrective actions that are required. 6b. More and more single issue models are arriving to stores with cracks in the sides of the blisters, and in some cases, the model falls out the side. It is not a heat seal problem attaching them to the cardboard, but the bubble itself being brittle, and movement side to side of models inside causing the sides to crack open. Response Mattel We are unaware of this being a large issue. If we can get additional information from those packages (for example, date codes on back of package), we can look into whether or not there have been any variations in the thickness of the plastic being ordered. Would you be able to provide those? An USA dealer added another comment in this respect: The new packaging is very "delicate". We found more and more cracked blisters in the cases and in the stores, they got cracked even during our shipments to customers. Question: Could Mattel investigate further the quality of blister bubbles on basic range models coming from the factory. Response Mattel We are unaware of this being a large issue. If we can get additional information from those packages (for example, date codes on back of package), we can look into whether or not there have been any variations in the thickness of the plastic being ordered. Would you be able to provide those? Comments John Nijhuis For future questions on this item I want you to add to your questions the information required by Mattel as described above. For quality complaints on the model(not the packaging) please send me the Manufacturing Number, the Week of Production (Start with a ‘C’) printed on the base plate and if possible some pictures. Question 7. Wheels 7a.The new Superfast wheels recently appeared in the Modern Rides 5-pack on the 911 Cabriolet casting. Does this mean the wheel is being incorporated into the basic range? Response Mattel Yes, Design agreed to use this wheel only for specific vehicles in the basic line. This was one of those few selected vehicles. 7b. With the new 5-spoke wheel being used in the Modern Rides 5-pack on the Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, does this mean the wheel is going to be used in the basic range on appropriate vehicles too? Response Mattel Yes 7c. Why did the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and Toyota Prius revert back to their original green releases in batch A of 2010? When a model which is scheduled for release in 2 versions appears, we get version 1 for 2 or 3 batches, then version 2 of the model usually appear for 2 or 3 batches and then the model gets deleted from the assortments. Both these 2 arrived in version 1 for 3 batches, and then changed to their second versions (white and brown respectively) in batch L of 2009, but when batch A of 2010 came around, both reverted back to their version 1 colors again. What happened? The version 2 of both these are proving quite hard to find, and version 1 seems rather common. Response Mattel This was an oversight in determining which vehicle would be carried forward into 2010. Question 8. 2010 Range 8a. Can we have the LAAM 2010 1-75 list. Response Mattel * 1 2010 Fisker Karma Hybrid (New for '10) 2 Holden Ute (New for '10) 3 2009 Caterham R500 Superlight (New for '10) 4 08 Dodge Challenger SRT-8 5 65 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C 6 08 Corvette ZR1 7 08 Mustang Shelby GT 500 Convt. 8 08 Lotus Evora 9 Dodge Magnum 10 Dodge Viper GTS-R 11 Lotus Excige 12 Morgan Aeromax 13 Ford GT 14 Porsche 911 GT3 15 Audi R8 16 71 Porsche 914 (New for '10) 17 67 Volvo 1800S (New for '10) 18 71 Olds Vista Cruiser 19 69 Austin Mini Cooper S 21 Lotus Europa 22 68 Karmin Ghia Convertible 24 69 Cadillac Sedan Deville 25 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid (New for '10) 26 08 Toyota Prius Hybrid 27 Mazda 2 28 Volkswagen V GTI 29 Honda Civic Type R 30 Audi RS6 Avant 31 2010 Cadillac CTS (New for '10) 32 Cadillac Escalade 33 Jaguar XK 35 Range Rover Sport 37 2010 Road Roller (Non-Licensed) (New for '10) 38 1957 GMC Pick-up (New for '10) 39 Skidster (Non-Licensed) (New for '10) 46 MBX Mixer (Non-Licensed) 50 GMC Terradyne 51 Hazard SquadTM (Hazmat Fire Engine (Non-Licensed)- (New for '10) 52 International Brush Fire Truck (New for '10) 56 Pierce Dash fire truck 59 08 Ford Transit Taxi (New for '10) 60 Express Delivery (Non-Licensed) (New for '10) 62 06 GMC School Bus 63 Heritage Ice Cream truck (Non-Licensed) 66 2008 Garbage Truck (Non-Licensed) 67 City Bus (Non-Licensed) 70 07 Ford Transit Van (Non-Licensed) 73 GMC Wrecker 74 85 Toyota 4Runner (New for '10) 75 08 Yamaha Rhino (New for '10) 20 1957 Chevy Stepside Pick-up 23 Mitsubishi L-200 Warrior 34 Motor Home Toybox (Non-Licensed) 36 VW T2 Bus 40 Baja Bandit (Non-Licensed) 41 Land Rover Discovery 42 Honda Ridgeline 43 Hummer H3 44 Baja Bullet (Non-Licensed) (New for '10) 45 2010 Ford Raptor (New for '10) 47 Cliff Hanger (Truggy (Non-Licensed)) (New for '10) 48 QuickSander (Performance SUV (Non-Licensed)) 49 Canyon Climber (Non-Licensed) 53 Sahara Survivor (Non-Licensed) 54 72 Ford Bronco 4x4 55 VW Bettle 4x4 57 Off-Road Rider (Non-Licensed) 58 Desert Thunder V16 61 Ridge Raider 64 68 Toyota Land Cruiser 65 1943 Jeep Willys (New for '10) 68 Jungle Crawler (Non-Licensed) 69 VW Type 181 71 MBX 4x4 (Non-Licensed) 72 Land Rover Defender 110 8b. Can we have a list of the 25 models in the basic range which will receive 2 versions for 2010. Response Mattel * Fisker Karma - 2010 (New for '10) Chevy Corvette ZR1 - 2008 Shelby GT500 Convertible - 2007 Lotus - 2008 VW-Porsche 914 - 1971 (New for '10) Volvo P1800S - 1969 (New for '10) Honda Insight - 2010 (New for '10) Golf V GTI Road Roller® (New for '10) Skidster (N/L) (New for '10) Cement Mixer - 2006 (N/L) GMC Terradyne Hazard Squad™ (N/L) (New for '10) Pierce® Dash® Fire Engine Ford Transit Connect - 2010 (New for '10) Garbage Truck - 2008 (N/L) GMC Wrecker 1985 Toyota 4Runner (New for '10) MBX® Motor Home (N/L) Honda Ridgeline - 2007 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - 2010 (New for '10) Cliff Hanger™ (N/L) (New for '10) Jeep® Willys © Chrysler LLC 2009 (New for '10) Jungle Crawler™ (N/L) Land Rover Defender 110 - 1997 8c. Can we have the Manufacturing Numbers of the New Models Response Mattel Will Follow. 8d. Is there a possibility for the future (2011 and beyond) that the Lesney Edition will feature models that currently have plastic upper sections with metal bases being made fully out of die cast? Response Mattel Yes our intention is to do this where applicable for 2011 and beyond. 8e. Is there a licensing issue with Mercedes Benz? Is this a temporary problem causing no models from them in 2010, or have we seen the last of Mercedes in the Matchbox range for a while? Response Mattel Yes unfortunately Matchbox does have a current issue with Mercedes-Benz with regards to 1:64th die cast vehicles, which is why there are no Mercedes-Benz vehicles in this scale will be used in the 2010 & 2011 lines. We hope that will be a temporary situation since we have many Matchbox tools. Question 9. Catalogs and Web Site. 9a. Are we going to be receiving collector booklets in 10-packs again this year? Response Mattel Yes, they will be included in the 10 car packs. 9b. Do you have a timeline for when the websites will be updated for 2010? Response Mattel Live launch expected by end of February 9c. Will the non-domestic Websites is available in other countries or languages? Response Mattel We are currently working with international subsidiaries to make this happen but do not have any information as to timelines/feasibility. 9d. When will the 2010 posters will be ready for shipping? Response J. Nijhuis Awaiting Answer of Mattel. Question 10 SkyBusters We have the 2010 Bus and SkyBusters model, but they are still selling the same 5-packs at Disneyworld as they did last year. Is there a planned 2010 Disneyworld exclusive 5-pack? Response Mattel We will continue to have Disney (TV Hero) 5 packs. They will not be exclusive to Disney World. Question 11. New Models There is still a large Group of Collectors out there which collects the larger scale models like Dinky, MOY, King Size and others. 11a. Is there any chance they can expect any development of those models in the near future again? Response Mattel Our only line of larger scale die cast vehicles will be Super Convoys. Dinky is currently sublicensed through Editions Atlas in France. There are no current plans to continue MOY or King Size. 11b. ATLAS is reproducing a large number of the original Dinky Toys in France (and I believe Spain) with the permission of Mattel. Is there any change Mattel could use its negotiating power to make those models available to collectors outside France and/or Spain? Response Mattel We will not. ATLAS has there own business plan and distribution for Dinky Toys in France and Europe. 11c. Could Mattel issue new special Lesney Series- version of last year new model - Caddy Ambulance adding plastic parts on the roof (as same as same system of the former rally parts for e.g. VW 1600 TL or Cortina) and make "film version of Ghost Busters Cadillac". Nothing else than some plastic parts and new labels and color are needed, demands for these models would be great with issue of new Lesney box incl. description. Response Mattel No, we do not have the resources to do this for one SKU (=Item. Added by John Nijhuis) and it defeats our objective of using double die-cast for Lesney Edition. 11d. Will there be a special holiday offering for Easter 2010? If yes, what retailers are to carry it? Response Mattel Target will carry an Easter Holiday 2 pack featuring Handy Manny. They will also offer a Holiday 6 pack w/ Easter Eggs.   
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