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Matchbox Website Update/ Exclusive Mail-In RWRs
Topic Started: Feb 27 2015, 07:31 PM (1,495 Views)
mbx64
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Matchbox Collector
I decided to check out the matchbox.com site today to see if anything has changed, and it has! The website now has the four basic lines series available with photos of the blister art on the packaging, similar to how Hot Wheels documents its mainline on its website. There are also downloadable PDFs of each of the four segments. This is a pretty important update because there has not been anything quite like this since 2010, although this "poster" is disappointing. It is the 2014 mainline (I think Mattel forget it is already two months into 2015) and it is not even the complete 2014 listing. I also would have liked pics of the real models.

Here is a link to the "poster" page:
http://www.matchbox.com/adventure-city.html

They also added a new mail-in exclusive promotion. It's called "Being a Hero has its Rewards", and if you send in a $20 Matchbox purchase (on ONE receipt) to the Mattel HQ then they will send you one of three exclusive models, A Pierce Quantum Ladder Truck (the nicest of the bunch), a Pierce Velocity Ladder Truck, or a Fire Stalker.
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It is a bit confusing. The Fire Stalker has another picture saying it is exclusive to Wal-Mart, and I don't understand why they are specified to a certain store. I suppose the receipt of a $20 purchase has to be from one of those stores for that model.

This is a pretty big change for Matchbox. 2015 has had a lot of Hot Wheels-ness seeping in, with Mystery Models, Mail-In Exclusives, and now Holiday Cars (link below). It seems like Mattel is finally giving Matchbox more attention, which we can all agree is a good thing. The RWRs are all very nice models (who am I kidding, nobody wants the Fire Stalker!), and there is finally some form of a poster online.

A good start? I think so.

Click HERE to see the new Holiday Cars, which all seem to be repackaged generics, as the Mystery Models will likely be.
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cody6268
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Minivan
I definitely wouldn't call the $20 to get each a bad deal, as many Real Working Rigs cost that on the secondary market. Plus, I'll have $20 worth of Matchbox too. But, back in November I paid $6 a piece for three I found at Ollie's.

Too bad I don't live close to a Target (hour and a half away) or a Toys R' Us (two hours away), as I won't be able to get the Quantum (which I like as the deco in FDNY inspired) which is the best to me as well, or the Fire Stalker. Hopefully it's a "randomly selected" one of three thing, and I can spend the $20 for each at any nearby store that carries Matchbox. However, there's some stores that don't even have $20 worth of Matchbox in store.


Luckily, I've got a Kmart (about 20 minutes away) and a Kroger (closer to half an hour away), as well as plenty of "other fine retailers" that carry Matchbox so I can get the Velocity. Sometimes I spend $20, often I don't. If some place around here still has the 2014 5 and 9 packs containing a number of mainline models I wasn't able to find individually, I'll be almost certain I'll spend that in one shot.


Matchbox has had Easter, Christmas, and Halloween cars off and on since the '80s or '90s. I still have several cars that came out of the easter eggs when I was little. The Halloween cars I know they did in the '90s, but I don't think they offer them now, other than the Mattel Dream Halloween event models.
Edited by cody6268, Feb 28 2015, 10:30 AM.
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Douglas
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SUV
Thanks for the info and links Nic. It's weird that you can view 113 of the 2014 models on the site, but only a small number show up in the pdf poster that you can download, at least on my old laptop. :D

I'm glad Mbx is working on bettering the brand, and including collectors.

Let's see, I think I have the opportunity for 2 of the RWR exclusives, but the KMart/Kroger one might be difficult since they closed all the KMarts in my area, and there never were any Krogers down here, although it does say "and other fine retailers", but I don't know if we have those either. :D
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David Tilley
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Crazy Matchbox guy
Me being me, I decided to download the 4 pdf attachments for the 4 segments of the basic range (yes there is a different pdf for each of the 4 segments they do for the basic range). In total we have 113 models out of the 125 due for release in 2014 depicted (18 for Adventure City, 27 for Construction, 36 for Explorers and 32 for Heroic Rescue). This means that there are 12 models not depicted.

As is actually pretty logical at the moment, the 4 vehicles that have not been released are not shown.

Alfa Romeo 4C
Crop Master
Dodge A100 Pick Up (version 2)
The elusive MB70 (possible Range Rover Evoque)

This means there are still another 8 not depicted. These are....

Ground Breaker
4x4 Scrambulance
Vantom
Jungle Crawler
Coyote 500
Road Raider
Travel Tracker (version 1)
Crime Crusher (version 1 - I am guessing as both came out the same time, but it is the red one not depicted)

I am not sure why these 8 are missing, as all the models have been released and we have seen the artwork for them all already. It would have been nice to show them as well.

As to the 4 not released yet, there seems to be some confusion over the whereabouts of the Crop Master, and MB70 still seems to be completely unknown. The Alfa is supposed to be out any time we have been told, and the Dodge nobody has started to question yet. Should we be questioning about version 2 of the Dodge A100?

This is what we should be getting more of. Of course an actual pocket catalog would be better (I still go through some of my older ones at times for reference), but in this modern age of downloads etc, I can see this being the future. Hopefully this is a really big stepping stone and we will see a 2015 listing/depiction much sooner next time.
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Brian49
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Station Wagon
The RWR special is welcome news, like others finding a Kmart can be a challenge, but then again finding $20 worth of MBX in a single stor can be a challenge too!

The Easter cars are a neat idea, some exclusives would have been better.

Ian glad to see Mattel making efforts to strengthen the brand.
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Sirentoys
Fullsize
I looked into this more at the MB website. It appears the $20 can be spent at any number of retailers. Then it is a crap shoot which model you get. This sounds like a question for the Ambassador.

Are the mail in models associated with a specific retailer?

Can we specify which model we want?

Thank
Jeff
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gandrews
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Compact
I'm hoping if you spend $20 at Target you can get the Stalker; If you spend $20 at Walmart you can get the Velocity; If you spend $20 at Toys-R-Us you can get the Quantum.

I'd be very disappointed if it truly is a random pick, but not surprised.

Greg
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b2young
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Sad firefighter
Along Jeff's line, Mr. Ambassador, please confirm this: same visit purchase at a single retailer must equal $20 (that seems clear to me); does that purchase HAVE TO BE ALL SINGLE BLISTERS? Or, can 4 5-packs or one 20-pack (TRU) suffice (or combinations of multipacks and singles)? Can OTHER Matchbox products satisfy the $20 requirement?

As to the idea of Mattel deciding what to send when you provide the proof of qualifying purchase, I don't like that. I think they are being wise to specify what you'll get when you shop at particular retailers. That way you don't end up paying $20/apiece and get the same 3 models when you want one of each......

The bigger problem is where can one find $20 worth of singles at any of the specified retailers right now? It's a pretty common complaint that some major sources (WM, in particular) just are NOT restocking Matchbox frequently enough to even have 20 Matchbox blisters on pegs, let alone ones I don't already have multiples of sitting in boxes.
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b2young
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Sad firefighter
I attempted to "download collection" and all I got was a new page with the "collection" divided into 4 different groups on screen (the members of the particular segment attempted). Nothing at all actually downloaded to my computer. And, I couldn't even easily navigate back to the page with the "download" button. Weird.

However, it's kinda odd that the "Explorers" segment has the Desert Thunder in it's dinosaur expedition livery is shown driving around a wild fire. I've sometimes thought this would make an interesting fire vehicle.....but since there's not really any precedent for this style of truck in fire, nor any fire-fighting looking gear on board, I've since been happy Matchbox hasn't released it as a "Fire Engine" or some such. (Could be a rescue truck or Salvage rig or something, maybe, but it's not really outfitted to look outwardly like it could fight a fire..... notwithstanding the cheap knockoff in the Chinese ripoffs of Desert Thunder in police and fire liveries a year or two ago...)

Errgh....now I see the left/right arrows that allow you to put all of the segment's vehicles in that fire scene.....where's the safety officer on that fire, letting dune buggies and camper trucks drive through a burning meadow...!?

Got to admit, though, I really like that fire scene and the ability to put the other models in the scene. If only they'd do that with the wildland fire engines.....sigh. Oh, but it's great that the Deep Diver can visit that fire scene....... :wacko:
Edited by b2young, Mar 5 2015, 03:46 PM.
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b2young
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Sad firefighter
Interesting also that one of the featured videos (I can't view any of them, some issues with Flash or something with all my browsers that cause them all to crash if Flash is enabled) is a "fire safety" video from FDNY. Why, then, are none of the recent excellent fire apparatus models done in FDNY livery?
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Brian49
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Station Wagon
Blair,

It may have to do with FDNY / NYC charging for the use of its logos and such. I am sure the cost but I know they charge and license who can use the logos. The deal with Realtoy / Daron May also bare some influence.

Also most toys with official FDNY markings will have something along the lines of "a portion of the sales of this product goes to FDNY fire safety education programs"
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gandrews
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Compact
I've already done my $20 of shopping at Toys-R-Us, Target and Walmart. I sent in my three entry forms with checks and had the DFK numbers written on each entry form, each check, and each envelope. Hopefully they'll get the message and I'll get one of each. I'll let you know.
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Brian49
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Station Wagon
gandrews
Mar 11 2015, 03:05 PM
I've already done my $20 of shopping at Toys-R-Us, Target and Walmart. I sent in my three entry forms with checks and had the DFK numbers written on each entry form, each check, and each envelope. Hopefully they'll get the message and I'll get one of each. I'll let you know.
Truely amazing! Some one was able to find $20.00 worth of Matchbox in one store at one time. With luck like that I sure hope you stopped and got a lotto ticket on the way home! :o
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b2young
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Sad firefighter
I could easily find $20 of Matchbox-branded products at every chain that carries the brand....even still some of those Big Boots things....but I don't think I'd even want to give those Big Boots things away to charitable organizations. What kid would want them? Especially since it seems that idea didn't produce the windfall Mattel apparently once thought it would. (When's the last time you saw a NEW Big Boots toy in a store?)
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gandrews
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Compact
Brian49
Mar 11 2015, 05:13 PM
gandrews
Mar 11 2015, 03:05 PM
I've already done my $20 of shopping at Toys-R-Us, Target and Walmart. I sent in my three entry forms with checks and had the DFK numbers written on each entry form, each check, and each envelope. Hopefully they'll get the message and I'll get one of each. I'll let you know.
Truely amazing! Some one was able to find $20.00 worth of Matchbox in one store at one time. With luck like that I sure hope you stopped and got a lotto ticket on the way home! :o
Darn it! I should have done that. :D
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b2young
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Sad firefighter
I tried to put my theory to the test yesterday at Fred Meyer (one of the Kroger chain). My idea was to buy 2 five-packs and a 9-pack to get to $20 (the construction 5-pack with the INC grader is only available at Fred Meyer so far....and that grader wasn't in any previous batch hanging locally though it was supposed to be in the last batch(es) of 2014).

I have so many uncounted 5-packs and singles and miscellaneous Matchbox in crates that I don't want to buy a bunch more singles or too many multipacks so far in advance of Christmas (when i could donate them to Toys For Tots, etc). I thought 2 5-packs and a 9-pack (or 2 9-packs) would get me the $20. Imagine my horror when I found Fred Meyer has a BOGOHO sale on Matchbox. Meaning, I'd have to buy MORE items to get the $20 value! Who'd a thunk you'd be unhappy to encounter a sale!? :lol:
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zzziippyyy
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Drive it like you stole it!
Brian49
Mar 11 2015, 05:13 PM
gandrews
Mar 11 2015, 03:05 PM
I've already done my $20 of shopping at Toys-R-Us, Target and Walmart. I sent in my three entry forms with checks and had the DFK numbers written on each entry form, each check, and each envelope. Hopefully they'll get the message and I'll get one of each. I'll let you know.
Truely amazing! Some one was able to find $20.00 worth of Matchbox in one store at one time. With luck like that I sure hope you stopped and got a lotto ticket on the way home! :o
I agree I have not found any new matchbox since last november, its been 5 months now of empty pegs
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