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Tomica in the US
Topic Started: Feb 10 2016, 01:16 AM (2,179 Views)
toyotageek
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Japanese Minicar Maniac
b2young
Mar 30 2016, 02:45 PM
Don't know if this is a Marukai (stores) thing, or a sign of what bringing Tomica singles back to US stores would bring....seen in San Diego last weekend:

Posted Image
at Marukai's Tokyo Central & Main variety store....Tomica Long $8.99 (+8% tax); singles $6.59 plus tax.


I took a similar photo last September (2015) at a Tokyo Central in Gardena (see below). I don't go there too often, but the last time I was there (February 2016) it still looked about the same. Due to the selection and price, I don't think they're selling very well.

Posted Image
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Matchthebox
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Midsize
I believe it's due to the blister pack they use as packaging which looks similar to matchbox and Hot wheels as their price point would discourage parents from buying one for their kids. I wonder if these are left overs from Tomica USA? If the store brought in the box type packaging with those realistic artwork of the models I think that might make a difference.
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toyotageek
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Japanese Minicar Maniac
Matchthebox
Apr 2 2016, 10:55 AM
I believe it's due to the blister pack they use as packaging which looks similar to matchbox and Hot wheels as their price point would discourage parents from buying one for their kids. I wonder if these are left overs from Tomica USA? If the store brought in the box type packaging with those realistic artwork of the models I think that might make a difference.
These are definitely not left overs from Tomica USA. Tomica USA had completely different packaging and vehicles selection. These are typical Japanese Tomica blisters. You see this type of blister at Toys-R-Us and other toy stores in Japan.

In my opinion, the only people that will buy these from Marukai/Tokyo Central are the really hard core Tomica collectors, and possibly a few Japanese nationals that remember them from their own childhood and want to get them for their kids. I don't think this is an attempt at Tomica trying to get back into the US market. It's more like Tokyo Central is trying out various "collectible" products to see what consumers will buy. The stores also carry a number of other collectible items, large and small, that you'd find in many hobby shops in Japan.
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dunedaddyo
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Compact
Looking at the Marukai pictures you can tell the collectors have already been through the pegs, similar to what you would see with hot wheels or matchbox!

Honestly, Tomica would have to send a select assortment, dump all the vans, work trucks, econoboxes, and japanese-centric oddballs and focus on what we all love, true JDM, cool supercars, american muscle and the like! If they shipped that and only that, they could sell out at the $5-6 price point and keep the turn going.

If they consulted with collectors in advance on casting selection, they could hit a home run. Limit the distribution to one deep retailer (Target maybe) and STAY AWAY FROM TRU.

This could would in my mind...
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toyotageek
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Japanese Minicar Maniac
dunedaddyo
Apr 2 2016, 11:55 AM
Looking at the Marukai pictures you can tell the collectors have already been through the pegs, similar to what you would see with hot wheels or matchbox!

Honestly, Tomica would have to send a select assortment, dump all the vans, work trucks, econoboxes, and japanese-centric oddballs and focus on what we all love, true JDM, cool supercars, american muscle and the like! If they shipped that and only that, they could sell out at the $5-6 price point and keep the turn going.

If they consulted with collectors in advance on casting selection, they could hit a home run. Limit the distribution to one deep retailer (Target maybe) and STAY AWAY FROM TRU.

This could would in my mind...
I'm curious why you think it looks like collectors have already gone through them? Is it because of the assortment left hanging?

I do agree that a better choice of vehicles would probably sell better. And if more collectors knew about them.

I haven't bought any for several reasons - I don't collect the blister vehicles (I favor the vehicles with boxes), I already have most of them, and since I already have them, the price doesn't help any.
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MKZ
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dunedaddyo
Apr 2 2016, 11:55 AM
Looking at the Marukai pictures you can tell the collectors have already been through the pegs, similar to what you would see with hot wheels or matchbox!

Honestly, Tomica would have to send a select assortment, dump all the vans, work trucks, econoboxes, and japanese-centric oddballs and focus on what we all love, true JDM, cool supercars, american muscle and the like! If they shipped that and only that, they could sell out at the $5-6 price point and keep the turn going.

If they consulted with collectors in advance on casting selection, they could hit a home run. Limit the distribution to one deep retailer (Target maybe) and STAY AWAY FROM TRU.

This could would in my mind...
When you say "we" you are not speaking for me. Everything that makes Tomica appealing is the very vehicles posted in the pictures above.
Edited by MKZ, Apr 2 2016, 02:55 PM.
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dunedaddyo
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Compact
I guess "we" is definitely too broad! And, honestly, I love a lot of the cars hanging in those pics. The pics are almost completely devoid of cars (not van/trucks) from the same assortment, leading to my thoughts that they had been gone through. As for the assortment appealing to collectors, in my experience the vast majority of collectors do not collect what is in the pictures, instead they are after JDM-style coupes, super cars, american muscle cars, and the like.

cliff
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bobneumann
Subcompact
I wanted to thank b2young for posting the information about the Tomica available in Marukai in San Diego. I will be visiting out there soon and it gives me a place to visit to bring some souvenirs home for my collection.

Ever since Freddie's Teddie's closed a few years ago there does not seem to be too many places to get interesting models for my collection (Matchbox and Tomica) in San Diego, and Marukai looks like a great place to check out.

Bob



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b2young
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Sad firefighter
bobneumann
Apr 8 2016, 11:26 AM
I wanted to thank b2young for posting the information about the Tomica available in Marukai in San Diego. I will be visiting out there soon and it gives me a place to visit to bring some souvenirs home for my collection.

Ever since Freddie's Teddie's closed a few years ago there does not seem to be too many places to get interesting models for my collection (Matchbox and Tomica) in San Diego, and Marukai looks like a great place to check out.

Bob



You're welcome.
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jurcpa
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toyotageek
Apr 2 2016, 01:11 AM
b2young
Mar 30 2016, 02:45 PM
Don't know if this is a Marukai (stores) thing, or a sign of what bringing Tomica singles back to US stores would bring....seen in San Diego last weekend:

Posted Image
at Marukai's Tokyo Central & Main variety store....Tomica Long $8.99 (+8% tax); singles $6.59 plus tax.


I took a similar photo last September (2015) at a Tokyo Central in Gardena (see below). I don't go there too often, but the last time I was there (February 2016) it still looked about the same. Due to the selection and price, I don't think they're selling very well.

Posted Image
:1: :fiddle: :bangles: :petkitty: TOMICA HEAVEN :wave: :bored: :1: :blush: :wub: :toy: :thumbup:
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b2young
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Sad firefighter
By "Tomica Heaven", are you implying it's their "last resting place"? (Since they don't seem to be selling very well.....) :)
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webestang64
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Minivan
Interesting reading this thread. I've never seen Tomico for sale here in St. Louis. Every great once in a while I'll see a few for sale at the Toy Show. I'm sure that price point is a little high for collectors unless you are a die-hard fan of the models they offer.
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MKZ
Fullsize
dunedaddyo
Apr 4 2016, 07:38 PM
I guess "we" is definitely too broad! And, honestly, I love a lot of the cars hanging in those pics. The pics are almost completely devoid of cars (not van/trucks) from the same assortment, leading to my thoughts that they had been gone through. As for the assortment appealing to collectors, in my experience the vast majority of collectors do not collect what is in the pictures, instead they are after JDM-style coupes, super cars, american muscle cars, and the like.

cliff
How can you be more JDM than those models? They are Japanese Domestic Market cars/vans/trucks.
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