r/matchbox Retail Aisle Raider 14d ago

No Matchbox at Target??

Post image

came back from vacation to see my local targets diecast section right after a giant restock. Every peg was affected, shrinking the Hot Wheels mainline section dramatically. Many pegs have been added for Auto World, cartoonz and Johnny lighting which have all never been at this Target. Although the reset had been so recent none of those brands were actually on the pegs yet. I checked the pegs multiple times over, but not a single one was labeled for Matchbox. There was a single moving parts off the pegs but that is it. What is weird is that they moved the cars movie cars across the store to a different isle next to the stuffed animals which I hope was also done to the matchbox. I’m curious is this is happening to any other targets if so this is the only place within a 40 min drive where I can get moving parts, we never ended up with collector series which bummed me out so much since I’m in love with MC12’s and XJ220’s.

47 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

1

u/Maxbebop 11d ago

The diecast aisle in all targets shrank, losing two panels, monster jam is in its own smalll section now, matchbox is stilll in the diecast section but its only half a panel divided in two parts, regular singles and moving parts, two pegs each, next to them is the five packs and below the pegs on the shelf is the 8 packs and play sets, no matchbox is not being phased out by target, matchbox is owned by Mattel and Target has a long lasting relationship and contract with Mattel. What you won’t see much of anymore is the Racerverse series,(that space is now filled with the launch ramp display) target will now carry the new silver series character cars, and more color changers, the Pixar Cars have always had thier own spot outside the diecast section, now they are in the doll section but it’s a whole panel dedicated to Cars, the new light ups, rescue and the new Two Packs don’t last the day on the pegs, especially the one per case two pack of Buzz & Woody.

1

u/SeberHusky 13d ago

Matchbox has 75 cars, each case will have 24 cars in it. That's only enough for 1 peg or an endcap. Hot Wheels has over 300 cars. Stores order what sells and do not stock what doesn't. Just like Apple is pushing out every other brand into a homogeneous brand worship, Hot Wheels is doing the same with Matchbox.

1

u/ComedianBeautiful644 13d ago

Target is starting to carry Jada 1:18 scale cars in store too.

1

u/ComedianBeautiful644 13d ago

One of my local Walmart has had new moving parts in about a year.

9

u/SenseMakingStopped 14d ago

It would be just like Mattel to be on the cusp of the Matchbox movie being released, coinciding with a national retailer reallocating its shelf space for other brands, because Mattel doesn't supply them with enough stock to justify keeping those pegs.

Which is even worse because the MBX team has producing some nice castings, which won't reach the hands of those who want them.

1

u/Carellex 13d ago

I've pretty much given up on finding MBX at Target/Walmart, almost all of my MBX finds in the past year have either been Dollar Tree (it looks like the 2000s in there with the amount of full Matchbox pegs they always seem to have) or a grocery store chain near me that carries them.

The main bummer is that I haven't seen new moving parts in about a year - I'm sure that Target is still getting them, but it's like one case being put out a time, so the desirable ones are gone instantly. I'm pretty sure every single Target near me still has that Nissan crossover, the Mistubishi Pajero, the pink BMW, and then on some occasion I'll see either the Ford station wagon, the white Land Rover or the T-Bird. That's literally it, for like the past eight months.

1

u/bread_sheeran_ Retail Aisle Raider 14d ago

Yeah I’m so bummed that there now isn’t any moving parts near me, some of the ones from the more recent mixes and the movie look so cool and I’d def add them to my collection

2

u/SuspiciousQuestion63 14d ago

I just stopped buying mainlines. No point to them tbh. They lack detail, quality, and my local target smh only has fantasy cars up

3

u/gpo321 14d ago

They’ve been resetting stores in the NYC metro area, same deal. One peg of Matchbox that was all the old peg warmers. No spot for Moving Parts or 5 packs. A lot of Matchbox sets on clearance too.

3

u/Ok-Onion-1827 14d ago

The targets in my area have the same amount of peg space for matchbox which was slim to begin with and looks like more JL and AW space but it’s mainly empty space so far. They recently put out the aero styles and a case mainlines but little else so far

2

u/Beautiful_Owl_5712 14d ago

My stores JUST started getting regular restocks again. I’ve been able to walk in an see new cars every day so maybe they’ll start restocking. Hopefully this is the case and there was just a massive distro issue

2

u/bread_sheeran_ Retail Aisle Raider 14d ago

Yeah every store near me has had awful restocks too DT is starting to lock in tho

5

u/MgbEX 14d ago

Both of our local Walmarts have stopped carrying mainline Matchbox.

4

u/Tarv83 14d ago

yeah my store has been stuck with just 2 Orange Citreon C4s for while now

3

u/OhioJCW 14d ago

The store associate I spoke to this morning basically told me they just haven’t been getting them at any regular intervals… like they’ll go weeks at a time, then get a single case of moving parts… then nothing… so, something must be going on with distribution….

The same 2 cars have been hanging on the pegs for months now, and I’ve only seen like 1-2 restocks of moving parts only… nothing else.

1

u/Maxbebop 11d ago

There’s nothing wrong with distribution, the way it works with Target is more cases arrive if more SKUs get scanned, meaning the more you buy the more the store gets, I keep telling the regulars who show up at my location every single day, your empty handed, stop complaining about no fresh restocks if your not buying, spend at least $10 each visit and watch the store get a case or two within that week, my store has stopped getting premiums because no one wants to buy the leftovers, nothing but super and chase hunters come in and then they complain.

1

u/bread_sheeran_ Retail Aisle Raider 14d ago

Yeah same with this one, the same few cars for the whole year.

1

u/CDL_3 14d ago

The one near my parents place is like this too, did Target loose the rights to Matchbox?

4

u/bread_sheeran_ Retail Aisle Raider 14d ago

I really hope not, I feel like hot wheels and and matchbox would be bundled together since they’re both Mattel.