If you’re paying attention, you may have heard about the Kmart Cars Collector Day going on across the US today. I was there to check it out. Here is my experience from today.
There is one Kmart in Knoxville, and it happens to be close by. I went there early expecting a crowd. There was no line. I went in the store to see what I could see, but I found nothing. Finally, I went to the service desk where I saw a big sign for it.
I asked them about it, and pointed to the sign. I was told that it would be at a table in the Furniture Dept. at 11 AM. So I went back there and found the table, but still no one was there. Finally, close to 11, a lady showed up with 10 cases. She said the line forms right here.
I formed the line by myself and waited. She opened 5 cases, and put them out. She said I could buy 1 from each case, and then get back in line for the other 5 cases. She also gave me a ticket and said they were holding a drawing to give away 4 posters. I chatted with her for a few minutes while I waited.
At 11 there was no one else in line. She said I could go ahead. I began to pick through the cases and asked again if it was 1 per case. She said to go ahead and take what I wanted because no one else was there. She then said I could have the poster! I picked out my Cars and paid for them and left. I never saw anyone else.
I appreciate Mattel and Kmart doing this, but there won’t be anymore events, if they all went similar to mine. I really think Mattel and Kmart need to do a better job of promoting this. Any way, that’s my story. How was yours? If you didn’t make it today, the only place you can get these now is eBay. Here are some links to find todays Kmart Cars on eBay.
My son has started to play with these cars. We have found him a few. When we go to the store all me see is pegs full of Lighting McQueen. Was this the 1st KMart event? Will there be anymore?
Thanks
It was not the first. There was one last year. Also there is another one planned this Fall.
Someone told me that the KMart in Vero Beach, FL has all of the cars from the event for sale on their shelves now. We managed to get every one on the list picked up for us – my son is going to be very excited, possibly as excited as I was!
I didn’t get a poster at my Kmart event. Does anybody know where I could get one?
well i would like to say it was a great experience in Long Island, NY but too many collectors trying to make money. About 40 people there so there was enough to go around. The staff explained how it was going to work —- tickets were handed out and called then you had 5 minutes to buy 5 cars. Some were complaining that they couldnt buy the whole case. This is ridiculous considering it is a KIDS event. Just the way the world is I guess . At the other LI store after the first round the workers said it was going to be a free for all which led to a disadvantage if you brought your kids . It is for them anyway.
Ours was the perfect experience…the staff was very informed about the event. There were about 5 staff members helping out. There were about 15 of us in a “line” around the automotive section and we each got 3 full boxes to go through, each of the kids got a poster, and 2 of my family “won” the raffle to go through another case–which we passed on since we had more than our fill. I was surprised as to how many cases our store received. I was glad to get a set for my daughter and son to play with and one to put up.
It was a great morning and went MUCH better than expected.
You know the old “like shooting fish in a barrel” line? Well, my wife and I went to Kmart in plenty of time before 11 AM. 11:00 came, two managers came to the tables they had set up…one with the box of 6 cases, the other with a big roll of raffle tickets.
Well, my wife and I were the ONLY people there waiting!
So, they handed a case to each of us to pick through. After a couple of minutes, I asked if there was a limit. The manager looked around to see if anyone else was showing up, then said “No, take whatever you want.” So, we took our time, and it was a great trip to Kmart.
I went to a KMart in Garfield Hts(Cleveland), Ohio. There were 14 cases available thru the raffle they held. Only about 25 people were there at 11am – kick-off time…My ticket got called before they ran out of cases and eventually I was able to get two of each new car available.(one for my collection, one for my four year old’s collection). The store handled the event very well – Thanks KMart. But I was amazed to speak with other collectors and find out that most all of them had no idea they could have gone on-line to find out about Cars at CarsToysBlog.com…. The 80’s are over – Get With It Toys Collectors!! Thanks for the Heads-Up on this event CarsToysBlog.com!!
Knowing that they were limiting the picks to 5 a case I had my father-in-law come with me. We got to K-Mart around 9 AM (yes 2 hours early as I didn’t know what to expect). We shopped the Craftsman tools section for close to an hour before I went and asked someone what was going on.
They informed me that there would be a table back by Electronics. 15 minutes goes by and sure enough a table appears by Electronics. We go and stand over there and wait. About 20 minutes before hand we get handed out ticket. They pulled out all 12 boxes from the 2 cases the store got. After nearly 20 minutes of debate and discussion it is determined that familys could have 1 ticket for each person, but that person had to be able to pick their own toys (so no babies).
So there were 11 people for 12 boxes and 4 posters. My store drewn numbers and each of us were allowed to pick 5 figures from each case and then dump the rest into totes and we were given 5 minutes to do this in. The first 4 familys to have their numbers pulled got to get a poster. My father-in-law was #3 (5th over all) to get pulled to he got a poster and I was pulled #4 (6th over all) to get a poster but declined since I already knew I was getting the one from my father-in-law.
We all got our cases I got all but the Mario Andretti Chase that I was looking for between my father-in-law’s case and my case (Retread, Lil Torquey, Clutch Aid, Mood Springs, Bumper Save, Easy Idle, Mini, Patti, Vitoline Pitty, & Todd). They then opened the 12 and final case and each of us were allowed to pick 1 figure and we were given 1 minute to do so. I was picked first and before they could even set the clock I grabbed Mario and was done.
This was a great event and went off without a hitch. Can’t wait for the one this fall.
Had to visit a Kmart in Greensboro, NC as I was out of town. There were about 10 people, 6 cases. They drew numbers for 6 people to each look through a case and pick out 5 cars in 5 minutes. It must have been my lucky day, being my 30th birthday, but my number and my mother’s number were pulled first and I was able to get all of the race cars I needed out of the two cases since I had already gotten the other cars earlier at my home Kmart. I was very happy!
Hi,
I hope you were all able to get the Cars you needed from the event in your area. I ran across this website that is offering the Kmart Cars with free shipping when you spend $50. Take a look if you missed any of these great looking Cars – Cars from the Kmart Day Event
Or, you could have gotten the entire case, as I did, for $65.99 plus tax and shipping, during the PRE-SALE that Kmart.com offered twice prior to the in-store event.
We live in Detroit Lakes, MN. My family and I went to the event to find we were the only ones there. I opened the first box, took the racers I didn’t have and 3 of the regulars, and the manager said I could have one of the posters!! Quite sad about the turn-out, but it seems it worked out great for the collectors that were there. Any info on the Oct event mentioned earlier??
Pensacola were 8 people with 6 cases.
Here in Austin, Minnesota there were 5 people with 6 cases. Basically we each got one to look through, and 2 posters were raffled off. My son and I were there for the “regular” cars, and we bought two race cars just for the heck of it.
We went to the store around 10am and waiting around until about 11:15 when someone finally showed up with a box and two posters.
I’ll be going back today and probably pick up the rest of the racecars if they are still there.. which they probably will be.
We had 12 cases for 18 people in Milford CT, and we think at least one woman thought she “won” the case (although we didn’t see her come back with it, she did’t look like the type that was ready to plunk down $66 + tax)
It looked like most people were able to get PLENTY. There were a couple of young families, some Hot Wheels guys, some Cars collectors, so a pretty good mix.
I got the nine I came in for – the 5 NEW racers and the 4 new ‘regulars’ – The best thing about these rubber tires is that they have a slight “grip” to them, so I can finally start to fill out the steep right side of the Piston Cup racetrack… *GASP*! I OPENED THEM UP! AND ONLY BOUGHT ONE SET!!!
My friends and I drove about an hour away to Walla Walla, WA. There were only about 8 people there for the event. At 11 o’clock they let us open the cases. There were 2 boxes of them with 9 cases in each box. Everyone got what they wanted and I even won one of the posters. Had a great time and will probably do it again in October!
Had a great experience at the Kmart outside Pittsburgh. There were 18 cases … and 17 people. So we each got a case to pick through. If I wanted to abuse people on ebay, I could have made a fortune. Instead I just snagged the Piston Cup racers that my nephews didn’t have plus Mario chase and Todd.
Couldn’t have been easier.
Plus I scored the poster (1 of 6) for my 2 year old.
Promotion was pitiful in this store too.
Ft. Lauderdale Florida checking in…
Went to the KMart with my buddy Al (who I met here on-line, and is an even more devoted Car collector than I am!) located in Davie, just West of Ft. Lauderdale. I don’t know if I’m happy or sad that there were only five “groups” of people there for the event. The store had no signagae anywhere, except for one lonely little table back at the toy department. The lady who was in charge was actually making fun of the whole process, calling it crazy! Any way, long story short, she made us wait until exactly 11 AM and then handed us each a case to go through…no tickets, no limits. After my wife helped my son and me get our fill, she helped out an elderly lady (in South Florida?) who was sent by her daughter from out of state bc she did not have a KMart in her town any more (sad actually). My experience is shared, no lines, no hassles, no promotion…KMart is doing this again in October. For my purposes, I hope they do an equally bad job promoting it so I can go in, get what I want, and go…part of me is saddened that there wasn’t a larger crowd (or any crowd). After the October event, I think they need to do them with TRU or Target…WalMart stinks for Cars!
The Ebay story isn’t true for Colorado Springs, CO. I went to one store at 11am and my 11 year old son got what he wanted. Then at 2:30 I went to another Kmart and they had bins and bins of them like there had never been touched so we got a few extras.. I guess it all depended on where people live. It was a great day for us and forget those ridiculous Ebay prices when I got them for $3.69 each… We even won a free poster and there were only 4 total.
Waynesville, NC…small town. 10,000 people. Called earlier in the week to confirm that they were actually having it…after about a 10 minute wait, someone told me it would be at 9 am *instead of the posted 11am time. Showed up and had to get a manager to go to their ‘vault’ to find the 1 box they had (six cases). Was the only one there! Got the 7 that my son didn’t have plus a poster without any ‘competition’. Wife convinced me to go back later and grab extras to ebay, but by that point, all were gone. Apparently folks trickled in all morning. But the K-mart staff really had no clue this was going on. At the end, they put their extras on the rack in the check out line…not in the toy section. Funny to read everyone’s stories.
I went to my local K-mart at around 10:20 or so and went and and asked if anyone at the serivce desk knew where the event was going to be located. The woman just looked at me like i was crazy and said i have no idea what you are talking about. There was me my husband and my son and two other people but one was on the phone with other people at local Kmarts for moe cars. I agree they dont make it fun for the kids or anyone who collects the cars. We also got a poster and a case when we walked up to the table and they said take what you want.
I live in Oregon, Ohio.
I am a subscriber to this wonderful blog. I have all the cars and many extras. There were only seven of us in line, I was first, and three of them were my family. Send me an email if you need the K-Mart Cars. $7.00 ea. +$3 s/h for the first car and shipping is just an extra buck for all other cars you want. I am on eBay je927 and have 100% feedback + I have traded here on this site. jeversman@aol.com. I take PayPal. Just trying to help people out.
My wife, son, and I went to the small Super K in Shippensburg, PA. There was about 6 groups of people for a total of maybe 15 people. We were given tickets and the drawing went according to the rules. We ended up with every single car available plus some doubles and also won the poster. It was fun and we’ll definately go in October. The only drawbacks were that the Kmart staff people didn’t really know what was going on with the event and also one couple that left before us convinced the checkout girl that since the cars were “won” during the raffle, that they didn’t have to pay for them. So two of the groups that went throught her line didn’t pay for the cars! That’s not good…
Waited for a friend and his son to go to closest Kmart in Costa Mesa, CA. Could not wait any longer and left with my 3 yr old and arrived at 11:10. 50+ people with raffle tickets. Called 6 people out, each given a box to open and pick out 5. Rest thrown in bin. Did this 2 more times, Upset I could not get a raffle ticket but understood. A Mattel Rep was involved and I befriended her asked if I could get a raffle ticket said gone but will work with you.
Continued to call out raffle tickets, people could choose 5 out of bins. Rep allowed me in middle of raffle to have 2 bins to pick from. I was one of 6 people to have a kid with me. And my son was dressed in H&M Cars gear and so excited. Asked about poster someone had and told only 6 were given out. A person behind me saw my kid and gave me a poster. After raffle, it was a free for all. It was well played out.
Ended up with Mario, Easy Idle, Bumper Save, Mood Springs, Patti, Mini, Tow Cap, and Shifty Drug. Wanted other Piston Cup Racers. Got some duplicates for my friend’s son.
Not a collector, but a fan with my son.
Mattel Rep gave me another poster for my friend’s son who did not make it. And had a little race car setup with Winner’s Circle Certificates made up. Mattel Rep was very nice and although we did not get everything we wanted it was great. Although, I wish it was like Knoxville. Thanks to everyone who helped my son with this outing.
Don’t forget that Kmart.com sold these cases online in a Pre-Sale on two different dates, so that cut demand at the store level somewhat.
The 2nd pre-sale sold around 807 cases in less than 1 hour. I don’t remember the count for the first day, but it was up there as well.
If you round it off to say 800 cases, multiplied by 18 cars in a case, that’s 14,400 individual cars sold in 1 hour!!! And that’s just in the 2nd day that they offered the pre-sale cases.
I shared my experience in another thread but will detail more…
My Kmart was in North Canton, OH. Not a tiny town but not huge. Parking lot empty. Total of four adults in lines, and tickets were also given to the children (three of them there). The man literally just handed each person a case, then cut them open on tables for each person to sort through. The sales guy thought each case was different, but they were all the same (as I expected).
I asked if there was a limit and the man said “heck no” – so I could have easily bought five cases. We bought all the new releases that had not been released before (sans rubber tires or different packaging).
The man also gave my son the only extra poster he had with the 2009 line up on it. The poster is bigger than he is LOL. Needless to say, that was a nice bonus.
I too, am disappointed that there was no hoopla. Our store manager didn’t even know where to direct me for the event at 10:30am. I had to walk around aimlessly until a gal in electronics directed me there. I find it hard to believe they’ll do this again – with this kind of (or lack thereof) turnout.
I bet if I went there right now at 6pm, I’d still find them all again.
HollyP:
I went back to the store I shopped at on saturday in Garfield Hts ‘cuz I work in Cleveland(l live in Akron). They had plenty of new releases on the shelves in the toy department. Mini was on the shelf too – which I got a chuckle out of…remembering how six short months ago, I would probably have spent $50 to get that car….and there it was on the shelf for $3.49……..
What a great job by the Kmart in Braintree Mass.
There were about 20 people there and 16 cases of cars. I got all the ones I wanted and several people walked out with at least a case or more.
The whole process was handled perfectly by the staff and the customers. I won a poster too!
We had a three team attack plan since we needed 37.
Columbus, GA Son was the only shopper got his list plus a poster.
Albany, GA Me and the wife and I guy. Store got 1 case of 6 boxes. We both got what we wanted (me 20) and a poster each. When we left you would not have been able to get one of each from what was left.
St. Augustine Daughter, Son-in-law and grandson. Eight shoppers; was going to be a free for all until my daughter explained the rules. They were drawn #2, 3, and 4. Each got their list (14 in all) but didn’t win a poster. OK the one from Columbus is for the grandson.
We had a three team attack plan since we needed four of each.
Columbus, GA Son was the only shopper got his list plus a poster.
Albany, GA Me and the wife and I guy. Store got 1 case of 6 boxes. We both got what we wanted (me 20) and a poster each. When we left you would not have been able to get one of each from what was left.
St. Augustine Daughter, Son-in-law and grandson. Eight shoppers; was going to be a free for all until my daughter explained the rules. They were drawn #2, 3, and 4. Each got their list (14 in all) but didn’t win a poster. OK the one from Columbus is for the grandson.
Went to the nearest KMart, which is about an hour away in Killeen Texas. It was about the same as the last one. Approximately 50 people. Numbers given out and drawn at random. 5 car max. Everyone got a chance to go and plenty of cars left at the end for everyone to take what they want. I got all of the cars and most of the other people did as well. Seemed a good size crown to me.
Our experience was GREAT! There was close to 20 people there, but really no line, each person just got a case to open and go through. It appeared all the cases were the same, and had EVERY car mentioned. There was no cap on how many you could buy, and we won one of the 4 posters given away (basically a big check-list of 2009 cars).
I got to the Kmark in Avenel NJ at about 11:20. It was raining out…hard. Went inside and found the table in the back. There were about 50 pieces. There was a woman there who was there at 11:00 who told me there were 6 or 7 people. There were maybe 50 pieces left and I was able to get what I wanted with 3 notable exceptions. Retread, Cluch Aid, and Lil Torque. These were no where to be found. Being an optimist, we drive to the West Orange NJ K Mart. It was the same story there. The 3 items mentioned above were gone.
Was the poster mentioned a regular store poster or was it a special promotion poster that was part of the event package for customers??.
Ed everytime they have these events at Kmart there is always posters given away which some stores usualy raffle off. They never seem to mention it ,but they are always in the big boxes when they open them.
Julio that is ridiculous.
i went to our local K-mart today for the Cars event. there were only three people there, which included myself! Very easy to get what i wanted. no tickets, no lines, no quantity limit, however, i was disappointed that there were not many people there. are people losing interest? my son and i have collected from the beginning.
mamakweenb I think some people are losing interest and the economy isn’t helping it either I am sure.
Mattel should have picked a different partner for this promotion (Target or Walmart). There’s only a few KMart stores in Texas and the closest one to Houston is more than two hours away. The only ones beneffiting from these exclusives are the scalpers on ebay.