Photo: Mattel
I worked in sales for a few years before returning to my first love: writing about cars. It was mostly a terrible experience, and I used to hate events like Black Fridays. Don't fall prey to the illusion!
I've seen people fighting each other for "discounted" products whenever companies start these "special" campaigns. It's frightening to see, and some of them even get hurt in the process. And for what? It's a good thing that Mattel's exclusive Hot Wheels release only causes virtual "stampedes," as tens of thousands rush to buy certain collectibles before their price drastically increases on the open market.
I've never attended an official Hot Wheels event yet, but I'd love to do it someday soon. Fans gathered in Miami, Florida, yesterday for the first Legends Tour event of the year. Official photos should be coming out soon, and I might write a story about that soon. But what caught my eye first was the collectible that the diecast manufacturer brought to the show: the classic Kool Kombi.
When the word got out that it would be present in Miami, one Mattel Creations forum user wrote: "Can't wait for the mini-riots of grown adults fighting over toys." I've noticed similar problems in my local toy stores whenever collectors hear the news that a restock is imminent. I haven't seen anyone fighting for Hot Wheels where I live, but people have been issuing online death threats against certain scalpers known to dig through Mainline cases searching for Super Treasure Hunt cars.
Anyway, you can keep an eye out for future Legends Tour events, and I hope you'll still be able to find the new Kool Kombi iterations once you're there. The next one is on June 1 in Atlanta, Georgia, with another gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the 15th and then Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 29th. Mattel published a story on Instagram announcing the special Spectraflame Pink item yesterday, with a link to an external website where you could buy it.
It sold out almost instantly despite having a $35 price tag. That's more than you'd have to pay for a regular Red Line Club exclusive release. And this Kool Kombi has a plastic base and no moving parts! It's pretty cool with the 5-Spoke Mag-Style Real Riders wheels, but I've seen a lot of collectors complaining that it's overpriced.
It's not hard to imagine what the situation looks like on the open market. I've seen several different listings for this collectible on eBay alone, with prices ranging from $70 to $200. For the love of god, don't allow the fear of missing out to take control and force you to pay that much for a relatively simple item like this.
With any luck, you'll still be able to buy one for $35 if you're patient enough. If you get to that point, try not to fall madly in love with Tony Martino's casting. Buying every one of the 30+ variations could lead to financial ruin, as some cost over $1,000 apiece.
I've never attended an official Hot Wheels event yet, but I'd love to do it someday soon. Fans gathered in Miami, Florida, yesterday for the first Legends Tour event of the year. Official photos should be coming out soon, and I might write a story about that soon. But what caught my eye first was the collectible that the diecast manufacturer brought to the show: the classic Kool Kombi.
When the word got out that it would be present in Miami, one Mattel Creations forum user wrote: "Can't wait for the mini-riots of grown adults fighting over toys." I've noticed similar problems in my local toy stores whenever collectors hear the news that a restock is imminent. I haven't seen anyone fighting for Hot Wheels where I live, but people have been issuing online death threats against certain scalpers known to dig through Mainline cases searching for Super Treasure Hunt cars.
Anyway, you can keep an eye out for future Legends Tour events, and I hope you'll still be able to find the new Kool Kombi iterations once you're there. The next one is on June 1 in Atlanta, Georgia, with another gathering in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the 15th and then Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 29th. Mattel published a story on Instagram announcing the special Spectraflame Pink item yesterday, with a link to an external website where you could buy it.
It sold out almost instantly despite having a $35 price tag. That's more than you'd have to pay for a regular Red Line Club exclusive release. And this Kool Kombi has a plastic base and no moving parts! It's pretty cool with the 5-Spoke Mag-Style Real Riders wheels, but I've seen a lot of collectors complaining that it's overpriced.
It's not hard to imagine what the situation looks like on the open market. I've seen several different listings for this collectible on eBay alone, with prices ranging from $70 to $200. For the love of god, don't allow the fear of missing out to take control and force you to pay that much for a relatively simple item like this.
With any luck, you'll still be able to buy one for $35 if you're patient enough. If you get to that point, try not to fall madly in love with Tony Martino's casting. Buying every one of the 30+ variations could lead to financial ruin, as some cost over $1,000 apiece.
Google News