This batch was big. Way too big for an 8-model per assortment mix. But, they did get all 54 models released during the 2023 model year, so I have to give Matchbox props for getting it all done. This week, over on the Wheel Collectors website, I make my way through the final Moving Parts batch of 2023. Some amazing models there. I say some, as you might find there is one I really don’t care for. You can click here to go to my Matchbox Monday page on their blog site. I hope you enjoy it.
When, if ever, will we see these in the UK. I’ve just found 2023 case A in The Entertainer, so almost a year behind. Will there be more?
The Entertainer are probably the best place for finding Matchbox in the UK at the moment but has been a good while since I’ve seen any Moving Parts in their stores. I see Tesco are getting in 2023 Case M basics which is the newest batch here, no 2024 to be found anywhere! Also disappointing to see Poundland now charging £2 for MBX too, this hobby has got very expensive and not so much fun over the last 12 months.
I thought Tesco had given up on Matchbox; on my recent visits all I’ve seen have been HW and Zuru. The store I visited today looked rather depleted in the toy department with no Matchbox or even HW singles. Hopeful more stock arriving soon. Agree The Entertainer has been good for Matchbox including the non-basic ranges but their prices are top-dollar. That being said, if they continue with the 3 for 2 deal on basics they’ll now be cheaper than Poundland! Saw 2023 case L in a couple of Poundland stores late last year but most now seem to either be re-stocking ’23 case G or nothing at all. Again, hope more stock is on the way
Tesco do continue to sell Matchbox singles at an eye watering £2.20 each and 5 packs at £11. To think 12 months ago they were just £1.25 and £5 each!!
Annoyingly some months ago they decided to drop Matchbox completely from many of their smaller branches, replacing them with said Zuru generics. My closest THREE stores no longer stock Matchbox, only the Tesco Extra stores which are miles away still do.
Looks like I’ll be going back to ordering full cases online.
This last mix finally showed up in my area (Poland) back in the early Deceber of 2023, however collecting Moving Parts in 2023 was a major pain in the *** 🙁 I consider myself luck because i found the only shop that provides Matchbox Moving Parts, so i was able to buy just two mixes in the entire year 2023, wow !? mixes 4 and last mix You show in this article to be exact. The only available series on a constant basis was the 1-100 series, but even then some mixes are missing in action (2-3 mixes). In short i don’t expect any better in 2024, Matchbox is scarce and that is the sad reality. Distribution is poor, very poor.
With the supply the way it is and it being slow moving I would be very surprised if Matchbox continues to be retailed in the U.K. Sad but I’d give it 3 months before they admit defeat and stop importing to the U.K.
David, you don’t appear to have linked the Jan 1st report on recent basics from here that is on Wheel Collectors.
I don’t know what happened with it. I set it up, scheduled it, then it disappeared. I could not find it anywhere. I never had a chance to redo it as I was so busy.
Link not working for wheel collectors blog…?
That’s weird. I am not sure what happened with the links. They should have worked.
Matchbox is unavailable period. Something ain’t right. This is pathetic. You have to be blind not to see the problem.