I hope people have already checked out the auction lots heading into Leipzig, which takes place this coming weekend. Dirk Schleuer (link to his Instagram) arranges a Matchbox convention that takes place alongside the annual Modell-Hobby-Spiel each year, and the Matchbox event is now in its 24th year. I showed the auction lots here on the Lamley Group website on Saturday 25th (it should show up just below this post), and they run until Saturday 4th October. Then, expect another set running out of the event. However, always remember, if you do want to bid, please do it directly with Dirk vie his email address. He doesn’t take bids on multiple platforms. All details are included in the auction page. In the meantime, before I show off the Leipzig models next week, I am ready to finish showing off batch H of the basic range. As is usual with the blog reports, this one is going up on the Wheel Collectors website. The last 5 standard issues, as well as another that does require a little hunting. If you click here, you will be taken to Matchbox Monday section of their website. I hope you enjoy it. And again, good luck if you want to be bidding on the auctions.
I was unable to buy any new Matchbox in the last four months, be it Basics, Moving Parts or Collectors it’s unavailable all the time. Can’t say that i’m surprised, far from it,there were signs it’s gonna end up like that ! The only way to collect Matchbox is online. To me it matters, ’cause half of the fun comes from die-cast hunting, the cheaper i find, the more i get… I like to hunt shopping, but at this point in time it’s impossible, there are no updates since ages, some shops offers left overs, while others offers nothing, looks like Matchbox have vanished from the market. Sad but true.
I live in the south east England, same here really just bits and bobs here and there…. Some stock and some don’t. No constant highlights of this brand. By the time you see something stocked , all the good mainline have gone. Mainline matchbox is all I see. No other of matchbox products. However consistency of Hotwheels is everywhere…. B&M who are supposed to stock don’t… but 4 stands for Hotwheels . That’s the summary of me and my area.
The irony of course is that technically the UK has actually missed very few Matchbox batches this year. They have come thick and fast culminating in both Case L and M appearing within just weeks of each other.
Unfortunately the best retailers for stocking new Matchbox such as Poundland and Tesco have large amounts of their stores no longer stocking the brand making it difficult for many collectors.
None of my nearest Poundlands or Tescos stock MBX anymore, my Entertainer is still stuck on 2023 batches as well as my nearest B&M!