Hi Guys,
Without starting any kind of a war and without any other agenda, I was just interested to try to get some idea of how guys who consider themselves collectors have decided to deal with the AW releases and variations. Has the marketing and packaging stategy driven guys away? Has it brought new collectors in?
This informal poll isn't for the guy who always bought just what he liked - this is for the guy who always bought at least one of each car. Here are what I think would be the basic answers to choose from:

(1) It's much harder than before, but I am still trying to get one of everything.
(2) I like the new system and I am still intend to get one of everything.
(3) I gave up after giving it a go.
(4) Although I would have liked to collect them, I never even started because of the difficulty.
(5) The new marketing stategy got me interested and I like the chase.
(6) I already got one of everything - no problem.

For me, my answer was #4.

Thanks...Joe

3 # and its going to get harder!

Release 1
(3) I gave up after giving it a go.
Dont have them all (several Whites)

Release 2
(didnt like taking money out of my local Hobby shops pockets)
(2) I like the new system and I am still intend to get one of everything.
Have them all (not glass variations)
better then Release 1

Release 3
(2) I like the new system and I am still intend to get one of everything.
Have them all & I supported my local hobby shop.
Best of all so far, but a little pricey

My first love has always been the (AFX) X-traction style cars. (I have always bought what I liked in t-jets) I have the following thoughts (starting at the beginning of Tom Lowes slot products) on releases

Pullbacks - wa-hoo, something new, love the bodies - (5)

Johnny Lightning releases - cool something new, affordable, pretty neat - (5)
as the releases went on it seemed like the vision was getting blurrier and blurrier more repops in different colors

Auto World - (got all the rest of Toms stuff, I just figured I'd keep on buying if I liked it.

Release #1 - (6) the joy of the hunt - first lap, interesting premise

Release #2 - (2) the frustration of the hunt while looking for red tinted and smoke glass :confused: - what's with those red chassis :freak: - I like the iwheels for $25.00 per instead of having to get into a bidding war on ebay. :thumbsup:

Release #3 - (6) the frustration of the hunt left me searching for red tinted and smoke glass :confused: - I like the iwheels for $25.00 per instead of having to get into a bidding war on ebay. :thumbsup:

Basically I have tried to support the direction Tom has gone, but it seems like it's getting more and more expensive and I'm not sure how much more I really want, I now have well over 1200 cars (AFX, T-jets, Johnny Lightning, Auto World, Mattel, Tyco, Life Like, Tomy) and at what time is it safe to say that's enough - (good thing is I haven't hit it yet) :thumbsup: Bad thing is i can only run one car at a time

Bob

I'm a 3 and 4 guy... I started to collect them all, in fact I would buy two of each, one to race, one to case.... but was turned off by several factors with the last debacle.

I would have bought several first lap cars and a few iwheels too, but I was seriously turned off by the marketing plans, even more turned off by those who supported it. I wound up buying 2 first laps and 2 iwheels off the bay... but I wanted about 6 iwheels, 3 X-trac and 3 T-jets. I have 2 blue first laps, but that's all I wanted, the Ford GT and the Nomad. The rest were easy to pass on.

What surprised me was how easy it was not to buckle under to the "buy them all or buy none" marketing plan. In the past, I would have just given in, paid the money for cars I didn't want, and felt stupid about it later... and I was about to do just that before the infamous "take it or leave it" post.

That "take it or leave it" post from Tom sealed the deal for me.

Once I read that, there was NO way I was going to buy complete sets of any AW product, just to get the few cars I really wanted... and I never will do that again. So I guess I have all the AW marketing supporters, and Tom, to thank for giving me the resolve NOT to buy as many as I normally would have.

The best part, after a few months... I have no regrets about not giving in. I am looking forward to some of new designs I see posted here though ... but I'll never give in to the "take it or leave it" mindset or the "buy the 6 cars you don't want, just to gain the privilege to buy the 6 cars you DO want" .

Given that choice, I'll just walk away. Like Bob, I have over 1300 cars and I can only race one at a time. I also have my own projects to keep me busy as well. Seeing all the cool cars that other posters create only serves to inspire me towards not buying many new cars. I'd rather buy junkers I can customize.

I do wish AW would go back to making CHEAP bodies, like on the pull back cars. I think I've outgrown the "shelf queen" mentaility and I refuse to pay a lot for cars I intend to run.

to each, their own.

Hi Guys,
When I wrote "new system" in my original post, I was really talking about the regular cars, the random way they are packaged, and the chase aspect. I was not refering to the iWheels or First Lap cars. Having the special cars offered as full sets rather than chasing them down made it much easier for collectors who wanted them all.
So if you do decide to post a response, please bear in mind what I meant by "new system".

Thanks...Joe

7.) Wish it would go back to the good ole first release xtractions and bowtie brigades, there was one of each white thunder in each master case, making them a little easier to get and not as expensive.........and it should be limited too just a few cars in the release.

sorry, my answer I am not sure which number it may fall under, I gave up trying to get them ALL, and try to get the ones I like (which is about 95% of them)

I have now stopped buying the Aw cars, I prefer to buy their cheap chassis and throw a resin, dash or a model motoring body on it...

I'd have to say #3. Started out during the first JL days, tried to get it all and early. :freak: Finally wised up and just got the ones I wanted. But I will pick up others after they've been out awhile and their prices start to drop. Was able to fill in quite a few of the later JL and some first round AW cars at a great price even if it was off the auction site. :) rr

I guess I'm a 1 but getting closer to 3 with each release. If Tom Lowe thinks his new and improved chase car scheme is fun then he probably likes getting his teeth drilled without novacain.

http://photos.innersource.com/media/2953/l/Totem-Pole.jpg

I try not to take anything to seriously....

Scott

(3) I gave up after giving it a go.

I'm still looking but it is just getting to be too much. With 4 or 5 releases a year, I can't justify buying all of the cars. You are talking enough cash to buy some nice upgrades for one of my real cars.

Funny thing is, I probably bought just as many cars in the JL days. I just had more runners and gave more to the kids.