WHY?? ,does it take matchbox for ever just to bring out something, i mean hotwheels shows what's coming one day and its on the shelf in less than two weeks. i mean im not trying to get discouraged but i know it can be quicker. hot wheels are coming from malasia, and matchbox from thiland? same distance! whats first? BOAT it here, CSX it there(train), then TRUCK it here? whats going on? Hot wheels must be coming on plane, because there on it!! Atlanta georgia.

Matchbox does take longer to hit the pegs, but I don't believe it's entirely Mattel's fault. It seems that the stores refuse to keep on top of their diecast aisle and merchandise can sit in the backstock and rot. I believe that it's a combination of both slow distribution and indifferent toy department clerks. Who knows? Taking the conspiracy theorist approach, Mattel may delay new releases of MB's to give HW's a chance to sell down. We collectors can't win for losin'.

HW distribution is better and in bigger volumes than Matchbox just about allover the world so even though MB sales are growing while HW are declining the volumes balance is still in favour of HW.When Mattel realises just how much more potential MB has over HW these days they will promote them better with stores who wrongly perceive MB as just upmarket Welly or other Chinese brands

Mattel lets HW make and sale about 4 times the ammount of cars as MBX. This is where you see the difference in stores.

most hobbyshops here in Canada won't carry Matchbox, they say Mattel Canada is uncooperative in distributing on time, price changes without notice to the dealer, etc...whether much of this is true or dealers in Canada can't sell MB in Canada, dang! MB fanatics such as myself have to resort spending my $$$'s south of the border & have to wait & wait...& wait.

Like I said, HW makes and sells 4 to 6 times them amount of cars that MBX does so it figures that more HWs will be found.

kids (biggest audience) love hotwheels better and the majority of older adults/europeans seem to like mbx better.

lol! stop fighting!!

Some are So.................uninformed.............By the way, the yellow Ford ambulance is out as well as the new ice cream truck ha ha

yellow ford ambulance????????? what!!!!! hey!!!

I meant the orange one and the yellow xke 1961 Jag:drunk::freak::hat::)