Where do you go to buy cars, track?
Thought it would be cool to have a directory of sorts for places we all buy cars. Big box stores, hobby shops, wherever...maybe rate them in terms of variety of cars, prices, size of inventory and any other stories.
Discussion
Wal-Mart They of course put all other stores out of business in my small town, where I might otherwise be able to buy Hot Wheels. It seems though that the stockers here are not corrupt and there must not be any hardcore collectors in my area since I've found 3 or 4 Treasure Hunts at this Wal-Mart since I started collecting again about 4 months ago. They have also had the very latest mainlines continually since I've started collecting again.
CVS Pharmacy Althought they supposedly carry Hot Wheels Ihave not seen any mainlines there in months.
Rite Aid $1.39,$1.48 you get the idea.
Dollar Tree They usually don't have Hot Wheels, but I started hear that Wal Mart exclusive red line cases were showing up, I went, didn't find any redlines, but did get stuck with a couple treasure hunts.
Sav-Mart Grocery Store - After Wal Mart this is the best place in town to pick up Hot Wheels. They don't turn over as fast, but it seems like there's been a decent selection since Christmas.
The track parts pieces and accessories I have a picked up years ago at eBay.
Big Lots - Sort of like Dollar Tree. They got a bunch of Hot Wheels in once and they are slowly, slowly dwindling away with no replacements.
There is a hobby/crafts store about 20 minutes away that sometimes gets unusual assortments of Hot Wheels, but are $1.49 or so.
The nearest K-Mart is about 40 minutes away. I've never been there. I don't know where the nearest Toys R Us is, but it's probably about an hour away.
I never went to Walmart until I started buying hot wheels. Now it's also Target, Toys R us, Family Dollar, Big Lots and I check grocery stores and drug stores. Lately though not much current stock, I know there are many collectors in Austin so unless I hit then pegs right when they have been stocked I miss out on sone of the new stock.
All of my track I either had or bought on eBay.
westbrook, me. indoor flee market has a h.w. dealer, and a guy who has trailer loads of old releases but he is lazy and is big $$$.
bernies wheels is a currant online dealer prices from $.94 to $1.35 [maineline]. he has classics, hot ones, waynes, delivery, boulivard, etc. ... google him, he's running out of '05 F.T.E.s [carl].
brunswick, me. indoor flee about 100 cars on his pegs $2.50 ea.
oxford, me. indoor flee about 100 cars, $2.50 ea. no rotation at all...
town line indoor flee maybe 200 cars at $2.50 ea... keeps me busy
Fred Meyer (one stop shopping): Very close to my house and they usually have a good selection at reasonable prices $1.00.
Walmart: The one in Bellingham has pretty much sucked since they remodeled, but there's one about 30 minutes south toward Seattle that usually has fresh stock and lots of it.
Target: Nothing but disappointing.
Kmart: Our local store has a good variety of like Mainlines, Garage, Hot Ones, and Holiday cars. They usually have some obscure cars like Father's Day for example in their Clearance section.
Rite Aid: small selection at high prices.
Haggen Foods: This grocery store although a bit pricy has yielded some gems. When they restock, they do it in a big way and I don't believe the BIG crazy collector people frequent there.
eBay: I find quite a few of my 'dream' cars here (cars I've alway dreamed of owning, but could never afford as a youngster). If I don't jump at the first one I see, I can usually get the cars I want at very good prices, and especially if I find a seller who has several cars I want who will combine shipping.
Local Flea Market: We have one next door to the grocery store I manage which seems to receive bin fulls of cars from time to time.
Hobbie store: the one in town is kinda running low on Hot Wheels and isn't seeming to get any more soon
Danielle's Hunting: My wife finds Hot Wheels for me at garage sales, antique and craft shows, rummage sales and even estate sales. She has found more original Redlines from the late 60s early 70s than I ever have in my many years of collecting.
I visit many of the places mentioned above, but I find the most obscure "deals" @ local farmer's/flea markets. About 15yrs ago, diecast vendors were much more abundant there...but the values of average mainlines became grossly inflated and the vendors eventually priced themselves out. I still find lots of overpriced diecast there, but new vendors come in every month and many of them just want to unload their stuff quickly...that's where the real deals are.
Actually, I found my redline on the card. I purchased it for $15 because the vendor simply didn't know 'old' HWs...it's worth at least $100.
the flee market guys will go $0.50 each if you buy 100 carded cars or more...but the cards are roughed up, great for donar cars... missed out saturday, 500 on the card cars for $200.00
And I'll kick things off...everything here in Grove City, Ohio sucks.
Kroger has several bins of cars but they only seem to have about two dozen different models. Good thing is the cars are usually $1 or less, so a great source for parts. Grade: C
The Target is always picked over it seems but even when they have stuff on the pegs it's pretty limited. Prices bounce around from $1 to $1.19. Grade: D
Of course there's Walmart which is usually pretty decent but not a wide range of models every time. I try to avoid Walmart as a general rule, so I don't go that frequently. Grade: B+
KMart always had some gems on their shelves but they're closing shop so that won't be around much longer.
Toys R Us is always well stocked but also seem to have old inventory. I find the best resource at TRU is track that you can buy by the foot. Also extras like loops, turns and jumps. Grade: B
As far as non-box stores...
Robbies Hobbies in the Clintonville area has a few spinners with cars, many of them older model cars. Prices range from $1 to $5 but well worth it if you find some pre-80s models. Grade: A-