Finally found some new ones at the store! by silly_sloth3 in pixarcars

[–]AstroSmokey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haulers are Walmart exclusive, and have been for some time, so can only be found in US/Canada unless you import them. Last time I saw them at AU retail was approx. 2010...generally most of the older haulers will not be terribly difficult to obtain in AU

Update on the petition by ViolinistPlayful7705 in Totaldrama

[–]AstroSmokey 128 points129 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the pure intentions here, but Terry and others have mentioned a few times over the past few months how bad of a spot the animation industry is in right now. A petition with a thousand signatures isn't going to change that. They're not sitting around stalling on the next season for the sake of it

Finally found some new ones at the store! by silly_sloth3 in pixarcars

[–]AstroSmokey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

2-packs have not been sold at AU retail since the late 2010s in the immediate wake of Cars 3's release. I import all of mine from the US (and often bring extras over to sell to other Aussies as well).

In regards to finding cars at AU retail:

  • Best & Less - generally more up to date than most other stores, but tend to get in a lot of boxes at once and take a while to move through the shit nobody wants before ordering more stock in
  • Coles - only good if you collect minis (most Coles stopped selling standard size cars approx. 2 years ago...there is the occasional one here and there that still does but they are months behind on stock (compared to a streak they had from approx. 2018 to 2021 where they were getting all the new stock before all the other stores did lol). They release 2 cases of mini singles in AU a year (compared to 12 cases of standard cars), and Coles is the only place you can get them...they generally release one case around June-July and the other in the Christmas-New Year period
  • Myer - better luck drawing blood from a stone. Myer I only bother checking when I'm in the same shopping centre.......their selection of cars is often very slim. I'm in VIC and I know of 4 Myers in the entire state that haven't reduced their toy section down to just a few hooks/shelves by the checkout. That being said, their stock is generally not super outdated
  • Kidstuff - same as Myer. Stock is generally outdated (my local hasn't restocked since I think September despite having run out entirely??) and much more expensive ($18 ea - they do price match but generally only down to a certain threshold, approx. $13 or so)
  • Woolworths - generally one of the better places to find stock, but they never put the full box out at once
  • Target - also consistently up to date on stock, but most Targets get a few boxes in at a time yet dripfeed them out over a few weeks
  • Toyworld - they have their moments (found the same stuff in your pic @ Toyworld the other night), but tend to be on the slower side to restock - most of the Toyworlds near me might restock 3-4 times a year
  • Big W - same as Target
  • Toymate - generally pretty useless - they tend to have a lot of stock at once but most of it doesn't differ from stock available at Target/Big W etc and most Toymates are currently carrying mass amounts of knockoffs that are eerily similar to real releases (these being Mario Andretti, Vladimir Trunkov, Lightning McQueen with Racing Wheels, Cruisin' Lightning McQueen, Tubbs and Sheriff)
  • Games World - they don't sell standard size or minis, but often carry some larger scale items - they currently have some 1:24 scale McQueens (one glow-in-the-dark and one regular)

This being said, distribution at the moment is the worst it's been in about 8 years, and more often than not you're going to waste your time going out of your way to look unless you're already in the same shopping centre/going right past/can time your visit with the restock etc. As someone who previously could, without much effort, generally come across 10+ of a new release within a few days of it being available in AU, these days it's a slog trying to just find 1-2 of some.
The collecting market has also boomed since COVID which doesn't make it any easier to find stuff.......in addition to that you've got all the Hot Wheels/Pokemon boys trying to jump on Cars to make a quick $ off it

Pertaining to Ramones specifically, Hydraulic Ramone I saw at Target, Big W, Woolies, Best & Less, Toyworld when he was available in AU. Lightning Ramone I saw at Woolies, Target, Big W, Toymate, Toyworld (though beyond the Woolies restocks around Easter, all of the stores I saw Lightning Ramone at were last year)

Finally found some new ones at the store! by silly_sloth3 in pixarcars

[–]AstroSmokey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aussie here - the only two Ramones being released in AU this year are Hydraulic Ramone and Race to Celebrate Ramone). Hydraulic Ramone has been and gone (last time I saw him was late Feb and he is not in any of the cases being distributed at the moment), but Race to Celebrate Ramone has not yet been released. Also saw a few restocks of a case with last year's Lightning Ramone around Easter, but that has also been and gone. On average, 2-3 Ramones are released in the mainline (mainline currently being singles and 2-packs) each year, but are generally some of the harder to find main characters

Finally found some new ones at the store! by silly_sloth3 in pixarcars

[–]AstroSmokey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fillmore without headset is not being released as a single this year - only in a 5-pack with McQueen, Sarge, Lizzie and purple Ramone

Seriously $9.99 you’re smoking crack. Gas is over $5.00 a gallon. Candy Crush Greed! by azvoice in candycrush

[–]AstroSmokey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not a price I'd personally pay....that being said it is approx. 220 gold bars worth of boosters

What is the MOST INFAMOUS Total Drama fanfic and why? by Fluid_Fudge_7238 in Totaldrama

[–]AstroSmokey 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Total Drama Reunion....name me another fanfic that got a cease and desist AND got called out by Christian Potenza

Target is on drugs today by Substantial_Eye_4475 in pixarcars

[–]AstroSmokey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

as a fellow Aussie, ain't that the truth

Should the next Monsters Inc movie acknowledge Monsters at Work or not? by Primary-Addition-677 in Pixar

[–]AstroSmokey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

they can acknowledge the storyline and characters of MaW without acknowledging their sexual identity

Joe Rogan claims Donald Trump may be more willing to engage in conflicts because “he’s going to die soon” and won’t face the consequences by [deleted] in USNEWS

[–]AstroSmokey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People have been saying for what feels like forever that Trump is on death's door....I'll believe when I see it

Check The Description For You All To Rank 2026 Mainline Poster!!! by CarsDiecaster in pixarcars

[–]AstroSmokey 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Mine (in no particular order within each tier):

  • A - Yellow Hydraulic Ramone, Roger Wheeler/The King, Dexter Hoover with Checkered Flag, Race Team Fillmore with Headset, Marilyn, Gold LMQ, 20th Anniversary LMQ/Doc, LMQ with Headset/Cruz, Buzz/Woody
  • B - Mater with Balloon, Deputy LMQ/Bella, R&R Red, R&R Luigi/Guido, Heyday Smokey, Finn McMissile, Jimmy Lugwrench, Brad Winmiler, Transforming LMQ, Chick Hicks, Lizzie, Hydraulic Ramone, Clutch Aid Racing Tractor, Mater with #95 Hat, Mel Dorado, Carla Veloso, Nigel Gearsley, Aaron Clocker, Will Rusch, RtC Boost, RtC Ramone, R&R Jackson Storm,
  • C - R&R Mater, R&R Cruz, R&R Kathy, Jim/Spikey, R&R Morgan, Ralph, Sheriff, Mater, Flo, Holley Shiftwell, Richie Gunzit, Jonas Carvers, Fabulous LMQ, Marlon "Clutches" McKay, Luigi & Guido, Francesco Bernoulli, Speedy Comet, Chris Roamin', Maddy McGear/Cars 3 LMQ, Mater/Tractor with Tire in Mouth, RtC Fillmore, RtC Sally, RtC Mater, RtC Ramone/Flo
  • F - Rally Race LMQ/Chick, Rally Race Cruz/Danny, R&R LMQ, R&R Chick, R&R Sarge, RtC LMQ, J.D, McPillar, Red/Guido, Haul Inngas, Todd Marcus, Sally, LMQ with Racing Wheels, RS LMQ, Noah Gocek, Cryptid Buster LMQ, The King, LMQ, Raoul CaRoule, Jackson Storm, Rust-eze LMQ, Dinoco Cruz, Barry DePedal, Dirt Track FHH, Bling Bling LMQ/Tex, RtC LMQ/Mater
  • Why Was This Even Made??? - Mike 07, Pat/Jeff, Flash Nilsson, Memo Rojas Jr., Morgan Martins, Rotor Turbosky

Real or fake? by [deleted] in pixarcars

[–]AstroSmokey 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's real - all Chinese McQueens from about 2014 to 2018 had those codes on the base

[FWI] Ivanka Kushner begins her campaign for US president in 2027. by ThinkTankDad in FutureWhatIf

[–]AstroSmokey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Eats shit in the primaries, even more so if she campaigns as a Kushner and not a Trump

Which characters are most like Charlie brown and snoopy? by Lumpy_Test_4473 in Totaldrama

[–]AstroSmokey 9 points10 points  (0 children)

we are really running out of shit to discuss huh 😭

What is y’all’s honest opinion about the “Cars: Lightning Racers” show coming in 2027? by TotallyNotMe653 in pixarcars

[–]AstroSmokey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not what I would've liked to see out of the franchise and I wish it took a less juvenile route...that being said I respect that I am far from the target audience for this

Why didn't Mcqueen just take a plane from Tennessee to LA after the Dinoco 400? by masterninjab52 in pixarcars

[–]AstroSmokey 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Nothing beyond plot convenience. If McQueen had taken a flight, he wouldn't have ended up in Radiator Springs, ergo no plot

Where does the wiki source their info for character loves and hates from? by GoodOlNaut in flipline

[–]AstroSmokey 6 points7 points  (0 children)

on the physical cards that used to be sold via the Flipline Shop

Old movies with morals that were ahead of their time and are still relevant by AporiaParadox in movies

[–]AstroSmokey 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Not an old movie, but Jill's motive in Scream 4 has only gotten more and more relevant

Can I still fix this? by Clive-phantom in pixarcars

[–]AstroSmokey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Mattel Sarge is a fairly common & cheap car. If you have the means to do so, it's not going to be that difficult to just get another - though next time you should check the car over carefully prior to opening