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DIECAST
Collectible Model Cars And More
| Item# |
Description |
Stock
Status |
| G9931BK |
Mattel
Hot Wheels - Batmobile (2005, 1:18 scale diecast model car, Black) G9931BK |
Restock |
| 2312D |
Welly
- Chevy Suburban SUV (2001, 1:38 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 2312D |
Restock |
| 2313D |
Welly
- Pontiac GTO Hard Top (1965, 1:38 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 2313D |
Restock |
| 2314D |
Welly
- Chevy Avalanche Pickup (2002, 1:36, Asstd.) 2314D |
Restock |
| 2315D |
Welly
- Cadillac Escalade SUV (2002, 1:38 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 2315D |
Restock |
| 2317D |
Welly
- Lamborghini Murcielago Hard Top (2003, 1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 2317D |
Restock |
| 2324D |
Welly
- Chevy Camaro Z28 Hard Top (1968, 1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 2324D |
Restock |
| 2335D |
Welly
- Elise Lotus Convertible (2002, 1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 2335D |
Restock |
| 39872/6D |
Welly
- Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV (1:31, Asstd.) 39872/6D |
New |
| 39879/12D |
Welly
- Chevy C10 Pick Up Truck (1966, 1:32, Asstd.) 39879/12D |
Restock |
| 42311CD |
Welly
- Mercedes Benz 190SL Convertible (1955, 1:34 - 1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.)
42311CD |
Restock |
| 42318D |
Welly
- Audi A4 Hard Top (1:34 - 1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 42318D |
New |
| 42356CD |
Welly
- Cadillac Eldorado Convertible (1953, 1:34 - 1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.)
42356CD |
Restock |
| 48890D |
Welly
- Jeep Wrangler Convertible (1:34 - 1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 48890D |
New |
| 49690D |
Welly
- Super Off-Roader SUV (1:34 - 1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 49690D |
New |
| 49762CFD |
Welly
- Ford Crown Victoria Police Car (1999, 1:34 - 1:39 scale diecast model car Black)
49762CFD |
New |
| 8870D |
Welly
- Old Timer Collection (1:34 - 1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 8870D |
Restock |
| 9733D |
Welly
- Chevrolet Corvette Convertible (1995, 1:38 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 9733D |
Restock |
| 9741D |
Welly
- Chevy Corvette Hard Top (1999, 1:38 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 9741D |
Restock |
| 9746D |
Welly
- Mercedes Benz CLK-GTR (1:34 - 1:39 scale diecast model car Silver) 9746D |
Restock |
| 9759D |
Welly
- Chevrolet Silverado Pick Up (1999, 1:34, Asstd.) 9759D |
Restock |
| 9761D |
Welly
- Land Rover Freelander (1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 9761D |
Restock |
| 9767D |
Welly
- Ford Mustang Hard Top (1970, 1:39 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 9767D |
Restock |
| 9769D |
Welly
- Chevy Chevelle SS454 Convertible (1971, 1:38 scale diecast model car Asstd.) 9769D |
Restock |
| 2101D |
Mail
Truck (4.5") 2101D |
New |
| 9661GD |
Farm
Tractor (4", Green) 9661GD |
Restock |
| 9801/2D |
City
Bus (6", Asstd.) 9801/2D |
Restock |
| 9811D |
Classic
City Bus (5.75", Asstd.) 9811D |
Restock |
| 9828D |
School
Bus (5") 9828D |
Restock |
| 9938D/8 |
School
Bus (7") 9938D/8 |
Restock |
| 9895/8D |
Emergency
Tow Truck (5", Asstd.) 9895/8D |
New |
| 9998D |
Super
Bike (4", Asstd.) 9998D |
Restock |
| 9933D |
Classic
Loco (7.5", Asstd.) 9933D |
Restock |
| 4101D |
Kinsmart
- Turbo Tractor (Asstd.) 4101D |
Restock |
| 5031D |
Kinsmart
- Chrysler PT Cruiser (1:34) 5031D |
Restock |
| 5039DF |
Kinsmart
- Dodge Viper Race Car (1:36, Asstd.) 5039DF |
Restock |
| 5302D |
Kinsmart
- Porsche Boxster S Convertible (1:34, Asstd.) 5302D |
Restock |
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Lu
Toy Wonders, Inc.
www.toywonders.com
201-229-1700
Difficulty
and Stupidity
By Lu Su
A
Canadian Dollar is now worth more than a US dollar. WHAT
is UP with THAT? (make sure you emphasize the words properly or
else the full effect of the sentence will be lost). As of yesterday,
it would cost you US$1.02 to buy one Canadian dollar.
From as long as I could remember, getting that stray Canadian
quarter or penny back for change meant you got gypped. When
was the last time the Canadian dollar was on par with the US?
I thought the US dollar has always been stronger than both are
North an South neighbors' currency. After a little research,
I found out that the last time one Canadian dollar equaled one
US Dollar was 31 years ago. Needless to say, it seems that
our currency has fallen against all major currencies (i.e. the
British Pound, the Japanese Yen, the Chinese Yuan, and the Euro).
Since we do not make anything more in this country (except weapons,
gas guzzling SUVs, and large commercial aircraft -none of which
are on my shopping list), the cost of consumer goods here the
States are sure to increase. Combine this element with rising
raw material, freight, and labor costs, Difficulty has arrived
and his big brother Inflation is surely to follow. So what are
the chances that products which sold poorly last year at $9.99
will sell even better this year at $12.99? WAIT, before
you answer that question, don’t forget to factor in the
fact that most people today have less disposable income.
A
famous quote from a famous man comes to mind. “In
the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity” –Albert
Einstein.
This
past Wednesday I had the opportunity to have lunch with Russell
D’Anton. For those who do not know Russell, he’s
a home grown Jersey boy. His very first job was to serve
as a dishwasher at a local Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse.
Through the years he rose up through the ranks and today he is
now the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for
Charlie Brown’s, The Office Beer Bar & Grill, and Bugaboo
Creek Steak House. Not bad for a college drop out.
When asked about what difficulties and challenges he faced, I
was curious to see which difficulty he thought was his greatest
hurdle. Perhaps a downturn in the economy? Fear of possibility
of US beef being tainted through Mad Cow or Hoof Mouth disease?
Was it his competitors that have a national presence like Outback
Steak House, Chilli’s, or Applebees? Or perhaps Taco
Bell rats found in his kitchens and then making front page news?
Those were all concerns for him but didn't’t come close
to what he thought was his organization's biggest upcoming challenge.
I think his very words were, “This current generation’s
work ethic is very different from ours”.
America,
sometimes referred to the land of opportunity, is a place where
if you work hard and work smart, you can get ahead. Despite
what is going on today in America, I think this is still true.
This same concept continues to drive immigrants to our land today.
However, Russell and other businessman at the table have noticed
that this work ethic that built this country does not appear to
be instilled in our youth today. I certainly can see how
that could be problematic for a person that has 7000 people working
for him. Russell relies on high school and college age kids
to fill key positions at his dining establishments. Is what Russell
said true? Have we somehow failed to teach our kids something
important? Have we spoiled our kids?
About
three weeks ago, I ordered some firewood and a truck came by and
dumped two full cords of wood onto my driveway. This happened
on a Monday. Probably like a typical husband in America,
one distraction lead to another and this chore (stacking wood)
made the list, but never got accomplished the first weekend.
Rain the following weekend gave me another excuse not to stack
wood. So for three weeks I have this big pile of wood sitting
on my driveway when I get some encouragement from my wife, “Lu,
you've got to move that wood. It’s an eye sore and
the neighborhood kids are starting to play on it”.
“Fine”, I said. I’ve got sons; this Saturday
we’ll turn this chore into a father son bonding experience.
The weekend arrives and I tell my sons to put on their jeans and
an old sweatshirt because we are going to stack wood. “No
thanks dad”, replied my eldest son, “I doesn't look
like a fun thing to do”. My younger son inquires that
if he helps, whether I would pay him or not. I nod in the
affirmative and he seems eager to help. I enlist (by force)
all three of my sons. After about 3 minutes of work, the
complaints just started flying from all directions. “This
is too heavy”, “I’m getting two sweaty”,
“How come I don’t get new gloves?”, “I’m
getting all dirty”, "Can I invite Dylan over?",
"When are you going to pay us?" and “How much
are you going to pay us?", asks my #2 son. Please
keep in mind all these comments and questions hit before we moved
our second wheel barrel of wood. I currently pay my kids a $3.00/week
allowance for the set of chores they are suppose to do.
I figure if I double his allowance this week and give them a chance
to double their pay, that should be pretty generous –but
I wasn’t sure. So I asked, “How much do you
think you should get paid for HELPING YOUR FAMILY”?
My son thinks about it for a few seconds and says, “a hundred
dollars”. Humm… I was thinking $3 and he’s
thinking $100. After stacking about half a cord, I noticed
that my eldest son was not present; I vaguely remember something
about running in for a quick drink of water. Where the heck is
he? I find him in the house in front of the TV with a game
controller in his hands. Russell was correct, our kids (at
least mine) today do have a very different work ethic than we
did when we were young. Work means something very different
to kids today. I’m sure for those of us that have hired
employees, you can relate to what I am saying. Humm.... for many
of us, we have marketing difficulty now, more is sure to come
soon, and now a degenerating work ethic? Where is this "opportunity"
that Albert was referring to?
This
past week I was faced with the difficult prospect of an entire
shipment of dolls to be defective. Our showroom manager put batteries
into the doll, turn it on, and nothing happened. Changed the batteries
-nothing still. Put brand new batteries in -nothing. Read all
the directions on the box (notice that reading directions seems
to be the very last step any of us will take) and the doll still
didn't work. Perhaps a defective doll? Test the entire case. None
of them work. Test 7 more cases. None of them work either. Send
word to our Hong Kong office that it appears that we received
a defective lot. They are in disbelief because this is a factory
has a tradition of producing quality products. An email later
reveals that in order to get the doll to dance and sing, this
dolls shoes need to be touching the base of the microphone that
she sings into. "Magnitism Power on/off" was the text
clue that was given on the box. If we couldn't figure it out,
what is the chance the average consumer would? So I had my staff
write in better detail instructions on how to operate this doll.
My assistant asks me a question, "For this battery operated
doll, Is it necessary to put for the first step Insert Batteries?"
Incidentally the box has written on it "batteries NOT included".
Could there be a consumer out there that doesn't know battery
operated dolls will require batteries to make them operate? Is
there such a person out there? Is that why we still need printed
directions for shampoo? A wise and experienced business man gave
me really good advice for the perspective one should take when
it came to questioning the general publics thinking abilities.
He did so by by asking me a question. What is the difference between
genius and stupidity?
Albert
Einstein again delivers an insightful answer: "The difference
between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits"
-Albert Einstein.
So
knowing that stupidity is total free from any constraints, I instructed,
"Best put in the directions to insert batteries AND to insert
them in the correct way". So there you have it this week.
Next time you encounter difficulty or stupidity in your life (and
usually you don't have to look to far), you are now armed with
two good quotes to get you through that trial.
