Not Very Merry Thomas Christmas Hot Wheels Advent Calendar Time Warp RETAIL STUDY

Just one month out from Christmas 2023 I go in search of Thomas & Friends stock in store. In previous years this has often proved to be challenging but 2023 takes it to a all time new high. I am looking for the 2023 Thomas and Friends Advent Calendar and a new TWR Diesel. It's basically Mission Impossible. In my search I found every other Advent Calendar which sends me into a time warp looking back at the 2015 Hot Wheels Advent Calendar. I also show some other curious Thomas All Engines Go itens I found during the year.
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[@Silverlink28]

How did Thomas the Tank engine go to one of the most popular properties on the planet to having to be lucky to find him anywhere in a span of 2 to 3 years?

[@leokimvideo]

Yes, thats a VERY good question indeed🙀

[@cinnamonmantrainsareawesom7224]

@@leokimvideohonestly quite sad it was once a loved franchise now just falling off the face of the eartg

[@trainfan998]

Well it could be the perception of the new reboot series, I mean 2.5 out of 10 on IMDB, thats bad for any show.

[@Apples800]

If there was a book for “how not to treat a beloved franchise” Thomas The Tank Engine would be the number one example.

[@TomSig]

Mattel

[@LeaderOfTheTracks]

Not many people are gonna like to hear this, but something I’ve noticed, is that ever since mattel took full control of Thomas the Tank, merchandise and the show significantly decreased popularity and how easy it was to find. I remember when HiT still owned the show during the earlier 2000s when there would be whole sections of shops dedicated exclusively to Thomas. There was much more variety in the type of toys and merchandise they made. Its especially sad when its a month before Christmas. They would create special train sets, events or adverts for this time of year but they don’t seem to bothered to make those type of things anymore.

[@jackknife593]

Love sitting down to one of Leo's videos with a cup of coffee. Perfect way to unwind.

[@theremoteanater]

@leokimvideo I have recently got into casting and 3d modeling I'm making tomy scale model trains as practice,I electroplate the mold after printing.can I send you a model to review after I figure out how to email content creator's from the app.

[@ThomasTheorist]

i know where the thomas stuff is, DOC! WE GOTTA GO BACK IN TIME TO 2008! DOC!

[@andreiemanueltudose2445]

Those were the gold times

[@vinceargado9892]

Love how the Christmas elf is just messing with him. 😂 Some sort of revenge. It’s pretty funny.

[@thomasawl]

🎵lets do the time warp again🎵

[@SteamRailPatreonR761VR]

A man of culture I tip my hat to you!

[@harrisonsimpson7784]

What the hell omg no way

[@smashkiller64]

Literally Barnes & Nobles has more Thomas stuff than most stores and it feels exciting but weird!

[@Steamenginesunited3456]

23:54 I remember once as a child smashing the family tv with one of these

[@Thomas_patrick1234]

Can't believe how little Thomas stuff is out in stores just 1 month before Christmas. It sucks.

[@jordanstrains7267]

This in my mind just goes to show that All Engines Go was the drop of Thomas the train. If anyone owns any of the old Thomas "DO NOT SALE IT, THOMAS WILL ONLY LIVE ON IF WE KEEP THE OLD". They say out with the old in with the new but with Thomas, it's "out with the new in with the old". This is why when my family says to get rid of my Thomas I say NO Thomas means too much to me I hate the new stuff. I will keep my old Thomas thank you so very much!

[@homer4635]

Tank Engine, not Train.

[@jordanstrains7267]

Well here's the thing, I don't really care I will call it Thomas the train or Thomas the tank engine mostly "the train" due to it being smaller so there have a good day to you.@@homer4635

[@creeperkelten]

Its really sad seeing the slow downfall of Thomas ever sense Mattell took over

[@angelplayz02]

Rest in Peace Teddy 🕊️

[@harrisonallen651]

Well Barbie has certainly become more popular thanks to the movie with Margot Robbie this year, mind you it was very well written and presented. I guarantee you when the upcoming live action Thomas movie comes out that Mattel’s developing come 2025, we’ll see Thomas merch everywhere just like in the good old days!

[@leokimvideo]

Whatever meds your on I need some 💊

[@imlovingtrains]

He is back with thomas stuff yay

[@andreiemanueltudose2445]

Yea but we lost the good old toys and got this new cursed Thomas

[@imlovingtrains]

​@@andreiemanueltudose2445very true 😢

[@andreiemanueltudose2445]

@@imlovingtrains Yea 🥲 now those old memories feels like a dream

[@imlovingtrains]

​@@andreiemanueltudose2445I wish old thomas can come back 😢

[@andreiemanueltudose2445]

@@imlovingtrains Same dude...

[@ViewerIsLame]

It's sad to see that Thomas and Friends isn't really that popular nowadays.

[@SteamRailPatreonR761VR]

Australia seemed to be the last stronghold of OG Trackmaster products like I can remember growing up in northern NSW by 2014 the rest of the world had moved on to Trackmaster 2 while Australia held on until 2015 and many memories were made with my Henry ,Gordon model R.I.P to the golden age 😭😢😢😢

[@TobyOliverHenryFan]

32:56 A word of advice: If you ever see an AEG push-along Henry, Edward, Whiff, Ashima or Toby GRAB THEM. They are quite rare as of now, and I saw a Henry further back on the peg next to that Motorised Nia.

[@ttteproductions7609]

And James

[@Lexi_543]

Here before it reaches a minute

[@harold5337]

Remember when Thomas took up so much shelf space and there was tons of quality merchandise I remember. It’s sad to see Thomas like this.

[@logancraft1507]

I went to my local walmart and sometimes i will like to go to the toys section to see what kind of thomas toys where there, and there was nolonger a selection for thomas toys and it kinda sadens me but i understand it especially with the reboot

[@leokimvideo]

Supermarkets that have 'toy areas' where I live lost the Thomas Metal Engine stock once AEG toys kicked in. I just have that feeling AEG isn't selling like it should. Although we can't see whats sold online.

[@dr.pepper45]

my local walmart got rid of the thomas section way back in 2017

[@1471SirFrederickBanbury]

It’s seems Mattel’s quality control has dwindled to Dark Side levels. The recall sends me right back to the ultimate track master review & BTS about how the plastic loads could easily be pulled off and become a hazard. It would take a lot to restore that glory from yesteryear now… what a shame. At least so far, stupid-tube is allowing your Highly Educational videos.

[@f82usa61]

"How the mighty have fallen" a quote that I have been using way too much in the past year with KZbinr scandals Thomas the Tank Engine falling and the general world but it's true

[@ToastTheThe]

Over here in California it's like exactly the same, there's like NO thomas merch at all, it's sad. Target has basically nothing, i dont go to Walmart enough to check but I'm pretty sure they only barely have more

[@Steamerthesteamtrain]

I remember as late as 2007 my Walmart had a the old Tomy made in Thailand Thomas from the 90s. Damn, Portland was such a simpler place back then.

[@Jackskellington1993]

LeokimVideo never disappoints

[@OnlyTheRightTrack]

Great to see you uploading again, Leo!

[@brunomartinez1705]

Amazing video as always. I just wish Thomas could go back to the old days like trackmaster 1 and Tomy. I still have my action canyon thomas set in my attic for the memories.

[@BearPlayzGamez]

the elf on the shelf joke has me dying everytime lol

[@sonicfan2009_YT]

10/10 Distribution there, Mattel

[@Yourlocalsudricboi1215]

Welcome back to my old memories

[@michaelkrynski7793]

Happy Holidays, leokimvideo! :)

[@raiden_prime24]

The end of an empire, all because of the redesign, thanks matel

[@bubblingboiler195]

Mattel really took a nosedive when they rebooted Thomas and friends

[@Myth1k4508]

word aeg is just not thomas.

[@andreiemanueltudose2445]

So much good old memories that now are just like a dream because we got this

[@silastrain486]

i really love your cats

[@coilstrike]

All my local kmarts and stores are the EXACT same. Remember the days of going to a whole long aisle of just thomas stuff in toys r us? And they'd have thomas displays and wooden railway tables out. Ah those were the days

[@SumiTheTransitFan]

YES FINALLY A NEW LEOKIMVIDEO VIDEO :D you were my childhood, and i still kinda watch you daily :)

[@FamilyEntertainmentStudios]

Wow and I thought I had it bad in *my* local big w shop

[@RealTony123YT]

yay hes back to trains and thomas stuff

[@Rangnathebloodedge]

I love your tomes videos and your red back spider videos

[@ev3rst0rm]

when the world needed him most, he returned

[@alfiee.8]

In my local town in the UK, there are probably about 2-3 toy shops and not a single one of them sell Thomas toys.

[@AlfieWaves]

Love you leo!❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@hypocritehaterofficial3283]

The intro is just “wow” a lot different from what I remember coming to this channel

[@duckthe1_668]

finally a new thomas video!

[@milkytales]

31:09 You’re not kidding about the Barbie Movie!

[@leokimvideo]

That film will become the top grossing film of all time AND I notice the Hot Wheels collectors can see the value in getting the first edition of the cars related to the film. The 'Ken' Barbie car is very tricky to find. Put it this way none of the Barbie Film Hot Wheels cars are peg sitting💰

[@milkytales]

@@leokimvideo I managed to get a few secondhand Barbies, two of whom are the Rapunzel and Swan Lake dolls from the early 2000s. I’m also getting a plush Bedtime Barbie for Christmas. 🎄

[@REALFeltysCoinsAndTrains]

I remember back in 2014-2018 Thomas ruled the shelfs in walmart Usa so sad. Also Leo you asked whats coming next NOTHING is coming after this time period.

[@lukeslocos6610]

Hornby ruston looks nice leo -^-

[@francogodoylado6963]

of the man who unconsciously taught me to speak English

[@Canadiansteamer43]

HES BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@user-thonasandfriends261]

Thank you so much for making a thomas and friends video for KZbin im so happy 😢 and sad for you cat

[@Nathan_ruddy]

If only we were in the 2000s

[@TheRaykemp]

Leo,the TWR 2022 range have been at barens&nobles for about a year I've been going there for the past few months and their stock differs every time I go there but I've been seeing a lot of diesel like 10 or 15 I think he is a peg sitter but that's just for the US market I know nothing about Australia's market for this toys but that just a clue to where they are at.

[@trainboy7]

And to think all of this could’ve been avoided had The Red Buzzsaw of Death not redesigned Take n Play and Trackmaster to begin with…

[@XtremeTrainz]

Some nice easter egg items in the background there! It's so strange, when AEG dropped the stock was everywhere, and then it's dead again? There are whole sections of their Thomas product range that never come to AU (like the push along 3 packs) and the Advent calendar. I also look for the monster truck but have never seen it - i wonder if that case never made it to Australia...

[@XtremeTrainz]

It's also so strange how different areas of Sydney can get different stock at the same chains? The allocation is truly random.

[@leokimvideo]

I'm seeing in Oz Post shops Thomas AEG style Busy Book. Problem is it's doubled in price. Now $20

[@YSRRJH]

I wonder why the new motorized engines don't have any coupling rods on the wheels? I see the hole in the drive wheel and the metal stud to hold them. Interesting choice...

[@randeshjayawandhane2844]

Reverend W. Awdry always believed that Thomas should never be a market product. If I remember correctly, he said that if the Americans got hold of the brand, it would be completely massacred. Well, it seems that Thomas as an Empire is dead. I can only imagine him up in heaven, smiling down at Mattel's failure. Now the only thing left to do is get the Railway Series back into print. Things would finally return to how the reverend wanted it to be.

[@ToastTheThe]

Isn't like half the railway series still technically in-print cuz they keep on rereleasing the massive box set and the big book with all of Wilbert's stories?

[@upgradedtitanspeakerman160]

MORE THOMAS VIDEOS LEZ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@ivanthomasthetankengine5993]

are you gonna do push along Henry

[@rafizihazim9675]

I saw Leo uploaded thomas related vid, my finger instantly clicked the vid

[@ryanfuller912]

Hey Leo, been a long time.

[@g.t.s4406]

Hey Leo I went shopping a couple of days of go and the Thomas stock was bad at target they had 6 motorized Thomas's a few 9 packs and two talking cranky sets and walmart had a few talking engines some new ones though like the new talking gordon and james the metal engines were gone and motorized engines normal and 3 packs were few they did have a good amount of motorized sets the things that did the worst was the plushe and the color changes were in overflow.

[@Drake-The-Framer]

yo wat up bro

[@vscursed]

My idea: Maka a 2nd channel to make videos that get demonitazed on your main channel

[@bubblingboiler195]

Rip teddy 😭🙏

[@colleenbrimeyer4886]

Im so sorry for your cat

[@theoneandonlynumber1253]

Rip teddy

[@cinnamonmantrainsareawesom7224]

There is little Thomas stock in store it’s honestly sad 😢

[@jackscotcher3099]

Leo, can we have more spider videos about your red backs and maybe a new spider tank?

[@OreothepupfromYTvideos]

For sone reason, my Cousin likes the AEG Toys, but still agrees that Original Tomy-Hit Entertainment Era Thomas Toys are better, even if he wasn’t born in the 2000’s

[@jessicaparker4177]

YOU ARE AT THE SUNSHINE PLAZA I THINK

[@homersodysseus]

leo, when are you gonna make the dark side cars bootleg smashing videos? i really love those, and given the fact they are making way more, you should see more of them now in stores

[@Myth1k4508]

He probably won't bc yt monetization is shit nowadays.

[@natedaboi1608]

It seems like Matel got the rights did it good for a bit, but than they didn’t know what to do with it so they just gave it some person who saw the most recent movie and (at that time would be bwba) and grew up with Disney movies

[@Itz_YoshiMelon]

I live in Melbourne, and there are plenty of 2023 wooden railway trains at the toyworld near me. Is it just a Sydney thing? (I have a wooden railway 2023 diesel btw and it is a quality train)

[@Rangnathebloodedge]

If you want to find your tomes wooden railway you have to find the elfe on the shelf and you will find it

[@harrisonsimpson7784]

Someone get me the friping cars 3 and Thomas and friends advent calendars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

[@teenagefc]

Which Toymate is that Leo? It looks enormous. The 2 Toymates that were closeted to me (Chatswood and Warriewood) have both closed down

[@DemolitionDerbyChaosShorts]

Oh no

[@EricPlayzGames]

Its sad that mattle ruined the Thomas the tank engine series, and because of this theres very little Thomas the tank engine merchandise i remember when i was younger i went it walmart/toys r us there was a whole asle dedicated to Thomas merch i honestly miss those days man

[@bernardothetankengine7218]

welcome back did you find your cat if you don´t want to tell thats alright i respect

[@randomretroplays3123]

How do you feel leo about the new thomas design?. Me and my boys much prefer the classic look.

[@new_gil_and_homestuck_official]

Oh yea B)

[@graceygurl01]

I live in Australia and I can't find a tomy Thomas I've been every were do U know eny idea's

[@BNSFTrains10]

Bubble should be the new star like what her fallen brother did.

[@Razer_-fe9mo]

Wow! I've never seen Thomas stock that low! I guess AEG really has killed the franchise.

[@Kublai1969]

You guys down south are really getting shafted. At least from what I've seen in south east Queensland (Bundaberg & Brisbane) stock is very plentiful. TWR is fairly common in Toyworlds, with my local one having tons, and selling equally as much. Push alongs and the motorised are a little light on the ground, which is dissapointing considering the new characters being released in those ranges. Kmart frankly sucks for Thomas stock as well. Big W and especially Target are where its at, with the latter tending to have most of the motorised stock. I also have to laugh, cause I fell like I leave this comment every year this comes around 😂. But hey, important to check in I guess...

[@scottydogheaven8606]

If its any consolation the Thomas stock here in northern California is equally pitiful! The advent calendar and monster truck Thomas are nowhere. On a brighter note I did turn up another hot wheels Original Thomas Locomotorin the other day at a flea market for a dollar fifty although the card is a little damaged. I don't know if you have the bookstore Barnes and Noble in Australia but they carry a lot of the new wooden railway.

[@jodysmith8048]

I believe Mattel is struggling as a company and I believe they have been struggling for a long time and they got lucky with the Barbie movie in that it was a home run but why I say Mattel is struggling as a company because in the stores their products are just sitting on store shelves and nobody's buying anything from Mattel

[@Idiot_with_a_shotgun]

What’s up Leo

[@RailwayStoriesE236]

Hey Leokimvideo , The Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Thomas Variant was A Target Exclusive And Was Only Sold In The United States , Sorry to disappoint you , also , The Naughty Elf stole your 2022 Thomas Wooden Railway Thomas.

[@tiger_shorkz]

WHAT 15 DOLLARS FOR 5 PACK in our country the small aeg train costs 20 pln idk how its in usd

[@BIH301]

Same thing happened to Power Rangers. It’s sad.

[@el_martin_a8764]

:0

[@simngioentjin1940]

Leo why you sound sad?

[@mooglejerry-jx6yv]

E

[@Andtendo]

I'm the first to comment

[@imlovingtrains]

Nope

[@anthonystrikcani3840]

Oh no. Not you again elf

[@Coolbradandrew87]

I hope it gets caught at some point.

[@anthonystrikcani3840]

@@Coolbradandrew87 I know he literally destroyed his 1995 tomy Gordon, that was his old pool tracks toy, and now he has to buy a new one from eBay, this is your fault elf

[@Coolbradandrew87]

It also destroyed his gold Thomas.

[@anthonystrikcani3840]

@@Coolbradandrew87 yeah that’s true

[@rileyproctor5907]

As a hot wheels collector non of them are good you can just go to the store and buy the same for $1.18

[@leokimvideo]

Thats the big problem going on here. The HWAC could be an amazing product if a little bit of effort was employed.

[@rileyproctor5907]

@@leokimvideo the ones here in the us come with licensed cars our 2023 one is Japanese themed

[@Sickminecraft45]

First?

[@Lexi_543]

Nope

[@gustavomartinez-wi8kh]

five nights at freddy's movie

[@Onemilfan]

Oh no