McDonald's in Japan ends Pokémon Happy Meals after resellers dump food for cards
McDonald's canceled its campaign for its Happy Meals, called Happy Sets in Japan, due to resellers buying the meals simply for the coveted cards inside, but discarding the food, according to a statement posted on the company's website. The resellers would leave the food and trash outside the fast food restaurants, the company added.
A toy, such as a mini plastic Pikachu, and a Pokémon card came inside the Happy Meals that resellers were clamoring for. The meals sold out in a day, according to the Associated Press, citing Japanese media.
McDonald's has sold Happy Meals for more than 40 years. In Japan, they typically sell for 510 yen ($3.40). Resellers are listing the McDonald's Japan Pokémon cards on eBay for roughly $28 each, USA TODAY found.
In a statement, the company confirmed that customers had purchased large quantities of the Happy Sets to resell, which subsequently led to the abandonment and disposal of ordered food. The company added that it does not tolerate people buying Happy Meals to resell, while also apologizing to customers, store staff, local residents and tenant owners for the inconvenience.
'We do not believe in abandoning and discarding food. This situation goes against our longtime philosophy that we have cherished as a restaurant to 'offer a fun dining experience for children and families.' We sincerely accept that our preparations had not been adequate,' McDonald's said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press.
USA TODAY contacted McDonald's on Wednesday, Aug. 13, but has not received a response.
'We vow to return to the basics'
To prevent this issue from happening again, McDonald's Japan said on its website that it may limit the number of meals each person can purchase, as well as end online ordering. Those who failed to abide by the new rules might be denied service, according to the company.
'We vow to return to the basics of what lies behind the Happy Set, which is about helping to bring smiles to families so we can contribute to the wholesome development of the hearts and bodies of children, who are our future,' McDonald's said in its statement, per the AP.
Additionally, those who have a history of purchasing large quantities of the Pokémon Happy Meal will have their official app membership subject to cancellation, according to the restaurant's website in Japan.
How valuable are Pokémon cards?
While collecting Pokémon cards may have been a fun pastime decades ago, now it's become quite profitable with VintiCards, a card shop in Belgium, estimating that a Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 (a card YouTuber Logan Paul owns) goes for around $5.5 million.
The value of several Pokémon cards has even led to some committing crimes, including in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where a collectible shop is still recovering after between $110,000 and $130,000 worth of individual first edition and boxed Pokémon cards were stolen.
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