Happy Meal, Unhappy Fans: Resellers Ruin Japanese McDonald's Pokémon Promo

 

In early August, McDonald's Japan launched a highly anticipated promotion that was meant to delight fans of the Pokémon universe. As part of a collaboration with The Pokémon Company, every "Happy Meal" came with exclusive collectible cards. Each meal contained two cards: one featuring the franchise's timeless mascot, Pikachu, and a second random card, adding an element of surprise to the promotion. Fans eagerly anticipated that the event would run, as originally announced, for three days, allowing them time to gradually build their collections.

Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived. The promotion, which was meant to be a celebration for fans, turned into a mess of disappointment and chaos. On the very first day, it became clear that the situation was spiraling out of control. Instead of reaching the hands of children and genuine collectors, the majority of the cards were bought up by so-called "resellers." These speculators, seeing a massive opportunity for a quick profit, purchased Happy Meals in enormous quantities, often buying dozens or even hundreds of sets at a time.

The consequences were disastrous. McDonald's Japan, which had initially planned for a three-day event, was forced to end it in just 24 hours. The demand was so overwhelming that all supplies of the cards were exhausted in the blink of an eye. But what was most shocking was what happened to the food itself. According to eyewitnesses and photos shared on social media, resellers were seen discarding entire bags of hot and fresh Happy Meals right outside the doors of the restaurants. They were only interested in the cards, and the food, which was intended to bring joy to children, was left uneaten.

This situation sparked a wave of outrage across Japan. McDonald's Japan was forced to issue a public apology for the poorly organized promotion. Company representatives admitted that the event was inadequately planned and failed to account for the risk posed by speculators. They decided not to extend the promotion to avoid further chaos and to relieve the immense pressure on staff, who were overwhelmed on August 9th. What should have been a festive event for fans instead became a stark example of how greed can ruin even the best intentions.