The Pokémon Company celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2021 and McDonald’s begins the action with special Happy Meals featuring Pokémon cards and toys. However, it would seem that adults buy it before anyone else can get there.
Starting February 9, McDonald’s Happy Meals will include a special 25th anniversary McDonald’s amplifier package featuring Pokémon trading card games. Each package contains four exclusive cards depicting the starter Pokémon of each region, Pikachu and more. Stickers and toys are also available in the special Happy Meals.
There are 50 cards to collect in total with standard and foil versions of each card, and all have the Pokémon 25 logo on it.
The value of older Pokémon cards has apparently increased every week. The limited edition tickets are only sold with Happy Meals and it looks like adults are on their way to their local McDonalds to buy an excessive number of meals just for the tickets.
Social media accounts show attempts to buy a happy meal for the cards, but are refused to buy one due to certain customers.
“@McDonalds went to get a happy meal from Pokémon and said they did not have any more, someone bought 50 in one order …” One Twitter user wrote Tuesday, “Why would all these companies advertise well and then not deliver when it’s time to buy? Take a lesson at Xbox and Sony, stop scalpers from spoiling your s ***!”
Some collectors also document their escapades on platforms like Tik Tok.
Why do these customers buy Happy Meals? For some, it is to sell at a high price in the secondary market.
A quick search on sites like eBay for the Pokémon 25th birthday McDonald’s cards gives you ads that sell your unopened packages for at least ten times the amount for which a Happy Meal is sold.
A Happy Meal from McDonald’s sells for about $ 3, depending on the food you order. Some resellers try to sell one pack of cards for up to $ 30, and others sell it in bulk for $ 100 or more.
There are also reports that some people are still selling the Pokémon cards in the original packaging cards.
@McDonalds @Pokemon I sure hope you do some sort of inventory control for your promo Pokémon cards, as some of your inventory is sold in sealed boxes, which means they do not even pick it up in your stores 😳 Although the same with Tim Hortons Hockey happened. Retail $ 1.99 😳 pic.twitter.com/kX8qZyRX2V
– redphoenixsportscards (@redphoenixcards) February 9, 2021
Newsweek issued McDonald’s for comment.
In January, The Pokémon Company announced plans to celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary, which included McDonald’s Happy Meals and musical performances by singer Katy Perry.
Pokémon Day is on February 27th.
Were you able to buy a McDonald’s Happy Meal with the special Pokémon cards? Let us know your experience in the comments section.