McDonald's revived adult Happy Meal toys have been a huge hit for the troubled fast food chain and are now being sold online for obscene markups. Luck reports.
McDonald's last week relaunched its latest Collector's Meal, which aims to “uncover key memories of some of your favorite McDonald's moments” for nostalgic fans, the chain said in an Aug. 7 announcement. With each meal, customers receive one of six collectible cups inspired by McDonald's most popular Happy Meal toys. These include a Barbie and Hot Wheels themed cup; homage to Beanie Babies; one that evokes legendary McDonald's characters such as Grimace; a collaboration between Shrek, Jurassic Park and Minions; and a tribute to Coca-Cola.
While the Collector's Meal retails for around $12 at most McDonald's locations, these stylish new glasses are going for close to $100 on retail sites. One eBay seller is offering a single Coca-Cola glass for $48.88, or two identical glasses for $88.88. Complete sets of six unopened glasses cost between $79 and $202. One offer includes three unopened glasses for $150. Many sell a pair of glasses for between $10 and $20.
Much like Trader Joe's mini bags that made a big splash earlier this year, the desire for McDonald's collectible cups has seemingly outstripped even the chain's expectations.
Morgan Flatley, McDonald's global marketing director, said: “There's no denying the thrill of grabbing that elusive McDonald's collectible or the final piece to add to your collection. “We're bringing back our most cherished memories with a twist, giving fans a memory they can hold in their hands.”
There's no doubt the games have helped McDonald's regain some of its edge over its competitors after the chain posted its worst pre-pandemic quarter. News broke earlier this week that Chili's Big Smasher Burger, a Big Mac tribute that costs a fraction of McDonald's signature offering, is a huge deal for the Tex-Mex chain.