McDonald's Pokémon TCG promotion in Japan ends in chaos with scalpers leaving wasted food

Despite numerous problematic promotions, companies can’t resist partnering with Pokémon TCG. The latest disaster unfolded in Japan, where McDonald's bundled limited edition cards with Happy Meals. The offer was to last from August 9th to 11th, but overwhelming demand prompted the fast-food chain to halt the event early. Along with many disappointed Pokémon fans, uneaten food now litters city streets.

Unlike similar events in the U.S., McDonald’s Japan chose not to sell the Pokémon cards separately. The idea was to thwart scalpers only interested in reselling the bonus items. However, as Nintendo Soup reports, the packs are selling for around 2,000 yen, or approximately $13, while the cost of a Happy Meal is only 500 yen, or around $3.50. With the opportunity for profit, the Pokémon scalpers left behind a mountain of leftover burgers and chicken.

McDonald’s sold a maximum of five Happy Meals with the Pokémon cards per customer. It also asked buyers not to resell the packs, which, of course, was largely ignored. Social media is full of videos and pics showing long lines with Pokémon fans fighting for the remaining stock. More disturbing to some onlookers are the piles of trash left outside of restaurants. While Japan has one of the lowest rates of homelessness in the world, residents and tourists are complaining about the blatant wastefulness.

Before the packs became available, McDonald’s handed out exclusive toys. Even if the merchandise isn't as coveted by Pokémon scalpers as cards, they also drew large crowds. North American retailers, like Costco, have also witnessed similar scenes when new sets debut.

The mobile game Pokémon TCG Pocket also suffered from a recent controversy. Players noticed that some digital cards in the game used designs from an uncredited artist. The company has since apologized and replaced the images. Hopefully, the Happy Meal cards distributed at McDonald’s are showcasing original art.