Scalpers, they’re going to ruin a PS5 and go after Happy Meal Pokemon Cards now. Boxes of unopened Pokemon Cards bound for McDonald’s seem to end up on eBay at crazy rates in true scalper fashion, and individual packs are also sold.
In collaboration with the fast-food giant, the complete set, which includes 50 cards in total plus holographic versions, was meant to celebrate Pokemon’s 25th Anniversary. Frustrated that before even making it into Happy Meals, the cards were apparently intercepted, some took to social media to call both McDonald’s and eBay. Reportedly, one box sold for around $800.
There are a few possibilities for how this happens: the boxes are sold to scalpers by employees, or the employees are the scalpers themselves trying to benefit from the Pokemon hype. Most likely, both would get one shot and get into big legal trouble. The other possibility is that the shipment never gets to the shop and is taken directly by an insider from the shipping depot.
This is still a big mystery and not great for anyone who really hopes to get some of these cards in their hands. It is disturbing to rely on the secondary market for McDonald’s Pokemon Cards, which are supposed to come in a meal for children.
Yes, you have first editions of rare and vintage Pokemon TCG for auction or box breaks that only the elite can afford, but these promotions are supposed to be an opportunity for everyone who wants one to snap one up.
For the past couple of months, this seems to be a running theme. Those who really want to be unable to get a hot item like a PS5 or Pokemon Cards and those who want to profit are swooping in before a customer has a chance. One of them wouldn’t believe that McDonald’s Pokemon Cards would fall into the same category as PS5, but here we are.
There’s no word from McDonald’s yet about what’s going on here, but when entire shipping boxes are seen for sale on eBay, it doesn’t look too good. Stay tuned for updates on this story in progress.
