McDonald's Japan has hit the brakes on its upcoming toy promotion just days before its launch due to complaints sparked by a recent Pokémon giveaway. This blunder saw tons of food dumped and cards resold, leading the fast-food giant to rethink its strategy.
The promotion with the popular manga series "One Piece," set to launch on August 29, has now been postponed. Earlier this month, kids and collectors flocked to restaurants for a chance to snag limited-edition Pokémon cards with their Happy Set meals. Unfortunately, the excitement resulted in food being left behind, as many outlets ran out of cards within hours.
In a response to the chaos, McDonald's announced on its website that customers will now receive older Happy Set toys instead. Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency is urging McDonald's to better manage its sales approach to combat food wastage.
The "One Piece" franchise has been captivating audiences since 1997, with characters embarking on wild treasure-hunting adventures. While the recent Pokémon promo sparked massive enthusiasm, it also raised eyebrows due to the trend of reselling coveted cards.
Previously, McDonald's faced similar challenges with other promotional campaigns like the "Chiikawa" series, also marred by online resale issues. After facing backlash, the company has pledged to tackle these concerns going forward, highlighting the immense popularity of collectible cards not only among kids but also adults, with some fetching tens of thousands of dollars.
Joining McDonald's on the review of future giveaways, there’s hope for better practices that leave less food wasted and more happy faces!
The promotion with the popular manga series "One Piece," set to launch on August 29, has now been postponed. Earlier this month, kids and collectors flocked to restaurants for a chance to snag limited-edition Pokémon cards with their Happy Set meals. Unfortunately, the excitement resulted in food being left behind, as many outlets ran out of cards within hours.
In a response to the chaos, McDonald's announced on its website that customers will now receive older Happy Set toys instead. Japan's Consumer Affairs Agency is urging McDonald's to better manage its sales approach to combat food wastage.
The "One Piece" franchise has been captivating audiences since 1997, with characters embarking on wild treasure-hunting adventures. While the recent Pokémon promo sparked massive enthusiasm, it also raised eyebrows due to the trend of reselling coveted cards.
Previously, McDonald's faced similar challenges with other promotional campaigns like the "Chiikawa" series, also marred by online resale issues. After facing backlash, the company has pledged to tackle these concerns going forward, highlighting the immense popularity of collectible cards not only among kids but also adults, with some fetching tens of thousands of dollars.
Joining McDonald's on the review of future giveaways, there’s hope for better practices that leave less food wasted and more happy faces!
