McDonald’s Pokemon Cards Trigger Unexpected Market Surge

The latest Pokemon Trading Card Game promotion at McDonald’s has sparked an unexpected market frenzy, with some collectors listing large card bundles for up to $1,000 online. The Dragon Discovery set, featuring 15 unique Pokemon cards, has quickly become a hot commodity among enthusiasts and resellers alike.

The collaboration between McDonald’s and Pokemon, which kicked off on January 21, offers specially themed Happy Meals available through the restaurant’s mobile app. Each promotional meal includes a four-card booster pack from the Dragon Discovery collection, accompanied by a Pokemon poster and sticker sheet.

Within just 24 hours of the promotion’s launch, online marketplaces like eBay have seen an influx of listings with varying price points. While some cards like the Psychic-type Pokemon Dragapult and Hatenna remain accessible at around one dollar, the highly sought-after Charizard card has seen listings ranging from $4 to $100. Complete sets of all 15 cards are being offered between $37 and $110, while bulk collections command even higher prices. One notable listing features an unsealed McDonald’s box allegedly containing 150 Dragon Discovery packs with an asking price of $1,000.

Pokemon TCG Market Shows Signs of Growing Tension

The enthusiasm surrounding these promotional cards aligns with broader trends in the Pokemon TCG community. The recent release of Prismatic Evolutions on January 17 has led retailers to implement purchase limits due to overwhelming demand. The situation has escalated to concerning levels, with reports emerging of specialty shop break-ins and confrontations at Costco locations over Pokemon card availability.

While McDonald’s hasn’t specified an end date for the promotion, indicating it will continue while supplies last, they are simultaneously running special Pokemon GO Pokestop events scheduled for January, February, and March. The fast-food chain has not yet addressed the reselling phenomenon or indicated any measures to prevent card scalping as the promotion continues.