McDonald’s Japan has decided to postpone a planned toy promotion linked to the popular manga series “One Piece” due to issues arising from a previous giveaway involving Pokémon cards. This earlier promotion, which offered limited-edition Pokémon cards with “Happy Set” meals, generated significant problems, including reports of excess food waste and complaints about the resale of cards for profit.
Following the Pokémon promotion, which ended earlier than expected due to stock shortages, McDonald’s observed long queues and bulk-buying practices that contributed to food being discarded. The company announced on its website that the One Piece promotion, originally scheduled to start on August 29, is now under review as part of its reassessment of its Happy Set initiatives. Instead of new toys, customers will receive those from previous Happy Set meals during this period.
In light of the situation, Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency has urged McDonald’s to improve its sales strategies and mitigate food wastage. The One Piece franchise, known for its engaging story involving pirates on a treasure hunt, has a large following and various related games and toys in Japan.
This incident follows similar challenges faced by McDonald’s in prior campaigns, notably with the “Chiikawa” manga series. In response to the recent issues, McDonald’s Japan publicly apologized and committed to implementing measures to prevent future occurrences, including imposing a purchase limit on Happy Set meals to curb bulk-buying and resale activities. The popularity of Pokémon cards among collectors, which can reach substantial prices, has driven some recent transactions, further complicating the promotional landscape for the fast-food chain.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy0j5gjwq3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss