Starbucks cups and McDonald’s toys resold at higher prices — MarketWatch
Limited-edition Starbucks glasses featuring "Peanuts" characters and McDonald’s "SpongeBob SquarePants" Happy Meal toys have begun appearing on online marketplaces at prices substantially higher than their original ones, MarketWatch reports.
Secondary market prices
On Tuesday, Starbucks introduced a fall merchandise collection featuring "Peanuts" characters, including glass cold-drink cups with Snoopy and other accessories with Charlie Brown and Linus. Most items on the chain’s website sold out after the launch. On Etsy, a Snoopy glass was offered for as much as $120, while it was listed for $40 on Starbucks’ website.
That same day, McDonald’s launched a line of "SpongeBob SquarePants" toys for Happy Meals. Some sellers on eBay offered the full set for about $90. A set of "Dragon Ball Super" figurines released by Burger King this month together with glasses and a paper crown was listed for more than $40.
At the same time, other sellers offered these items more cheaply or had already lowered their prices. On trading and auction platforms, the price of listings may also be negotiable.
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Nostalgia and limited availability
GlobalData analyst Neil Saunders noted that promotional toys and restaurant accessories attract collectors because of their limited availability. According to him, obtaining such items sometimes requires having a certain loyalty-program tier or making a specific purchase, creating a sense of scarcity. Once they appear on auction platforms, the price may rise.
Saunders added that toy promotions, previously aimed primarily at children, are increasingly targeting adult buyers because of nostalgia and interest in collecting. He also noted that social media helps products quickly go viral.
Starbucks said it is increasingly viewing cups and other related merchandise as collectibles. The company did not provide sales data for the "Peanuts" collection and did not say whether it had recorded unusual buying activity. McDonald’s and Burger King parent company Restaurant Brands International did not respond to requests for comment.
