Remember the anticipation of going to McDonald’s, ordering your four-piece McNugget meal with an Orange Hi-C, and anxiously waiting to unveil the toy you received in your Golden Arches cardboard box? Now you can feel that same sense of splendor ordering a Collector’s Meal—a Happy Meal designed for an adult’s appetite. Plus, they come with a collector’s cup, just to further fuel your sense of nostalgia.
McDonald’s relaunched the Collector’s Meal last week to “unlock core memories around some of our favorite McDonald’s moments,” according to a company announcement. And, much like the Teenie Babies craze of the late 1990s, people have already started reselling these collector cups on websites including eBay and Mercari at crazy markups. A cup you could receive in a $12 Collector’s Meal is reselling, in some cases, for more than $100. One seller on eBay appears to be selling a set of three cups for a whopping $150.
Diners have a few options for a Collector’s Meal: a sausage McMuffin with egg sandwich, hash brown, and hot coffee during breakfast hours; or a 10-piece chicken McNuggets or Big Mac with fries and a soft drink through the rest of the day. Prices vary by location, but generally fall in the $10 to $12 range.
There are six cup designs appealing to both millennials and Gen Xers, including Barbie and Hot Wheels; Beanie Babies; Coca-Cola; Hello Kitty and Peanuts; Shrek, Jurassic Park, and Minions; and a McDonald’s-themed cup featuring Grimace. But the upcharge on these special cups online could take away the fun from customers who want one, especially since this is a limited-time promotion and will only last as long as supplies do.
Guillaume Huin, a senior marketing director at McDonald’s, has already warned consumers the supplies are dwindling.
“The Collector Cups are literally flying off the shelves faster than anything we could have anticipated or have seen in the past,” Huin posted on X. “Friendly advice: if you want them, go to your local restaurant as soon as you can.”
“There’s an undeniable thrill when you snag that one elusive McDonald’s collectible or the final piece to complete your collection,” Morgan Flatley, global chief marketing officer and head of new business ventures at McDonald’s, said in the statement. “We’re bringing back some of our most-loved keepsakes with a twist, giving fans a memory that they can hold in their hands.”
McDonald’s new Collector Meals are among the company’s latest efforts to woo back price-weary customers. The chain reported a second-quarter revenue dip, but also announced the launch of its limited-time $5 meal deal, and an even bigger Big Mac sandwich.
Other McDonald’s patrons have also complained about the quality of the new Collector’s Meal cups. The fast-food chain used to offer engraved glass cups, but the latest iteration appears to be made of plastic and not as durable.
“McDonald’s: I want to know, how did we go from the nice heavy, engraved, glass…fancy-schmancy, to this,” TikTok user @littlemiss1stgrade said in a video last week. “Like, seriously? I’m so disappointed. Even Burger King had better cups back in the day. Come on now.”
So why do people even bother collecting McDonald’s toys?
“Well, for a lot of people, it’s about nostalgia. Maybe you have fond memories of getting Happy Meals as a kid and the toys bring back those warm, fuzzy feelings,” author Jamie Shaw wrote in Collectorizing, a publication highlighting the stories of collectors. “There’s something special about holding onto a little piece of your childhood, even if it’s just a plastic toy from a fast-food restaurant. Those Happy Meal toys can transport you back to simpler times when the biggest decision you had to make was whether to get a cheeseburger or chicken nuggets.”
The Resale Frenzy
In less than a week, the cartoon-themed cups have made their arrival on eBay (EBAY) and Mercari, fetching premium prices as low as $15 and even as high as $100. While some sellers are charging outrageous prices, a single Hello Kitty-themed cup recently sold on eBay for $25 plus shipping.
Tips for Getting Your Hands on a Collectible Cup
If you’re hoping to snag a cup for yourself, be warned, the demand for the cups is high. While the meal itself costs between $9 and $15, some customers have reported having to pay extra for their desired cup. One TikToker, Haylee (@haylee_rivera), shared a tip for getting the Hello Kitty cup, the most sought-after of the bunch, directly from McDonald’s. Her advice? Ask for the cup you want by name and be willing to pay extra. Customers have also reported that the cups are wrapped, but you can try to identify the cup you want by looking for a specific code on the wrapper.
What’s Driving the Hype?
It seems that McDonald's new cups have tapped into a strong vein of nostalgia for many adults. While the cups are plastic and not as durable as the glass cups of the past, the designs are appealing to both millennials and Gen Xers and evoke memories of Happy Meals and childhood. The craze is further fueled by the limited-time promotion, which has created a sense of urgency among collectors.
What About the Quality?
Not everyone is happy with the new cups. TikTok users have expressed disappointment with the quality of the plastic cups, which they say are not as durable as the engraved glass cups of the past. Some have also criticized the cups for not being dishwasher safe, which adds another chore for those who want to keep their cups clean.
McDonald’s Response
McDonald’s has not commented on the resale of the collector’s cups online, but the company has confirmed that supplies are dwindling and has advised customers who want a cup to visit their local restaurant as soon as possible. While McDonald’s may not be profiting from the reselling of the cups, the craze has certainly generated a lot of buzz around the new Collector’s Meal and brought a sense of excitement back to the golden arches.
A Nostalgic Goldmine
While the hype surrounding McDonald’s new collector’s cups is likely to fade with time, the craze shows just how powerful nostalgia can be. For many, these cups represent a cherished part of their childhood and a time when the biggest decision they had to make was whether to get a cheeseburger or chicken nuggets. It remains to be seen how long the craze will last, but one thing is for sure: the cups have brought back a sense of fun and excitement to McDonald’s.
