In August 2025, McDonald's Japan launched a highly anticipated Pokémon card promotion with Happy Sets, but it was halted just days later. Many wonder why the campaign was stopped so quickly and what caused the chaos. This page explores the reasons behind the sudden halt, including the role of bulk buying, scalping, and operational challenges. If you're curious about what happened and what McDonald's plans to do next, keep reading for detailed answers to your questions.
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Why did McDonald's Japan halt the Pokémon promo?
McDonald's Japan stopped the Pokémon card promotion early due to overwhelming demand that led to chaos in stores. The promotion was so popular that it caused store congestion, food wastage, and disputes among customers. To prevent further issues, McDonald's decided to halt the campaign and implement stricter purchase limits.
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What caused the promotion to sell out so quickly?
The promotion sold out rapidly because of high demand from both children and adult collectors. Additionally, some buyers engaged in bulk purchasing and scalping, which drained supplies quickly and created a frenzy among fans eager to get the limited-edition cards.
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How did scalping and bulk buying affect the campaign?
Scalping and bulk buying significantly impacted the promotion by reducing the availability of cards for regular customers. Resellers bought large quantities to sell at higher prices later, which led to shortages, store chaos, and frustration among genuine fans who couldn't access the promotion.
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What are McDonald's plans to prevent this in future?
McDonald's Japan has announced plans to introduce stricter purchase limits and monitor online orders more closely. They aim to prevent bulk buying and scalping, ensuring that more customers can enjoy future promotions without the chaos seen in August 2025.
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Will the Pokémon promotion return?
While McDonald's has not confirmed an exact date, they have expressed their commitment to bringing back family-friendly promotions in the future. They plan to learn from this incident and improve their distribution and purchase controls to avoid similar issues.