When McDonald’s offered an adult version of its Happy Meal on its menu, it didn’t anticipate the incredible demand.
While the popular burger joint’s customers were happy, many employees were not. When it comes to strange events that took place in 2022, it’s hard to top this.
So what’s the deal, and why weren’t workers happy about the Happy Meals?
Let’s jump in!
What Is the Adult Happy Meal by McDonald’s?
At the start of October, McDonald’s released a grown-up version of their famous Happy Meal. The item went by the name Cactus Plant Flea Market Box on the menu. It was a partnership between McDonald’s and the fashion and lifestyle brand Cactus Plant Flea Market, which is extremely popular among hip-hop artists and celebrities.
Those ordering the special adult Happy Meal could choose between a Big Mac meal or a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets meal. Adults could also enjoy the experience of discovering one of four toys in the box, just like they would have decades ago.
However, the chaos that ensued was off the charts. The chain hadn’t experienced anything like it since the 90s Beanie Baby craze.
While McDonald’s enjoyed the free publicity on social media and the news, the craze severely impacted its employees. The promotion resulted in some stores experiencing two or three times the number of orders as usual. For an industry already experiencing a worker shortage, the event tested those that remained.
Tell Me More About Cactus Plant Flea Market
The Cactus Plant Flea Market rose to fame in 2016 when Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, and Drake were spotted wearing “CPFM Adult Films” swag. The clothing brand rocketed to fame due to its association with such massive celebrities. Designer Cynthia Lu founded the company in 2015, and it started gaining attention in 2016.
The company offers a variety of clothing merchandise with a premium price tag. Shirts typically start at $44.99, hoodies at $119.99, and crewneck sweatshirts at $99.99.
Their inventory constantly changes, so you never know what you’ll find in their online store. The most popular item in their store is their “Ye Must be Born Again” hoodies.
How Fast Did the Adult Happy Meal Really Sell Out?
Chaos ensued as word spread about McDonald’s offering the Adult Happy Meal. Some stores sold out of boxes for the meals by 6 PM on the first day within days, and many more locations across the United States sold out within a few days. Consumers were rabidly excited about the offering and reliving their childhood days.
It didn’t take long for individuals to try to capitalize on the meal’s popularity. The boxes and toys began sprouting up across the internet. One listing was initially seeking $39,999, and another was $300,000.
The listing for $300,000 states that the seller accepted the best offer from an interested buyer. On the other hand, the $39,999 listing reduced its price and then removed the listing. There are current listings for the historical memorabilia, but they’re not nearly as in demand as previously.
Why Do the Adult Happy Meal Toys Have 2 Sets of Eyes?
It didn’t take long for customers to spot an issue with the characters on the box and the toys. All of the characters featured an additional set of eyes. Was this a mistake or something missed by quality control for McDonald’s?
The additional set of eyes was no mistake and resulted from the golden arches partnering with Cactus Plant Flea Market. One of the clothing brand’s most famous elements is a face with two sets of eyes. The brand has a reputation for creating very limited amounts of clothing that people gush over.
The two brands agreed that this was an appropriate way to demonstrate the brands coming together to offer the adult Happy Meals. As a result, three of the four available toy figures featured an additional set of eyes. The characters were Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Birdie.
Can You Still Buy McDonald’s x Cactus Plant Flea Market Clothing?
Unfortunately, the promotion between McDonald’s and Cactus Plant Flea Market only lasted through October 2022. The official website for the partnership between Cactus Plant Flea Market and McDonald’s lists all of the clothing as sold out. However, there are some popular resell websites where you can find some of the items.
The original costs of some of the sweatshirts and t-shirts weren’t cheap, ranging from $60 to $150. However, the popular clothing resale website, GOAT, lists a sweatshirt for $300+. While the official partnership site between the two brands lists them as sold out, the CPFM website still has a limited supply available for sale.
Taking Adults Back To Our Happy Days With a Meal
While people will remember 2022 for many different things, some will remember it as the year of Adult Happy Meals. There’s a good chance that many McDonald’s employees will talk for decades about the chaos they endured during October 2022.
Whether you got a chance to relive your childhood memories or not, it’s fun to think back to those days. A time when life felt a little bit simpler, and your most significant stress was what toy you received with your meal.
Did you get the chance to try the Cactus Plant Flea Market Box? Tell us about it in the comments!
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