The local burger joint is a stupid magnet. Or: Happy Meal Mania

[Estil]

It's called go on Feebay and get the whole set of Happy Meal toys for about the cost of say, 2-3 Happy Meals.

[lvsssycat]

I used to have all of the crayola bears!!!!

I only have the blue one left........

[AyreBiskits]

i used to have the mini beanie babies but i ended up selling them at garage sales, giving some of them to my nephews (they were about 3 or 4 at the time) or just giving them (with a lot of other toys and stuff) to kids charities. we still have a few fast food collector items, mostly star wars glasses and a rubix cube with McD items all over the cube (didn't play with it and i still have the box it came in).

[gncurrier]

uhm...just take the toy, don't open it, and trade it in at another McDonald's...I used to do that ALL the time when I got doubles. That's how I got all the Wizard of Oz Madame Alexander dolls . I've found that as long as you're polite about it and there's not a huge line, no one's minded trading me my unopened toy for the one I really wanted.

[Food Lady]

I have zero memory of any fast food toys, but for a while my mom collected McDonald's toys. I think we got Happy Meals a few times, but most of the time she'd order items a la cart.

[RichS]

I've found that as long as you're polite about it and there's not a huge line, no one's minded trading me my unopened toy for the one I really wanted.

Kind of related - I think it was 2004, McD's had this NBA plastic figure that could shoot a plastic ball and had jerseys of various NBA players that fit the figure with the toy. I got my Ben Wallace jersey just by asking politely when they would come with the toy.

[fireheart]

My favourite happy meal toy was when I was around 8 or so. It was these stuffed animal toys that were basically a plush ball with other features added to them. I got a cat, my sister got a dog.

I turned the box into a house for it

[greensinestro]

I never in a million years would have pitched a fit like that. My dad wouldn't have tolerated it, let alone act like this when his kid didn't get their way. I get my kids Happy Meals once in a while, and they are glad to get any toy at all.

[Sapphire Silk]

When I was a kid, going to McDonalds was a rare treat. I vaguely recall the toys, I think those promotions started when I was getting old enough not to care.

I did have to argue a bit with a cashier who wanted to insist on a girl toy for my niece when she wanted the boy toy, but I didn't get nasty about it, just, "No, she really wants the boy toy and it shouldn't matter that she's a girl."

I never did get the whole beanie baby thing. I had a friend who had a HUGE collection of them, and would smugly tell us how much it was worth, and how it was going to fund her retirement, and how I was oh so wrong that they'd be worthless in a few years.

<snip>
anyone remember the "rare" sold only in Japan Charazard gold foil "Special Edition" card from the late 90's. I remember it being sold for $10,000. now it is most likey worth maybe $50.

Yes I know there are "serious" collectors out there, but.........

ANY item is worth only what another person will pay for it. That's the first rule of collecting.

[Andara Bledin]

I saw worse tantrums from overweight 50 year old women.

One of my co-workers had the uncertain fortune to snag the very last mini beany baby at a McDonalds once, and the woman at the next register over was challenging her to "take it outside" because she wouldn't let her have it, instead.

I got a haphazard collection of the things 'cause I like little stuffed toys and they were cute. And I'd usually give the "serious collectors" fits as I ripped them out of their plastic bags... but I'd leave the tags on 'cause I always leave the tags on my plush toys. *shrug*

^-.-^