Check your collections - Maccas’ Minecraft merch is selling for thousands

$3000 for Grimace? If the chicken jockey phenomenon shocked you, wait until you see what Minecraft fans are doing now. 

It’s no joke that Minecraft madness has well and truly taken Australia - and much of the world for that matter - by storm.

The popular 3D sandbox adventure game was already a staple in countless households but this year, the release of A Minecraft Movie revved up its fanbase like nothing else - for both good and not-so-good reasons.

Earlier this year, we saw Woolworths cardboard collectibles excite fans of all ages and make our jaws drop at just how much people were willing to pay for sought after pieces through online auction sites.

Well, that, dear friends, was just pocket change compared to the eye-watering prices being demanded by re-sellers of merchandise being offered in McDonald’s right now.

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More toys, more money

Since April 2, Macca’s has dished out collectible toys and cards via the Movie Meal and Happy Meal across 100 countries, Australia being one of them.

While customers can choose the food option in the meals, the toys and cards that come with them are randomly selected.

The promotion ends on May 14 (May 6 for the Movie Meal), or while stocks last, but the manic frenzy of scoring a coveted collectible has already reached peak levels on eBay, leaving many scouring all corners of the house in the hope they’ve got a valuable treasure trove dumped at the bottom of a toybox.

At the time of publication - we kid you not - the most expensive Macca’s collectible is being auctioned on eBay by a Victorian-based seller, who has put a $3,000 price tag on a single Grimace Egg, which is one of six items sold with a Movie Meal that’s a mashup of Minecraft and the iconic Grimace character we grew up with in the 80’s and 90’s.

RELATED: Parents divided over wild cinema scenes at A Minecraft Movie

$3000 for a Grimace Minecraft toy? Image: eBay

It’s described by Macca’s as: “Emerging from the depths of a purple shake, this magical Grimace mob gets its shape from the most coveted egg of them”.

If $3K isn’t enough, the buyer needs to pay $10.95 postage on top. Yikes!

A US listing gives er, somewhat better value for money, selling four Movie Meal characters and their corresponding cards for $2,332 - and you’ll have to pay $107 postage to get it. It includes the in-demand Grimace Egg, along with Birdie Wings, Fry Helmet and the Big Mac Crystal. Retro enthusiasts will no doubt be eager to collect Birdie, as it’s based on Birdie the Early Bird, who was McDonald's first ever female mascot, introduced in the 1980’s to promote its breakfast menu.

The Grimace Egg appears to be the most sought-after item, with multiple listings selling it for more than $1,000, while the next most valuable being the Blockhead Bee, which is one of 12 toys that come with a Happy Meal.

Image: eBay

RELATED: Minecraft brings New Zealand to life in a world-first

Why everyone wants a Minecraft toy from Maccas

The added incentive is that every Meal comes with a scannable code which unlocks an exclusive digital game where players can complete their very own quest or unlock an exclusive ‘skin’, but many eBay listings don’t include an unused code, so buyers beware on that front.

With the toys and cards being served up for a few more days still where available, the kids (and adults) can still have their fun without the inflated price tag by collecting them the old fashioned way alongside a serve of nuggets or a burger. After all, the surprise and nostalgia has to be the best part of collecting, right?

Kidspot contacted McDonald’s for comment. 

Originally published as Check your collections - Maccas’ Minecraft merch is selling for thousands