McDonald’s Branded Nintendo DSi Pulled from Second-Hand Sale in Japan

A rare McDonald’s-branded Nintendo DSi console recently caused a stir in Japan when it briefly went on sale at a second-hand hardware store before being promptly delisted. The specialized DSi console was originally produced by McDonald’s as part of its ‘eCrew Development Program’ to serve as training tools for staff members. However, the fast-food chain switched to using tablets for training in 2018.

McDonald’s expressed disappointment that its training hardware had been listed for sale and the promotion was quickly removed. The store in question, Hard-Off, issued an apology and it is believed that the console may be returned to McDonald’s. A tweet from the store mentioned that they are currently confirming the situation with McDonald’s and have temporarily discontinued sales.

Although there have been previous instances of second-hand sales of McDonald’s branded consoles and software, this particular listing seemed to attract significant attention, possibly due to it going viral. It is unclear why McDonald’s took issue with this specific instance, but it appears that the matter has been resolved.

The incident has sparked discussions online about the use of gaming consoles for training purposes and whether McDonald’s was justified in its response. Some have even suggested that McDonald’s could consider using the Nintendo Switch as a training device in the future, although this seems unlikely.

Overall, the incident highlights the unique intersection of gaming and fast-food culture in Japan. It also raises questions about the handling of branded merchandise and the potential implications of selling such items second-hand. As the story continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how McDonald’s and other companies navigate similar situations in the future.