McDonald’s closure feeds Russian resale market with a Big Mac on sale for $44

Russians are flooding a well-liked on-line resale platform with listings for McDonald’s menu objects – with some attempting to cost exorbitant sums for fundamental cheeseburgers after the fast-food big closed its Russia shops in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

A search of Avito, a well-liked Russian classifieds and public sale platform just like eBay, revealed posts for the whole lot from Big Macs to McDonald’s cherry pies and signature sauces. The listed costs had been typically far above regular menu costs.

For instance, one listing asked 5,000 rubles, or about $44, in alternate for a single Big Mac. Another poster requested for 10,000 rubles, or roughly $88, for two classic McDonald’s cheeseburgers “with a taste of American bygone capitalism,” in response to a translation.

They’re apparently McDonald’s objects that the sellers stashed away earlier than the American outlet closed in Russia.

Under regular situations, a Big Mac offered at a Russian McDonald’s retailer value about 135 rubles, in response to The Economist’s “Big Mac Index” — the equal of lower than six US {dollars}.

One vendor was looking for 1,000 rubles apiece ($8.75) for particular person containers of McDonald’s sauces. Another needed 400 rubles (about $3.50) for a small order of chicken nuggets.

As The Post beforehand reported, the resale listings first started showing final week after McDonald’s stated it might briefly shut its 850 shops in Russia and pause operations over the Ukraine invasion.

The announcement additionally sparked lengthy strains at shops and drive-thru places as fast-food-loving Russian tried to get one final McDonald’s meal or fill up on their favourite objects.

One viral Reddit put up showcased a Russian’s fridge stocked with dozens of McDonald’s cheeseburgers.

McDonald’s is only one of numerous corporations primarily based within the US or different Western nations who’ve lower ties with Russia.

The worth of the Russian ruble has collapsed because the nation’s economic system reacts to the lack of companies in addition to crippling financial sanctions towards key monetary establishments.

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Meanwhile, there are indicators that Russian officers are mulling methods to retaliate as corporations exit.

Last week, Russian state-run media steered officers had been contemplating rollbacks of protections on mental property – a transfer that one skilled warned might clear the way in which for native operators to maintain McDonald’s shops and different companies open with out permission.