After McDonald’s chose to close 850 of their restaurants in Russia last week following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, its citizens are now attempting to sell some of the fast food joint’s menu items at an excessive price.
Big Macs, McMuffins, potato pancakes, and sauces are among the foodstuffs being sold on the Russian advertisement website, Avito.
One seller in Moscow listed the Big Mac for approximately $36 as of March 14.
“Since McDonald’s left, I’m selling Big Macs for a long time to try the legendary taste of this representative of Fast Food. There are 8 out of 15 left,” read the seller’s caption for the McDonald’s sandwich. They also specified there would be no negotiating that rate, noting, “the price is final.”
Another individual on Avito was selling a McDonald’s paper bag for about $400, stating that its purchaser would be “a unique owner of a package from McDonald’s” since the golden-arched restaurants are closed in Russia for an “indefinite period.”
Avito’s site also has advertisements listed for items such as McDonald’s signature glasses and french fry holders.
One Reddit user posted a picture of their friend’s refrigerator stockpiled with McDonald’s hamburgers after the burger joint’s closing.
Another user in the comments said, “Behold…the hoarder pounder,” regarding the collection of sandwiches, while another remarked, “if its (sic) not for personal consumption, it sure is a good business opportunity to sell stale burgers at a jacked price.”
The fast food giant’s Russian closures have encouraged resale opportunists to pedal its products to those “who want to enjoy the last taste of a bygone era.”
In a statement, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said the company decided to close its franchises in Russia because it could not ignore the suffering of victims in Ukraine.
“McDonald’s has decided to temporarily close all our restaurants in Russia and pause all operations in the market,” said Kempczinski. “We understand the impact this will have on our Russian colleagues and partners, which is why we are prepared to support all three legs of the stool in Ukraine and Russia. This includes salary continuation for all McDonald’s employees in Russia.”