Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Lisa Belkin: The Tornado In Oklahoma Is This Parent's Living Nightmare
Jenn Horton: Every Mom Deserves Your Nod
11-Year-Old $11K Richer After Selling Happy Meals Collection
Filed under: In The News
You know all those annoying little toys that come with Happy Meals at McDonald's? If you're like me, you've probably got some rolling around under the seat of your car right now. Before you fish them out and toss them, you might want to reconsider. As one savvy 11-year-old boy proved yesterday, just because the toys are free doesn't mean they're worthless.
Luke Underwood from Notts, England, turned his own Happy Meal collection into a tidy sum of cash when he sold it at auction for an astonishing £8,130 (that's over $11,000)! The Mail Online reports his 7,000-piece collection of Mickey D's promotional items -- toys, boxes, posters and more -- was sold in 300 lots to buyers from around the world, proving the Happy Meal slogan true: Do you believe in magic?
Not only did Luke keep his collection from gathering dust on a shelf, he did not play with or touch the toys at all. Not once. Many items were in pristine condition inside their original packaging, including the only known complete set of the 101 Dalmatians. "This was one of the most unique collections ever to go on the market and the response was phenomenal," says Terry Woodcock, owner of the auction house where the sale took place.
It is estimated that 10,000 Happy Meals would have to have been eaten in order to amass such a collection. But before you head out to the drive-through, you should know that Luke did not eat those meals himself. At the age of seven, he convinced his father to purchase another Happy Meals collection (dating from 1990 to 1999) for about $350. Four years later, after the collection began taking over the family home, he was persuaded to part with it.
"I didn't really want to sell it but now I'm planning on saving the money so I can buy something else like this and make some more money," Luke counters.
If past performance is any indication, Luke should do quite well with his future investment plans. In fact, maybe he could give some advice to the pros on Wall Street.
Luke Underwood from Notts, England, turned his own Happy Meal collection into a tidy sum of cash when he sold it at auction for an astonishing £8,130 (that's over $11,000)! The Mail Online reports his 7,000-piece collection of Mickey D's promotional items -- toys, boxes, posters and more -- was sold in 300 lots to buyers from around the world, proving the Happy Meal slogan true: Do you believe in magic?
Happy Meals, Happy Boy
He's Lovin' It
11-year-old Luke Underwood is over $11,000 richer after his extensive collection of Happy Meal memorabilia was sold at auction.
RAYMONDS PRESS AGENCY
"I didn't really want to sell it but now I'm planning on saving the money so I can buy something else like this and make some more money," Luke said.
RAYMONDS PRESS AGENCY
Bidders from across the globe competed for parts of the 7,000-piece coveted collection -- believed to be one of the largest of its kind.
RAYMONDS PRESS AGENCY
Luke's father, Philip Underwood believes his son is a shrewd businessman. "Luke's got quite a knack," he said. "I can give him £10 and he can turn it into £20 just like that. The other week he bought a pushbike for £20 and sold it for more than £100."
RAYMONDS PRESS AGENCY
"This was one of the most unique collections ever to go on the market and the response was phenomenal," said Terry Woodcock, owner of Unique Auctions, Lincoln, U.K., where the sale took place.
RAYMONDS PRESS AGENCY
"It's quite sad really to see it all split up," said the owner of the auction house where Luke's collection was sold. "I still believe this should be in some form of tourist attraction because young children would have loved to see it."
RAYMONDS PRESS AGENCY
The Underwood family knew it was time to sell Luke's collection when it began to take over their home. "It was all over the house -- the front room, the kitchen and the landing," said his father.
RAYMONDS PRESS AGENCY
Not only did Luke keep his collection from gathering dust on a shelf, he did not play with or touch the toys at all. Not once. Many items were in pristine condition inside their original packaging, including the only known complete set of the 101 Dalmatians. "This was one of the most unique collections ever to go on the market and the response was phenomenal," says Terry Woodcock, owner of the auction house where the sale took place.
It is estimated that 10,000 Happy Meals would have to have been eaten in order to amass such a collection. But before you head out to the drive-through, you should know that Luke did not eat those meals himself. At the age of seven, he convinced his father to purchase another Happy Meals collection (dating from 1990 to 1999) for about $350. Four years later, after the collection began taking over the family home, he was persuaded to part with it.
"I didn't really want to sell it but now I'm planning on saving the money so I can buy something else like this and make some more money," Luke counters.
If past performance is any indication, Luke should do quite well with his future investment plans. In fact, maybe he could give some advice to the pros on Wall Street.
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
Recently Asked
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Throwdown Pumpkin Pie
Bobby's streusel-topped pumpkin custard pie ends any meal on a happy note.
-
McDonald's Adds Fish McBites to Happy Meals
McDonald's is adding Fish McBites to Happy Meals, marking the first new Happy Meal entree in 10 years. The Fish McBites are made out of the same fried Alaskan Cod as the Filet-O-Fish. Gillian Pensavalle thinks most kids would opt for the apple slices.
-
McDonald's Happy Meals Facts
In November 2010, lawmakers in San Francisco banned the sale of McDonald's Happy Meals. The law prevents toys being given away with meals over 600 calories and 640 mg of sodium.
-
McDonald's Replaces Toys With Books In Happy Meals
McDonald's restaurants in the United Kingdom are giving kids books instead of toys in their Happy Meals. Some wonder if the trend will cross the pond and make its way to fast food chains in America. Femi Redwood has the story.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 5)
3-07-2009 @ 7:13AM
Dawn said...My Mom has a complete set of the 101 Dalmations! :)
Reply
3-07-2009 @ 7:56PM
PERSON said...Make it known more! She could make mucho dinero! lol
3-08-2009 @ 9:07PM
LaNeita said...I have a complete set of 101 Dalmations in the orginal box... never touched.
3-08-2009 @ 10:17PM
snshine123 said...We have the complete set too, and I know many others as well that have it but congrats to him anyway!
3-09-2009 @ 12:54AM
Kate said...That's just great, He can use the 11 grand on a triple bypass .
3-10-2009 @ 4:36PM
walterld2 said...my mom has the commplet set too. it also has a certifact of athentisaty
3-10-2009 @ 6:16PM
kenzo said...You will be real dissapointed if you start combing your cellars and toy boxes for your piece of the fortune. What a bunch of crap. Only set of Dalmations? Happy meal prizes worth money? More crap. There is a lot of misinformation and missing information in this article.There is no way he put this collection together buying un-healthy happy meals.They are leaving out all the money that was spent to put a collection like this together.(Mostly on store displays) This was not aquired "free". People used to speculate on this junk years ago and found out that they are as useless Beanie Babies, Pokemon cards, etc..
3-10-2009 @ 6:04PM
KingGreat said...Hey Walter, tell your mom to get you a dictionary with the proceeds from the sale, instead of buying toys and neglecting your education.
3-10-2009 @ 7:01PM
kat said...I know of other comlete Dalmatian sets too. There are McDonald Collector Club Chapters actross the country; their members have amassed thousands of Happy Meal toys, some dating back as far as when they first started having them.
3-08-2009 @ 7:45PM
Carmie said...I have a Snoopy collection and a Betty Boop collection.
Some Fred Flintstone also.
Does anybody else have interesting collections?
Reply
3-08-2009 @ 8:26PM
Amanda said...I have Alot of the ty beanies from Mcdonalds! Are those worth anything? They are still in packages anyone want to buy them lol?
3-08-2009 @ 8:57PM
Chelle said...Yeah I have the teenie beanie baby collections all in their original packages from mickey d's
3-09-2009 @ 1:02AM
Rochelle said...I have a collection of Hess Trucks(from Christmas every year since the 1980s). In pristine collection, in the boxes. Wonder if they have any value? Maybe Ill check!
3-09-2009 @ 2:43AM
Carmen said...These items are like $$ in the bank (at home).
3-09-2009 @ 5:16AM
Donna said...I have a large collection of Howdy Doody stuff with two Zippies and two Tippies.
3-09-2009 @ 6:31AM
Ldyofleisure said...Hi Carmie,
Yes I have a complete collection of the Taco Bell Talking Dogs.
3-09-2009 @ 4:15PM
Carmen said...Ldyofleisure hi!!
I like those Taco Bell dogs, I have the one that bobs the head- real cute. You could add it to your collection:) Go to ebay:Needlepoint
Galore store. Or send me your e-mail.
Carmie
3-08-2009 @ 8:31PM
willie said...i have sets 1 and 2 of the dalmations. anyone want to make offer. the kid made a great deal
Reply
3-08-2009 @ 8:38PM
PANTYsniffer said...he can use the money for a heart bypass after eating all that crap
Reply
3-08-2009 @ 11:58PM
aligabsmum said...If you read the article you would have found that the child did not eat all of these meals.