Hello Kitty Toys - Where Are They Now?
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Singaporeans riot for Hello Kitty
McDonald's promotion proves catnip to customers.
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By J.A. Getzlaff
Jan. 20, 2000 | Things are getting out of hand in strait-laced Singapore lately, and it's all because of Hello Kitty, the round-faced cartoon cat with no mouth. On New Year's Day, the city-state's 113 McDonald's outlets began a six-week promotion that offers customers a different pair of Hello Kitty characters each week when they purchase an Extra Value Meal.
Since then, passionate consumers -- mostly teenagers -- have stormed the chain's outlets, offering to pay as much as S$200-$300 (U.S. $119-$179) for each set of the limited-edition dolls, according to Singapore's the Straits Times. Arguments and fistfights have broken out in the long lines, and on Jan. 13, seven people were injured when a mob pressed against one franchise's plate-glass door and shattered it.
In an Associated Press report, McDonald's marketing director Fanny Lai pleaded with Hello Kitty fans to "keep calm" and "follow the directions of our staff on the scene." To make sure they do, the burger chain has brought in police to watch over things -- which means Hello Kitty fanatics had better control themselves. In Singapore, gum chewing and public drunkenness are illegal, caning is a common punishment and possession of narcotics carries a mandatory death sentence.
Hello Kitty and her round-faced friends -- Monkichi, Pippo and Spottie Dottie -- have become a worldwide phenomenon since they were created by Japan's Sanrio Company 25 years ago. Today they adorn everything from purses to waffle irons.
salon.com | Jan. 20, 2000
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remember this? so where are the toys now? -
go japanese shop got a lot. oh, marina square got one.
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and people queue up, fight, squabble, miss work, all for...
'"go japanese shop got a lot. oh, marina square got one." -
bet they feel... pretty stupid about it today
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i must applaud mcdonald's
i wonder when i can come up with a marketing strategy like that.
people fighting just to employ my services -
You can get it for about a dollar at the salvation army.
You know, that sounds really sad when you recall all the pushing, shoving, queueing and all the trouble to get one of those things -
that's why i brought up this topic.Originally posted by Selena:You can get it for about a dollar at the salvation army.
You know, that sounds really sad when you recall all the pushing, shoving, queueing and all the trouble to get one of those things
just for the people who queued, pushed and shoved to look back and wonder what the hell happened back there.
singaporeans are a very hot headed lot.
e.g. overtaking ONE car on the expressway means saving 1/2hr worth of travel time. -
i almost didn't make it to work that day... bloody buses all stuck at King Albert Park
no buses for about an hour! -
I have the whole set and I used them as decos for my wedding. Last year my friend borrowed them for his wedding too.
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Hell Kitty is EVIL
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singapore is getting overpopulated.
too many people, too little space, lotsa tension -
Evil I like.Originally posted by the Bear:Hell Kitty is EVIL
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Some place in incinerator? (I know the spelling is off)
Or you might see them in landfills, as ashes?
I still remember some chap whom worked part-time in MacDonalds got depressed for a few days because he didn't complete the collection.... -
where's ditzy?
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I have series one and two... the entire complete set still in packaging.. unopened.... will give to my wife next time... yes I did queue a couple of times last time for it...
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And a contact working part time in mcds at that period of time told me many who bought the hello kitty dolls simply threw away the food, knnccb.
He was like, "having here or throw away?" -
kitty vader?Originally posted by Stooky: -
The rest, gave away liao.
Kept only the 1st set, the 2 pieces that meant a lot to me. -
you mean they are selling those macdonalds hello kitty at marina square?
i thought they said those were limited editions?
then why the fuck did i went to queue and fight with people for? -
Originally posted by seow:And a contact working part time in mcds at that period of time told me many who bought the hello kitty dolls simply threw away the food, knnccb.
He was like, "having here or throw away?"
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there is this shop at novena sq selling all the HK ware.......
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i have the entire set!
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They're still for sale on ebay. Chinatown point got sell. Flea market at china square also have stock. Got this toy shop across the road of hong lim complex also stocks it. Fcuk, got one neigbourhood shop that does frames have 6 on the display window.
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