The viral festive bear mug originally retailed for around £23, but resellers have being flogging the product for 50 times that amount on eBay after fights broke out in stores
Be it Funko Pops, Labubus or Keeping Up With the Kardashians, there always seems to be some plastic rubbish that everyone is obsessed with, and the latest craze that will no doubt decorate the landfills of future generations is sending people wilder than ever.
This time, its a limited edition Starbucks cup that has sent this post-capitalist dystopia we call a society into a spin, with fights breaking out in stores and bidding wars underway online, all so people can get their hands on the plastic mug.
To be fair to the grown adults taking lumps out of each other in coffee shop queues, this isn’t just any old coffee receptacle, this is the limited-edition Bearista Cold Cup, and it’s wearing a cute, green beanie.
The mammalian mug originally retailed for $29.95 over in the US (which is around £23), and within hours of launching of November 4th most Starbucks branches were sold out.
When stocks were replenished, serious Starbucks-heads began queueing outside stores at 4am, and videos showed customers up and down the country wrestling over the cute little bear, with some scraps needing to be broken up by the police.
Unsurprisingly, hordes of online retailers smelt a financial opportunity, and 100s of Bearistas were listed on eBay and other auction sites within a day.
Prices have become rather obscene – ranging from around $500-$50,000. One seller even flogged a slightly cracked version for $999, “because it’s rare now”.
Luckily for those keen to still get their hands on the must-have item, prices have now slightly dropped.
Starbucks released a statement admitting they were stunned by the reaction.
“The excitement exceeded even our biggest expectations,” a spokesperson told People magazine.
“Despite shipping more Bearista cups to coffeehouses than almost any other merchandise item this holiday season, they sold out fast. We apologise for the disappointment.”
For those in the UK sad they didn’t get the opportunity to pick up a bear-themed Starbucks cup in store, don’t fear.
The coffee giant has begun selling an equally adorable bear cup in the UK now too.
Reports suggest thats stocks of the Brown Bear Mug are also running low, so hurry to your local Starbucks and pick one up for the bargain price of £13.95. Or don’t.