[oldvirginian]

“I’m guessing it’s easier to resell national brands?”

Exactly.
There was an article a few years ago that stated that Tide detergent was being used as “street” currency” in lieu of dollars in the inner cities.

[Windcatcher]

That sounds an awful lot like how Enchanted Keys became street currency in Neverwinter Online, and in response the game makers made keys bind on pickup.