Labubu
Buying Guide
No Scalpers. No Fakes.

Who Is Labubu? The Origin Story

Labubu is a fictional character created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, born from his illustrated children's book series "The Monsters." The character — a small, mischievous forest creature with pointed ears, wild teeth, and oversized eyes — was designed to represent chaotic, impish energy. Kasing Lung partnered with Pop Mart in 2019 to bring Labubu into physical form as a collectible vinyl figure, initially as part of THE MONSTERS series alongside characters like Zimomo and Tycoco.

For its first few years, Labubu was a cult favorite within the serious collector community but hadn't broken through to mainstream consciousness. That changed dramatically in 2024. The inflection point was Lisa of BLACKPINK — one of the most followed people on Instagram globally — who began appearing in public photos and social content wearing Labubu figures attached to her luxury handbags as charms. The images went viral repeatedly. Other celebrities followed. TikTok unboxing videos of Labubu accumulated hundreds of millions of views. By mid-2024, demand for Labubu had overwhelmed Pop Mart's production capacity at every retail channel.

Labubu Series Breakdown: What Exists and What It's Worth

Not all Labubu are equal. Understanding the different formats and series is essential before you start hunting. The market prices below reflect Q1 2025 secondary market data.

Standard Blind Box Series (Mini Format)

These are the original Labubu blind boxes — figures approximately 8–10cm tall, sold individually in numbered boxes (you don't know which colorway you'll get). Each series has 6–9 regular variants plus 1 secret. Standard series retail at $17.99–$22.99 per box from Pop Mart.

• The Monsters Exciting Macaron Series — The series that first went viral. Secret: "Gold Macaron Labubu." Secondary market: $400–$900 for the secret; $40–$80 for regulars.
• The Monsters Have a Seat Series — Labubu sitting in various themed poses. Secret commands $300–$600. Regular variants: $35–$65.
• The Monsters Vinyl Plush Series — A crossover between vinyl figure and plush toy aesthetics. Highly sought after. Secret: $500–$1,200.
• The Monsters Let's Checkmate Series — Chess-themed series. One of the strongest secondary performers with secrets reaching $800+.

Large Format (Mega) Labubu

Pop Mart produces oversized Labubu in 400% and 1000% size formats. These are not blind boxes — you know what you're buying. Retail prices range from $89 to $499 depending on size and edition. Large formats can hold value but are volatile — they move with hype cycles more than standard series do. Buying a large format Labubu at a significant premium over retail is high-risk speculation.

Bag Charm / Keychain Format

The format that went viral thanks to Lisa. These are smaller (6–8cm) soft vinyl or plush versions of Labubu designed to clip onto bags. Retail: $24.99–$39.99. The bag charm format was so heavily scalped in 2024 that Pop Mart implemented lottery purchase systems in many markets. Secondary market for limited colorways: $150–$600.

How to Buy Labubu at Retail — The Actual Strategy

Getting Labubu at retail in 2025 requires preparation, timing, and a bit of luck. Here's the complete system collectors use.

1. Pop Mart App — Your Primary Tool

Download the Pop Mart official app immediately if you haven't. Create a free account and add Labubu / THE MONSTERS to your wishlist. The app sends push notifications for restocks — this is your most reliable real-time alert. Enable notifications for both "New Arrivals" and "Restock" categories.

Inside the app, the Robo Shop feature allows digital lucky-draws for new series. These sell out in seconds, but the app randomly assigns purchase opportunities — you can't be beaten by faster internet alone. Sign in the moment the draw opens (usually announced 24 hours ahead) and tap as fast as possible. Your odds are better than standard first-come-first-served drops because it's partially randomized.

2. Enable Browser Notifications on popmart.com

Create an account on the Pop Mart global website and enable notifications. Add target items to your wishlist — the site will email you when out-of-stock items are restocked. Set up a separate email filter so these alerts don't get buried. When a restock email arrives, you have a window of minutes to hours before items sell out again.

3. Pop Mart Physical Stores — The Best Odds

In-store purchases are often the best chance for retail access. Pop Mart stores receive periodic stock shipments that may not be announced online. Visiting stores regularly (or calling ahead) can yield retail purchases without competing against bots and bulk buyers who dominate online drops. If you're near a Pop Mart location: go in person, be friendly with staff, and ask about upcoming deliveries. Many store associates will give regulars advance notice.

4. Pop Mart Robo Shop Vending Machines

Pop Mart installs automated vending machines (Robo Shops) in malls and high-traffic areas globally. These machines dispense sealed blind boxes and are often restocked separately from retail stores. They also tend to receive less traffic than stores during big drops. Worth checking in your area — use the Pop Mart app's store locator to find nearby Robo Shop locations.

5. Restock Pattern Analysis

Serious collectors track restock patterns. Pop Mart tends to restock Labubu series within 2–4 weeks of a sellout for ongoing series, and new limited series typically get one or two additional production runs if demand warrants it. Following communities on Reddit (r/popmartcollectors), Discord servers dedicated to Pop Mart, and TikTok accounts that specialize in restock alerts gives you early warning of upcoming availability.

What to Avoid: AliExpress, Fake Sellers, and High Markups

The Labubu market is saturated with traps for uninformed buyers. Protect yourself from these common mistakes:

AliExpress and Unverified Online Sellers

AliExpress, Wish, DHGate, and similar platforms are primary sources of counterfeit Labubu. Many listings use official Pop Mart photography but ship cheap knockoffs. Even listings that describe products as "original" or "authentic" frequently are not. If you've never physically examined a real Labubu figure, you won't be able to tell from photos alone. The price difference is the giveaway — genuine Labubu should never be available new-in-box for under $15.

Amazon Third-Party Listings

Amazon's marketplace has official Pop Mart products, but also third-party sellers who mix fakes with legitimate stock, or charge scalper premiums for standard releases. Always check that the seller is "Pop Mart Official Store" or a verified authorized retailer. Anything sold by an anonymous third-party should be treated with suspicion.

Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp

These platforms have some legitimate secondhand sales, but also many counterfeit sellers operating as individual accounts to avoid platform detection. Meeting in person allows you to inspect figures but requires knowing exactly what a genuine figure looks and feels like. High risk unless you're confident in your authentication skills.

How to Spot a Fake Labubu

With production quality of counterfeits improving year over year, authentication requires checking multiple points simultaneously. No single indicator is definitive — you need to evaluate the complete picture.

The Holographic Authentication Label

Every genuine Pop Mart product ships with a holographic sticker on the sealed box. This sticker is produced using technology that's difficult to replicate — it shifts color when tilted under light and contains a unique QR code. Scan the QR code with the Pop Mart app; it should display the product details and confirm authenticity. Fakes either lack this sticker, have a flat non-holographic version, or have a QR code that leads nowhere.

Stitching Quality (Plush/Soft Vinyl Formats)

For plush-format Labubu, examine the stitching around the face, ears, and limbs. Genuine figures have tight, even stitching with no loose threads. Fakes often have wider stitch gaps, uneven spacing, or visibly different thread colors between sections. The face embroidery on genuine figures is precise — eyes are symmetrical, the mouth stitching follows clean curves.

Eye Print Precision

Labubu's eyes are one of the most recognizable elements of the character — large, slightly glazed, with specific white highlight placement. In genuine vinyl figures, the eye prints are sharp-edged with no bleeding. Fake figures frequently have blurry edges, off-center placement, or incorrect highlight positions. Compare to reference photos from Pop Mart's official website.

The Authentication Tag and Barcode

Inside the box, genuine figures include a small paper tag with a barcode and product information. The font and printing quality on genuine tags is crisp and professional. Counterfeit tags often have slightly blurry text, incorrect fonts, or inaccurate product codes. Cross-reference the barcode with Pop Mart's official product codes if you have any doubt.

Weight and Material Feel

Pop Mart uses quality vinyl that has a specific heft and texture. Fake figures typically use cheaper PVC that either feels too light, too rigid, or has a plasticky sheen that genuine vinyl doesn't. If you can handle a confirmed-genuine figure before buying secondhand, you'll immediately notice the difference in material quality. This is why in-person authentication is always preferable for high-value purchases.

Pro Tips for Catching Restocks

The most successful Labubu collectors at retail have developed systems for catching drops. Here's what actually works:

• Join the Pop Mart Community Discord: The most active Pop Mart collectors share restock alerts in real-time on community Discord servers. Search for "Pop Mart Discord" to find active servers.
• Set up a Google Alert: Create a Google Alert for "Labubu restock" and "Pop Mart restock" — this catches news articles and blog posts that announce restocks before they happen.
• Follow @popmart_global on Instagram: Official Pop Mart social channels announce new series and restocks. Enable notifications on their account.
• Check TikTok daily: Creators who specialize in Pop Mart often post about restocks and drops within minutes of announcements. Following 5–10 Pop Mart TikTok accounts significantly improves your drop awareness.
• Time your logins: Pop Mart tends to post drops on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings in Beijing time (which is 12–16 hours ahead of US time zones). Setting reminders for those windows can help you catch drops early.
• Use the wishlist feature: The Pop Mart app's wishlist sends stock alerts when a wishlisted item is restocked. This passive monitoring can catch restocks you'd otherwise miss.
• Check stores mid-week: Pop Mart physical stores typically receive new stock Tuesday through Thursday. Weekend visits mean more competition.

When You Have to Use the Secondary Market

Sometimes patience isn't an option — you want a specific series or variant that's out of production. Here's how to navigate the secondary market safely:

StockX is the most trustworthy platform for high-value Labubu purchases. All items go through physical authentication before the buyer receives them. You pay a premium for this service (typically 10–15% above market price plus shipping), but you're guaranteed authenticity. Worth it for anything over $100.

eBay offers buyer protection under the Money Back Guarantee for items that don't match their description. Stick to sellers with 98%+ feedback scores and at least 50 relevant sales. Read feedback specifically for Pop Mart / designer toy sales, not just overall seller feedback.

Mercari has a strong Labubu secondary market in the US and Japan. Pricing is often more competitive than eBay. Less buyer protection than eBay, but Mercari does offer a returns window for items not as described.