Labubu, the unofficial mascot of the eclectic creation from Hong Kong born artist Kasing Lung, has caused a huge uproar. This backlash followed toy retailer Pop Mart’s announcement that they would be suspending in-store sales of the treasured figure. This decision comes after chaotic scenes erupted in stores, particularly in London, where fans expressed outrage over aggressive reselling practices that have driven prices to staggering heights.
Labubu dolls first found success thanks to a partnership with collectible producer Pop Mart. Recently, they’ve captured the imagination of collectors, with prices on eBay in the UK hovering between £13.50 and £50. Limited print runs have been selling for hundreds of pounds on resale sites like Vinted and eBay. Some scalpers are even reselling Labubu dolls for as much as £100, an act that most fans of the brand consider sacrilegious.
Victoria Calvert, a ecstatically Labubu convert, saw that mania up close on her visit to a Stratford location in London. She arrived to find individuals who had camped overnight and others lining up as early as 03:00 BST.
When I first arrived, I was shocked at the massive lines of individuals queuing up outside the store. The tone was extremely hostile. Calvert said. People were screaming, in essence that they had run out of Labubus. I’ve literally seen an employee get into a fist fight over it with a customer.
The uproar even led to Pop Mart temporarily suspending in-store sales of Labubu dolls to avoid such an incident. A spokesperson for the company stated, “Although no Pop Mart employees have been injured, we’ve chosen to act early and prevent any potential safety issues from occurring.”
Both Calvert and McCluskey seemed to agree that the stop in sales is a good thing. “It’s probably for the best that Pop Mart paused in-store sales,” she said. A lot of collectors echo her sentiment and hope that this move will ease some of the madness that seems to accompany every new product release.
Jaydee, Labubu’s marketing executive, who chronicles her Labubu unboxing adventures on TikTok, was equally turned off by the reselling schemes. “I’ve lived in London my whole life and there is a resale crowd who do this,” she noted. Jaydee denounced resellers for driving up the value of the dolls out of reach of true fans. “It’s really unfortunate but for the real fans this is great news and the right decision,” she added.
The increased popularity of Labubu dolls has led them to selling out in seconds online. With Pop Mart suspending all physical sales at their specialty stores, some think that this will result in a greater demand for in person purchases and online purchases. “Now I can go into Pop Mart without having to queue,” Jaydee remarked, highlighting a silver lining to the store’s decision.
Though resellers present a significant challenge for Pop Mart, the company says it is still confident in future promotional and sales strategies. The company announced plans to return Labubu dolls to physical stores in June 2024, stating that they are currently working on “a new release mechanism that is better structured and more equitable for everyone involved.”
As the debate continues over the impact of resellers on collector communities, fans hope that upcoming changes will restore enjoyment to Labubu’s growing trend while ensuring accessibility for all.