The allure of Pop Mart’s Labubu, the fanged, big-eyed, ugly-cute creatures, has taken the world by storm with their cuteness and aggression for the must-have plush accessory. Artist Kasing Lung’s enchanting eleven furry beasts inspired by Norse folklore have captured the hearts of many, including celebrity fans like Lisa, Rihanna and most recently Madonna. But things are changing with the increasing threat of vendors trying to take the fun out of the Labubu shopping experience.
As with any desirable collectible, there will always be a resale market. But recently, there have been so many fights in Pop Mart stores that the phenomenon has made international news. In the UK, the figures have been temporarily removed from shelves, a direct response to viral videos of fights between salespeople and enthusiastic customers, as well as employees simply trying to do their jobs. The company is currently without the bag charms in all 16 of its UK stores while it assesses how to handle the situation, telling the BBC that the hiatus is to “prevent potential safety issues.”
Similarly, the situation is spiraling out of control in the US, and you don’t even have to leave your house to feel the frustration. Online, it’s already been bad with flippers placing their bots on Pop Mart’s website and app. I can attest to the horrific digital experience; when I try to buy things for my collection online, I get crash notifications and when I try to use the Pop Now! gamified option to buy, my access is restricted because I have to press too many buttons to defeat the bots.
But shopping in person in the US is also a major inconvenience and dangerous, with vendors preying on drop-off events and turning them into chaotic and unenjoyable experiences. The tense encounters and brawls that broke out during the recent Big Into Energy launch made it clear that hostile vibes from vendors are becoming a major problem.
As one Pop Mart employee at the Century City location in Los Angeles told us, “People were fighting in line,” highlighting the safety concerns employees were experiencing. They also shared that Labubu inventory is currently only available for purchase online for pickup. They didn’t know in advance when deliveries would be available. We get it, but this approach still leaves customers fighting with vendors in the digital space.
Pop Mart is currently working to improve the shopping experience for collectors, and they have other concerns. The Labufu shortage has not only given rise to a shady market for spinners, but also a large counterfeit industry. The “Lafufu” (fake Labubu) are further confusing shoppers, sometimes tricking them into buying fakes for at least twice the price of the real thing. Pro tip: if it has more or less than nine teeth, it’s a fake! But Lafufu manufacturers are getting better at fooling unsuspecting consumers.
In other words, Pop Mart may be basking in its success, but it’s also aware of the challenges that accompany its products’ sudden fame. “Labubu will be back in physical stores in June and we’re currently working on a new release mechanism that’s better structured and fairer for everyone,” the company told the BBC.
I’m certainly not the only one ready for the experience to evolve. Entering and participating in Pop Mart’s new collector community brought with it a need to return to a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. It was great fun to talk to the employee at the location I visited and learn about not only Labubu’s traditions but also the other characters.
As a collector and fan of Labubu fantasy lore, I’m excited to be able to better participate in a more positive and enjoyable experience when I go online to purchase the latest figure. Like most fans, I still don’t have a Big Into Energy Labubu. I’ve tried all three of the available ways to get one: checking online inventory (always sold out), Pop Now! unboxings (pressing buttons until they’re fired, but sellers don’t get fired for some reason), or waiting and missing out on individual location social media stories announcing that fans are online for in-store pickup.
