The frenzy for all things Labubu has reached a new peak, as the latest miniature collectible series from toy giant Pop Mart vanished from shelves in a breathtakingly short time, leaving a trail of disappointed fans and a booming resale market in its wake.
Dedicated collectors who had been eagerly awaiting the drop were left empty-handed and furious as the 'Mini Labubu All Stars' series, featuring 12 adorable new characters, was snapped up almost the instant it went live online this morning.
From Virtual Shelves to Virtual Queues
The launch on Pop Mart's official UK website was plagued with issues, typical of a high-demand release. Fans reported being stuck in endless digital queues, only to be greeted by a dreaded 'sold out' message once they finally reached the front. The frustration was palpable across social media platforms.
One exasperated fan tweeted, "Absolute joke. Waited in the online queue for 20 minutes for it to sell out. What was the point?" Another simply stated, "Well that was a waste of time. Mini Labubu already gone."
The Resale Market Explodes
As is always the case with such rapid sell-outs, the secondary market immediately ignited. Within hours, listings began appearing on eBay and Depop with staggering markups.
While the original blind boxes had a retail price of £9.90 each, full sets of 12 were being flogged online for well over £150 – more than double their original value. Individual, particularly rare figures from the collection were listed for eye-watering sums, capitalising on the desperation of collectors who missed out.
What's All the Fuss About?
For the uninitiated, Labubu is a mischievous, vampire-toothed character created by Korean artist Kasing Lung. It is the flagship IP of Pop Mart, a Chinese company that has taken the global collectible toy market by storm with its stylish ‘blind box’ model.
The thrill of not knowing which figure you'll get from a series is a major part of the appeal, driving a powerful ‘collect-them-all’ mentality. This latest Mini Labubu series is a special ‘All Stars’ set, bringing together some of the most beloved characters and introducing new, highly sought-after rare variants.
What's Next for Disappointed Fans?
All hope is not lost for those who missed the initial online rush. Pop Mart has indicated that the Mini Labubu All Stars series will see a wider physical release in its stores across the UK. Fans are advised to keep a close eye on their local store's social media for specific release dates and availability.
The lesson, as always with these drops, is to be prepared, have your payment details saved, and expect the unexpected. And for those who did succeed in securing a box, you might just be sitting on a small gold mine.
