I still remember the day the first promo images for the monsters have a seat dropped online. My phone buzzed nonstop. The collector group chats I'm in just exploded. Kasing Lung pairing his iconic Labubu and Zimomo monsters with tiny, bespoke chairs? And mixing vinyl with plush? It was a wild concept. We knew right away this wasn't just another series. This was going to be a thing.
And it was. The release was chaotic. The series sold out instantly online. People were lining up for hours. As a store owner at PopNya, getting our initial stock felt like winning a small lottery. The demand was, and frankly still is, insane.
But now that the dust has settled a bit, let's have a real conversation about it. If you're just getting into this have a seat blind box, or you're trying to complete your set, there are things you absolutely need to know. This isn't just a guide; it's a playbook from someone who has opened hundreds of these boxes.
First, Why Is Everyone Obsessed?
Let's be fair: the concept is brilliant. Designer toys are usually static figures. You pose them on a shelf and that's that. But this series introduced an interactive element. Each monster has a designated seat. Labubu is chilling on a beanbag, Tycoco is perched on a crescent moon, and Pato is ready for a meal at his little table. It's not just a figure; it's a whole miniature scene.
The mix of materials was the real hook. You get the crisp, detailed vinyl of the chair and accessories, paired with a soft, flocked, or fully plush monster. When you hold one, the tactile contrast is just… satisfying. It feels premium. It feels different. This wasn't just another repaint series; it was an evolution.
The lineup is also incredibly strong. You have: * Labubu (The Thinker): Classic Labubu on a beanbag. A fan favorite. * Zimomo (The Gamer): My personal favorite. The tiny headphones and game controller are perfect. The detail is nuts. * Tycoco (The Dreamer): Perched on a moon. Very whimsical and looks amazing on a shelf. * Pato (The Eater): The little foodie with his own table and chair. Super charming. * Spooky (The Loner): The fluffy black cat monster. Honestly, this is the most common one I see in trade piles. It's cute, but maybe a bit simple for some. * Yaya (The Secret): The flocked white angel. This is the main chase. The texture is velvety and the design is ethereal. * Rex (The Super Secret): A massive, plush dinosaur that the regular-sized Labubu can ride. This is the unicorn. The odds are 1/144, and pulling one is a major event.
The series tells a story. It gives the monsters personality beyond just their design. That's what elevates a good series to a great one.
The Collector's Playbook: How to Hunt for "The Monsters Have a Seat"
Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. You want to buy some. Where do you start? What do you look for?
Single Box vs. Full Case: A Game of Odds
If you're just starting, buying a single pop mart have a seat blind box is a low-risk way to see if you like the series. It's a fun little treasure hunt. But you need to manage your expectations. The odds of getting the one you want are, well, low.
If you're serious about collecting the set, buying a sealed case of 6 is the way to go. A factory-sealed case guarantees you 6 unique regular figures from the set. No duplicates. This is the most cost-effective way to get the base set. However, a sealed case does not guarantee a secret. If a secret (Yaya) is in the case, it will replace one of the regular designs.
This is where the market gets interesting. I've seen people buy a case, pull Yaya, and immediately sell the remaining 5 regular figures for a low price to recoup costs. If you're patient, you can sometimes snag a deal on the common figures this way.
The "Tricks of the Trade": Do They Even Work?
Ah, the age-old question. Can you weigh or shake the boxes to find a specific character? For the monsters have a seat, the answer is a complicated "sort of, but not really."
The Weight Trick: In theory, yes. The figures with more vinyl (like Pato with his table and chair) should weigh more than the figures with less (like Spooky, who is mostly plush). I spent an afternoon with a sensitive gram scale and a few cases. There are* weight differences, but they are minuscule, we're talking a few grams. The variance in the cardboard and packaging itself can often be greater than the weight difference between two different figures. So, unless you have a hyper-accurate scale and a huge sample size to create a baseline, it's a losing game. Don't trust anyone who says they can "weigh out the secret" with 100% accuracy. They can't. The Shake Test: This is slightly more effective, but still a gamble. This is the tip that only someone who has handled dozens of these would know: listen for the clink of hard vinyl. Figures like Tycoco (moon) and Pato (table/chair) have larger, separate vinyl pieces. If you gently shake the box, you can sometimes hear a distinct, sharp clink-clink* of plastic hitting plastic. Figures that are mostly plush or have smaller accessories, like Labubu on his beanbag, will have a duller, muffled sound. The secret, Yaya, is mostly flocked vinyl and has a very muted sound. It's not foolproof, but it can help you avoid getting, say, a third Pato when you're hunting for Spooky.Ultimately, these tricks are part of the fun, but they are far from a science. The best way to get the figure you want is to buy it outright from a reputable seller or trade with other collectors.
Real Talk: The Not-So-Great Stuff
I love this series. I also have to be honest about its flaws. No series is perfect, and it's my job to tell you what the glossy product photos don't.
First, the quality control can be a little spotty. This is a direct observation from opening cases for PopNya. The mix of materials is ambitious, and sometimes it doesn't quite land. I've seen Labubus with tiny black paint smudges on their faces, right out of the box. I've seen Tycoco figures where the paint on the star of the moon base is a little sloppy. The plush elements can also have loose threads or slightly uneven seams. It's usually minor stuff, but for a premium-priced collectible, it can be disappointing.
Second, the plush is a dust magnet. Especially the flocked Yaya and the fluffy Spooky. They look amazing fresh out of the box, but leave them on a shelf for a month and they will attract every speck of dust in the room. My tip: keep a clean, soft makeup brush handy. A gentle brushing every week or so will keep them looking fresh. Do not use water or cleaning agents, as it can ruin the flocking.
Third, and this is a big one for me: the fit isn't always perfect. The concept is "the monsters have a seat," but sometimes the monsters... Don't want to sit. I've had a few Zimomo figures that wobble in their gaming chairs and Labubus that slide right off their beanbags. It sometimes requires a bit of careful balancing to get the pose just right. It's a small frustration, but it's a known quirk in the community.
*The Market Value: What Are These Things Really* Worth?This is where things get wild. A standard pop mart the monsters have a seat** blind box retails for around $17-$18.
* Common Figures: Once opened, most of the common figures (Labubu, Spooky, Pato, etc.) sell on the secondary market for about $10-$20, depending on their popularity. Zimomo (The Gamer) consistently holds its value best, often selling for slightly above retail even when opened. Spooky is usually the cheapest. * The Secret (Yaya): This is the game-changer. On release weekend, I saw Yaya selling for $250. The price has since stabilized, but it still consistently fetches between $150 and $200. Pulling Yaya literally pays for your entire case and then some. The demand for this specific figure is astronomical. * The Super Secret (Rex): Good luck even finding one for sale. The 1/144 odds make it incredibly rare. I have only seen a handful pop up on marketplaces, with asking prices starting around $800 and going up to $1,200. It's the ultimate grail for a Labubu collector.
So, is it a good investment? If you pull a secret, absolutely. If you get a case of commons, you'll likely break even or lose a little if you decide to sell them off individually. This is a series you should buy because you love the art, not because you're trying to get rich quick.
The experience of finding these in the wild has also changed. It used to be a fun hunt, checking out different shops to see what they had in stock. If you're still into that chase, finding a good local blind box store is key. The thrill of finding a hidden gem on a shelf is something online shopping can't replicate.
Our Take
So, what's the final verdict from us here at PopNya?
The Monsters Have a Seat is an essential, landmark series for any Kasing Lung or Pop Mart fan. The creativity, the mix of materials, and the sheer charm of the concept make it a must-have. It's one of the most imaginative blind box series released in the last few years. The Gamer Zimomo is a masterpiece of miniature design.
However, it's not the best series for newcomers who are sensitive to minor imperfections. The potential for small QC issues is real, and the plush requires maintenance. If you're a perfectionist, you might find yourself frustrated. And if you're only in it for the flip, the odds are stacked against you unless you're willing to buy multiple cases.
Buy it because you want to own a tiny, perfect scene of a monster chilling in a chair. Buy it because you appreciate the artistry. Don't buy it thinking every box is a winning lottery ticket. For us, the joy of this series far outweighs its minor flaws. It's a collection that makes you smile every time you look at it, and that's what this hobby is all about. It's the same feeling I get when a new piece from the CRYBABY collection arrives, pure, unadulterated joy in the artistry.
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