I remember the day the headlines hit the collector forums. "Walmart is selling LABUBU." My first thought was, no way. My second thought was a string of frantic questions. How? Which series? Are they just on shelves next to the Funko Pops? It felt like a glitch in the matrix. As someone who runs PopNya and spends hours sourcing these little monsters, the idea of them being at a big-box store was both thrilling and terrifying.
The flood of DMs and emails I got was immediate. Everyone was asking the same thing: are the LABUBUs from Walmart real?
The quick answer is: Yes, they are almost certainly real, authentic Pop Mart products.
But, and this is a huge but, it's not what you think. Walmart isn't stocking LABUBU next to the Oreos and motor oil. This is the single most important thing to understand. When you see a LABUBU listing on Walmart.com, you are not buying from Walmart.
Deconstructing the Deal: It's Not Walmart, It's StockX
This is where everyone gets confused, and honestly, the listings are designed to be a bit misleading. Walmart has a partnership with StockX, a popular online marketplace primarily known for reselling hyped sneakers. Think of it like eBay, but with an "authentication" step in the middle.
Here's how it actually works: 1. A third-party seller lists their LABUBU blind box on StockX. This could be anyone, a person who bought extra, a professional reseller, anyone. 2. StockX integrates its listings onto Walmart's massive online marketplace. This gives the seller's item huge visibility. 3. You see the LABUBU on Walmart.com, add it to your cart, and check out. Your money goes through Walmart's system. 4. Here's the key part: The order is routed to the original third-party seller on StockX. They ship the LABUBU not to you, but to a StockX authentication center. 5. Someone at StockX opens the shipping box (not the blind box itself), gives the product a once-over to make sure it looks like a legitimate Pop Mart item, and then repackages it and sends it on to you.
So, when you ask, "is Walmart LABUBU real?" you're actually asking if a random person's LABUBU, filtered through StockX, is real. In most cases, yes. StockX has a reputation to uphold, and they're pretty good at spotting obvious fakes. You're not likely to get one of those cheap, janky "Lafufu" knock-offs. If you're worried about outright counterfeit products, this route is safer than, say, a random AliExpress listing. I've even written a guide on how to spot fakes and where to buy Lafufu (the real thing, I mean LABUBU) because the fake market is a real problem.
But authenticity is only one piece of the puzzle. The bigger questions are about price, condition, and the overall experience.
The Brutal Reality of Reseller Pricing
Let's talk numbers. This is my territory.
A standard LABUBU blind box from an official Pop Mart store or a licensed retailer like us at PopNya costs between $13 and $17 USD, depending on the series and location.
As of writing this, I'm looking at "The Monsters Have a Seat Vinyl Plush Blind Box" on Walmart.com. The price is $28.98. The "Into Energy Vinyl Plush Blind Box" is listed at $25.29. These are single, random blind boxes. You're paying nearly double the retail price.
Why? Because you're not paying retail. You're paying a reseller's asking price + StockX's fees + a potential cut for Walmart. This isn't a magical supply of LABUBU that Walmart found; it's just the secondary market being piped directly into a mainstream storefront.
This is the price of convenience and hype. LABUBU is insanely popular right now. Finding them at retail is a challenge, a genuine hunt. I've documented my own struggles trying to find LABUBU in NYC, and it's no joke. The Walmart/StockX partnership preys on that scarcity. They know people will pay a premium to avoid the hassle.
So, is the Walmart LABUBU legit in terms of pricing? Absolutely not. It's a classic case of supply and demand, with several middlemen taking a cut along the way. You are paying a "hype tax."
The Collector's Experience: What You're Giving Up
Okay, so the toy is real but the price is high. For some, that might be an acceptable trade-off. But as a collector, you're losing more than just money.
Box Condition is a Gamble. When I ship an order from PopNya, I pack it like it's a priceless artifact. I use bubble wrap, sturdy boxes, and air pillows. Why? Because I'm a collector, too. I know that for many of us, the box is part of the collection. A crushed or dented box is heartbreaking.
When you buy through the Walmart/StockX pipeline, your blind box is going on a long, rough journey. From the original seller (who might just toss it in a bubble mailer) to a StockX warehouse, where it's handled by people who process thousands of items a day, and then back out to you. The chances of it arriving in mint condition are significantly lower. I've heard from customers who took this route and received boxes that looked like they'd been used as a football.
Zero Customer Connection. If you have an issue with a LABUBU you bought from a specialty store, you can email the owner (like, me!). You can ask questions about the series, the artist, or future drops. You're talking to someone who is passionate about the product.
If you have an issue with your Walmart/StockX order? Good luck. You're entering a labyrinth of corporate customer service. Walmart will point you to StockX. StockX will point to their policies. The original seller is anonymous. You're just a tracking number in a massive system.
The Thrill of the Hunt is Gone. Part of the joy of this hobby is the chase. The feeling of walking into a store and seeing the series you've been looking for on the shelf. The community you build with other collectors. The satisfaction of finally tracking one down. It's a core part of the experience, and something I detail in my collector's playbook on how to get a LABUBU. Buying it from Walmart feels… sterile. Like ordering paper towels. It strips the soul out of the hobby.
Real Talk: My Honest Verdict as a Seller
So, should you buy a LABUBU from Walmart?
Honestly? I wouldn't. And I say this knowing that some people will choose that path anyway.
While the product itself is likely authentic, you are paying a massively inflated price for a subpar collector's experience. You're supporting a reseller market that makes it harder for genuine fans to buy toys at a fair price. You're trading the community and passion of the hobby for the cold, transactional convenience of a big-box website.
To me, it's a last resort. A desperation move. If you have exhausted every other option, you have a gift card to burn, and you are absolutely dying for a specific plush series that is sold out everywhere else, then maybe. But you have to go into it with your eyes wide open, knowing you're overpaying and rolling the dice on the condition.
There are just better ways.
Smarter Ways to Build Your LABUBU Collection
Instead of feeding the reseller machine, here are the avenues I recommend to all my customers and friends:
1. Official Pop Mart Channels: This is the gold standard. Follow Pop Mart's social media for drop announcements and try to buy directly from their website or physical stores if you have one nearby. The prices are fair, and the product is guaranteed authentic. It's competitive, but it's the most direct route.
2. Specialty Online Retailers (Like Us!): Find trusted online stores that specialize in designer toys. We sellers build relationships with distributors and work hard to get stock. Yes, sometimes we sell out fast, too, but our pricing is based on retail, not hype. You're also supporting a small business that is part of the collector community. You can always browse our current LABUBU collection to see what a dedicated shop looks like. We care about the things we sell.
3. Collector Communities: Join dedicated LABUBU or Pop Mart groups on Facebook or Discord. This is where the real magic happens. People in these groups often sell or trade their duplicates at or near retail cost. You build friendships and get to share in the excitement with others. Just be smart, always use secure payment methods like PayPal Goods & Services and ask for references.
4. Local Toy Stores & Comic Shops: Don't forget to look offline! More and more independent shops are starting to carry designer toys. It's always worth a call or a visit. You might be surprised what you find.
The Walmart/StockX situation is a symptom of LABUBU's incredible popularity. It's a sign that our niche hobby has hit the mainstream. And while that brings new fans into the fold, it also brings opportunists. The best defense is knowledge. Knowing what you're actually buying, where it's coming from, and what a fair price is.
So yes, the LABUBU from Walmart is real. But the real question is whether the price and the experience are worth it. For my money, the answer is a clear no. The heart of collecting isn't just about owning the thing; it's about the story of how you got it. And that's a story I'd rather not start in the checkout lane of a mega-corporation.
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