I see the search terms spike every month. "Does BoxLunch sell LABUBU?" "Does Box Lunch have LABUBU?" It's a question that makes perfect sense. BoxLunch is a go-to spot for so many of us looking for Funko Pops, Loungefly bags, and a curated selection of nerdy, wonderful things. They have blind boxes. LABUBU comes in blind boxes. It seems like a match made in heaven, right?
But every time I see the question, I have to chuckle a little. Not because it's a bad question, it's the most logical question in the world for a budding collector to ask. I chuckle because it reveals the massive gap between how mass-market collectibles work and the fiercely protected, slightly chaotic world of artist-driven designer toys.
As the owner of PopNya, where I live and breathe these little monsters every day, I can give you the real, unfiltered answer. And it's not a simple yes or no.
The Short, Official Answer (and the Messy Reality)
Officially? No. As of right now, BoxLunch is not an authorized retailer for Pop Mart products, including LABUBU.
You can go to their website right now, search for "LABUBU," and you will get zero results. You can walk into most of their physical stores and you will not find Kasing Lung's iconic, buck-toothed monster staring back at you from the shelves.
So why does this question persist? Why are there TikToks and Reddit threads showing what looks like LABUBU at a BoxLunch?
This is where things get interesting. The internet is full of "sightings." A grainy photo here, a breathless video there. "OMG guys, I found LABUBU at my BoxLunch!" These posts cause a frenzy. But nine times out of ten, these situations fall into one of a few categories:
1. A Test Run: It's possible Pop Mart tested a very small, limited run in a handful of stores to gauge interest. This happens in retail. But it was not a national rollout and it didn't stick. 2. A Third-Party Seller: Some larger malls or store locations have smaller, independent pop-ups or consignment sections. A local reseller could have set up a small table or shelf space, creating the illusion that BoxLunch itself was the seller. 3. An Employee Mistake: Someone might have confused LABUBU with another blind box series. It happens. 4. The Franchise Anomaly: Some mall stores are franchises, and the owners might occasionally source products outside the main corporate channels to fill a local demand. They might buy a case from a distributor (or even from a retailer like us!) and put it on their shelves. This is extremely rare and definitely not official policy.
The bottom line is that these are isolated incidents, not a sign of a corporate partnership. The hunt for LABUBU is a core part of the experience, and I've spent my fair share of time on a collector's field report in NYC and other cities; if they were in a major chain, the community would know for sure. So when someone asks me does Box Lunch have LABUBU, my answer is always, "Not in any way you can count on."
The Pop Mart Fortress: Why You Can't Just Find LABUBU Everywhere
To really understand why LABUBU isn't sitting next to the Disney pins at BoxLunch, you have to understand Pop Mart's business strategy. They are fiercely protective of their brand, and for good reason.
Pop Mart isn't just a toy company; they're a brand manager for artists. Their entire model is built on elevating artists like Kasing Lung (LABUBU), Ayan Deng (Dimoo), and Lang (Skullpanda) from niche creators to global phenomena. They do this by carefully controlling three things: scarcity, presentation, and price.
1. The Retail Experience is Everything: Pop Mart has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in building its own retail empire. Their physical stores are bright, clean, and feel more like art galleries or high-end boutiques than toy stores. The toys are displayed beautifully. The staff is knowledgeable. They want the experience of buying a LABUBU to feel special. Placing their flagship product in a store like BoxLunch, which, no shade, has a much more crowded, pop-culture-focused vibe, dilutes that premium experience. They want to be the primary destination. I've seen this firsthand during my own pilgrimage to the Pop Mart in San Francisco; the environment is a huge part of the appeal.
2. Controlling the Supply Chain: This is the part that affects me directly as a seller. Getting official stock is hard. Pop Mart focuses on their own stores first. Then, they have a very small, very select list of authorized third-party retailers. Becoming one is not easy. You have to prove you'll uphold their brand image. The wholesale pricing structure isn't designed for massive markdowns or big-box margins. It's a low-volume, high-demand model. I've written before about the brutal truth of LABUBU wholesale, and it's a constant battle to secure inventory. A giant like BoxLunch would need a massive, consistent supply that Pop Mart is either unwilling or unable to provide without disrupting their entire ecosystem.
3. The "Art" vs. "Toy" Distinction: BoxLunch excels at selling products tied to existing intellectual property (IP). Star Wars, Marvel, Hello Kitty. You already know and love the characters. LABUBU is different. It's an original creation. Part of the joy is discovering the artist's world. Pop Mart knows that the story of "The Monsters" and the artistry of Kasing Lung are as important as the vinyl figure itself. That context gets lost when a blind box is just one of a hundred on a crowded shelf.
Real Talk: Would LABUBU at BoxLunch Even Be a Good Thing?
Let's play devil's advocate for a second. Let's say tomorrow, Pop Mart and BoxLunch announce a huge partnership. LABUBU is coming to every store in America. Is this the dream scenario?
Honestly, I'm not so sure. And this is where my collector brain clashes with my seller brain.
As a seller, more exposure is great! More people in the hobby means more potential customers. But as a collector, I have serious reservations. The "thrill of the hunt" is a huge part of what makes collecting fun. The feeling of walking into an authorized shop and seeing a fresh case of a new series is electric. Or, even better, finally tracking down a figure you've been searching for. I still remember the agony and ecstasy of trying to find a LABUBU store near me before they were more common.
If LABUBU becomes as common as a Funko Pop, that magic disappears.
When it first dropped, the secret figure, "Soymilk," was trading for over $250-$300 in collector groups. The regular figures were selling for $20-$25, well above the ~$15 retail. Why? Scarcity and hype. Now, imagine that series was stocked in 500 BoxLunch stores nationwide. The sheer volume would crater the secondary market overnight. Your common dupes would be worth less than retail, and even the secret would likely drop significantly in value.
The scarcity model, while frustrating, is what gives the collection its long-term value and excitement. Mass-market saturation is the enemy of the dedicated collector. It's a delicate balance, and I think Pop Mart knows that tipping too far into the mainstream could kill their golden goose.
A Collector's Tip: How to Spot a Legit Retailer
So if you can't rely on BoxLunch, how do you know where to shop safely? The designer toy world is unfortunately rife with fakes. I've seen countless new collectors get burned by knock-offs from shady sites. You've probably seen them too, names like "Lafufu" or "Ror Mart" that are designed to trick you. Learning how to spot these fakes and find the real thing is a crucial skill.
Here's my simple, three-step process for verifying a seller:
1. Check the Official Pop Mart Site: Pop Mart maintains a list of their official stores and authorized retail partners. If a store isn't on that list, proceed with extreme caution. 2. Look at the Product Mix: Does the store only sell the hottest, most sought-after series? That's a red flag. Real retailers carry a mix of new releases and older, less-hyped series. They have a relationship with the brand, not just a one-time purchase of whatever is trending. 3. Price Check: Is the price too good to be true? A full case of a brand new series for 50% off? It's a fake. Is it wildly inflated? It's a reseller, not a retailer. Authorized retailers stick close to the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP).
So, Where Can You Actually Buy LABUBU?
Okay, so I've told you where not to look. Where should you be directing your energy? If you're serious about collecting, here's your playbook.
Your Top Tier: Official Pop Mart Stores & Online This is the source. The mothership. If you're lucky enough to live near a physical Pop Mart store, that's your best bet. You get the full brand experience and first dibs on new drops. Their official online store is the next best thing, though shipping can sometimes be slow and popular items sell out in seconds.
Your Trusted Allies: Authorized Retailers This is where stores like mine, PopNya, come in. We are collectors who have gone through the official process to become authorized sellers. We get our stock directly from Pop Mart or their official distributors. The benefit of shopping with a dedicated designer toy store is the curation and community. We only stock authentic products, and because we're part of the community, our reputation is everything. When you browse our LABUBU collection, you know you're getting the real deal, packed by people who care.
The Wild West: Secondary Markets This includes platforms like eBay, Mercari, StockX, and Facebook collector groups. You can find almost anything here... For a price. This is where you go to hunt down that one specific chase figure you're missing. But it's a minefield. You need to be vigilant about fakes, check seller reviews religiously, and be prepared for significant markups. It's high-risk, high-reward.
The question "does boxlunch sell labubu" is more than just a retail query. It's a window into the culture of collecting. The answer explains why LABUBU feels special, why the community is so passionate, and why finding one in the wild feels like a genuine accomplishment.
While the convenience of finding one at the mall would be nice, I think, for now, the magic of LABUBU lies in its exclusivity. The hunt is part of the story. And for those of us who have fallen for these little monsters, it's a story we love being a part of.
Disclosure: PopNya may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page.
