So, you've seen the little monster with the floppy ears and the single toothy grin. Maybe on TikTok, maybe a friend's keychain. And now you want one. I get it. I was there. One minute I was casually admiring Kasing Lung's art, the next I was setting 6 AM alarms for a drop. Welcome to the club.
The problem is, getting your hands on a LABUBU has gone from a fun hobby to something resembling a competitive sport. The recent frenzy over The Monsters Exciting Macarons series was a perfect example. I saw people who had never collected a designer toy in their life suddenly desperate to find one. This guide is my brain dump from years of collecting and running PopNya. It's not SEO fluff; it's the real, sometimes frustrating, truth about how to get a LABUBU.
The "Official" Route: Fighting the Bots on Pop Mart
Your first instinct is probably to go straight to the source: Pop Mart. Makes sense. This is the company that produces them. But it's not as simple as adding to cart.
You have two main options here: the Pop Mart Global website/app and the regional websites (like Pop Mart US).
How to buy LABUBU on the Pop Mart app or global site: This is where the earliest drops often happen. You download the app, you make an account, you wait for the release announcement. Sounds easy, right? Wrong.
On drop day, you're not just competing with other fans. You're competing with bots. Sophisticated bots that can clear out the entire inventory in under ten seconds. I've been there, finger hovering over the "Buy Now" button at the exact second of the drop, only to be told it's sold out. It's maddening.
And if you do get lucky? The shipping from the global warehouse can take weeks, sometimes over a month, to get to the US. I once ordered a case and completely forgot about it until it showed up six weeks later. So, patience is key.
How to get LABUBU from Pop Mart's US site: This is a slightly better experience for US-based collectors. Shipping is much faster. The problem is, stock is often more limited or arrives later than on the global site. By the time a popular series like the funny Labubu blind box series, Monsters Mischief, hits the US site, the hype is already at a fever pitch, and it sells out just as fast.
The LABUBU retail price directly from Pop Mart is usually the best you'll find: around $17 USD for a single blind box, or around $204 for a full case of 12. This is your baseline. Remember this number, because it's about to get crazy.
The In-Person Hunt: Can You Buy LABUBUs in Store?
Yes, you absolutely can you buy LABUBUs in store, and sometimes it's the best way to get a LABUBU. Pop Mart has been expanding its physical footprint with flagship stores and "Robo Shops" (glorified vending machines).
Physical Pop Mart Stores: If you're lucky enough to live near one, this is an experience. The walls are lined with colorful boxes, and the energy is palpable. You can physically pick up a box, feel its (pointless) weight, and hope for the best.
But here's the reality check: for a hyped release, the lines will be long. I'm talking hours. Stores often add purchase limits (e.g., two boxes per person) to keep things fair, but even then, they sell out fast. The upside? No shipping fees, and you get your dopamine hit instantly.
Robo Shops: These are popping up in malls across the country. They're fun, futuristic, and a great way to grab a single box on a whim. The downside is that their stock is extremely limited and they are often sold out of the most popular series. They're a gamble, but a fun one if you stumble upon a freshly stocked machine.
The Collector's Secret: Authorized Retailers
Okay, here's my personal favorite method, and I'm only slightly biased because this is what my store, PopNya, is. Let's talk about the labubu legit store you might not know about: authorized retailers.
These are independent shops (both online and physical) that have an official agreement with Pop Mart to sell their products. We get our stock directly from the source, so you know you're getting a real, authentic LABUBU.
So, where to buy authentic LABUBU if the main site is sold out? Check us. Seriously.
Here's the inside scoop on why this is often your best bet: 1. Stock Availability: When Pop Mart's site sells out in 30 seconds, we often still have stock. We might get a smaller allocation, but we don't have thousands of people and bots hammering our site at the same time. You have a much better, less stressful chance of snagging one. 2. Fighting Bots: Small businesses like mine have more agile ways to fight bots. We can monitor orders manually and cancel anything that looks suspicious. We care about getting these toys into the hands of real fans. 3. Customer Service: If you have an issue, you're talking to a real person (probably me) who is also a fan. Not a faceless customer service bot. 4. Finding "Sold Out" Gems: We sometimes get restocks long after a series is gone from the main site. It's always worth checking out our LABUBU collection to see what might have reappeared.
This is the answer to "what stores sell real labubus?" It's not just Pop Mart. It's a network of passionate store owners.
The Danger Zone: Navigating the Secondary Market
This is where things get dark. You missed the drop. The retailers are sold out. You turn to eBay, Mercari, StockX, or Facebook groups. Welcome to the Wild West.
This is where you'll find that $17 Macaron blind box listed for $50. Or the highly coveted chase figure, the tan-colored "Soy Milk" Macaron (tan LABUBU being a huge search), going for $150-$200. I've seen it happen. The price jump is immediate and brutal.
My advice? Be extremely careful.
How to get a REAL LABUBU and not a fake: The secondary market is flooded with fakes. They are getting better, but a trained eye can spot them. * The Box: Fakes often have slightly blurry printing, off-colors, or use thinner, cheaper cardboard. The shrink-wrap might be loose or messy. * The Figure: The biggest tell is the vinyl quality. A real LABUBU has a smooth, matte, almost soft-touch feel. Fakes often feel slick, oily, or hard and cheap. The paint job might be sloppy, with bleeding colors or fuzzy lines. * The Smell: This sounds weird, but it's true. Fakes can have a strong, toxic chemical smell. A real Pop Mart toy has a very neutral, clean scent. * The Card & Coin: Every blind box comes with a character card and a small black "coin." On fakes, the card's printing is often low-resolution, and the coin can feel lighter or have rough edges.
Honestly, unless you're hunting for a specific, long-retired series and you know exactly what you're doing, I'd advise most new collectors to avoid the secondary market. The risk of overpaying or getting a fake is just too high.
Real Talk: The Best Way to Get a LABUBU
So, what's my final verdict? If I had to tell a friend the absolute best way to start, here's what I'd say.
Your first stop should be an authorized retailer. I'm not just saying that to plug my own shop. It's genuinely the best balance of price, availability, and peace of mind. You get the official LABUBU retail price (or very close to it), you know it's authentic, and you're supporting another small business in the collector community. You can browse LABUBU figures without the stress of a 10-second sell-out window.
If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, by all means, try for a Pop Mart drop. Set your alarm, have your payment info ready, and pray to the toy gods. It's a rush when you succeed. Just go in with realistic expectations.
And if you're standing in a physical Pop Mart store with the last funny Labubu blind box on the shelf? Grab it. That's just good luck.
The key is to not let FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) drive your decisions. The hype around a new release is intense, and reseller prices are at their most insane in the first few weeks. If you miss out, just wait. Often, prices on the secondary market will cool down after a month or two. Or a restock will happen. Don't pay $80 for a figure that will be $30 in six weeks.
Collecting is supposed to be fun. It's about the joy of opening a blind box and finding a character you love, not the stress of fighting bots or worrying if the LABUBU link you clicked is for a fake. Take a breath, be patient, and shop smart. The right little monster will find its way to your shelf.
--- Disclosure: PopNya may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page.
