Labubu's extreme scarcity stems from a perfect storm of strategic hype, artistic prestige, and ruthless reseller demand—here's why this mischievous creature is so hard to catch:
1. Designer Pedigree & Cult Following
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Art Toy Royalty: Created by Kasing Lung, a superstar artist under Hong Kong's How2Work, Labubu inherits hype from his earlier ultra-rare figures (like Zimomo).
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"Grail" Status: Collectors treat Labubu like the Supreme box logo of art toys—owning one signals insider credibility.
More: What Type of People Like Labubu? Exploring the Fanbase of This Quirky Collectible
2. Brutal Release Strategies
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Micro-Batches: Most drops are limited to 50–500 pieces globally, with zero restocks. Example: The Labubu x SpongeBob collab sold out in 8 seconds.
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Lottery Systems: Brands like POP MART use "blind box luck" mechanics—you might buy 50 figures and still miss the 1/144 Secret Labubu.
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Geolocked Drops: Japan/China get exclusive colorways (e.g., Labubu "Rainbow Snow"), forcing international fans to pay 3x resale.
More: What Does "Labubu" Mean in English?
3. Reseller Bloodsport
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Bots Dominate: Automated tools snatch 80% of stock instantly. A **2023 Labubu "Devil" resold for 2,800∗∗(retail:120).
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Fake Market: 1 in 3 "authentic" Labubus on eBay/Pandabuy are high-quality counterfeits, scaring off new buyers.
4. Psychological Tricks
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Blind Box Gambling: POP MART’s randomized packaging exploits dopamine addiction (like gacha games).
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Artistic Scarcity: Kasing Lung deliberately underproduces, saying: "I want fans to feel the thrill of the hunt."
More: Have a seat Labubu fake vs real?
How to Score One (Without Going Broke)
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Follow Kasing Lung’s IG (@kasinglung) for studio drops (least markup).
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Use Japanese proxies (e.g., Buyee) to access Mercari Japan listings pre-resale inflation.
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Avoid "Too Good to Be True" deals—authentic Labubus always have numbered COAs and matte-finish paint
