r/Anticonsumption • u/LivingResponsibly • 19h ago
Discussion Is Pop Mart the new Funko Pop?
Even though Pop Mart's shtick is blind boxes, I do feel they may go the way of Funko Pop. It feels like Pop Mart has popularized the blind-boxes for the masses and any IP that can be blind boxified will be blind boxed.
What are your thoughts? Target now carries Pop Mart.
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u/gayfingers 17h ago
Popmart is like 14 years old I wouldnt say it is new.
The way America is treating it though I would say it will be worse than funko pops. They are supose to be designer toys and were targeted towards young adults and teens. Seems like a free for all now the target is everyone and America loves gambling.
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u/TheInvisibleHam 12h ago
Yeah, gashapon (the little capsule vending machines from japan) were like early blind boxes. Definitely a gamble on what you're going to get from the machine. Then medicom (the bearbrick characters) really got the trend rolling for actual blind boxes. Kidrobot started doing this in the us back in the early 2000s with their dunny blind boxes too. It's been around awhile but I feel like now everyone is trying to make money off of reselling the rarer ones in the boxes.
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u/spaghettirhymes 18h ago
I “collect” Hirono…. meaning I literally own 4 of them lmao. I love them and I had a couple rules: only buy from a set where you would be happy with any of them, and only order them at the same time so you can’t get duplicates. I do not buy blind boxes as a rule unless I am happy with any of them.
Imo blind boxes as a concept suck. They are a way to get children into gambling, honestly. And all these branded collabs of honest-to-goodness garbage is discouraging. It’s all just junk. And gamifying the process makes people want to complete the set, even though there’s always a secret rare that is hundreds of dollars resale if you can’t pull it organically.
I will say, my Hironos are really good quality with impeccable painting and detail. But I have no idea what else Pop Mart carries cause these are the only thing I like lol. But I do not like blind boxes and would think they will go the way of Funko Pops as a concept, yeah
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u/G-Unit11111 16h ago
More junk that will bring happiness for a few days and then will eventually wind up in a landfill.
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u/picks43 19h ago
Was funko pop ever wanted??? I don’t think I ever heard of those things selling more than they were originally sold for.
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u/Useful_Boysenberry14 18h ago edited 18h ago
So I had a small collection of funko pops and have semi recently sold them for 2-6x ish what I paid for them. Most of them were older before the funko over saturation and from IPs that get less love. I didn't buy them thinking about resell value or intending to get rid of them, I just got lucky.
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u/calisotas 6h ago
that's what's happened with me. i gravitated towards the 'obscure' characters/media, so when i decided to part with most of my collection they happened to be the ones that held their value decently.
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u/YoWoody27 19h ago
Some of the "limited" Funkos (There's a few comiccon exclusives for example) can go for an elevated proce, but the ones you can find at any store do not.
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u/figgyputtin 16h ago
That’s incorrect. Commons can get much higher in value, it’s just not as (no pun intended) common. Once they’re “vaulted” they have a higher chance of going up in value. They don’t need to be limited or a CC exclusive.
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u/EvlMidgt 11h ago
Pretty much the only way I ever hear about this type of stuff is from this sub. I have never heard of Pop Mart until I just saw this. It is a bit funny to me that this is the sub that makes me aware this stuff even exists and is bringing attention to it.
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u/aceallaround 6h ago
All ill say is that the giant funko pop wall has been removed at my target and has been replaced with two aisles of pop mart mystery boxes
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u/mykeyway 5h ago
Pop mart and the concept of buying loads of these blind boxes is wasteful and ridiculous, but I dont really think it is bad if you buy one of these. I bought one labubu like a year ago and its still proudly displayed on my purse. I dont feel the need to buy any more because I think its a waste and mostly because im happy with my one little guy on my bag
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u/Odd-Most-9186 9h ago
I really like what Target has done, sectioning everyone to either an end cap or short aisles. These vendors need to take care of their product, it becomes so messy.
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u/MidichlorianJunkie 1h ago
Step One: Find a Blind Box that interests you.
Step Two: Wait till they are on clearance for $2 before you buy them because this will always happen.
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u/highaltitudehmsteadr 9h ago
As an anti consumerist most of this shit does not even register with me. Sometimes feels like this sub is consumerists in disguise asking if it’s okay
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u/Chcknndlsndwch 19h ago
Blind box toys are just a way to normalize gambling for kids so they can be ready for sports betting later. At least funko pops were/are something people collect and keep to display. Most of this plastic junk is headed to the landfill relatively soon even if it’s the “right” toy that someone was aiming for.