Is Buying Labubu & Pop Mart Blind Boxes Worth It in the Philippines? (2026 Price, Resale & Fake “Lafufu” Guide)
Sulit verdict: Sometimes — and only if you treat it as entertainment, not investment. A single blind box from an official Pop Mart store runs roughly ₱600 to ₱700, which is a fair price for a well-made collectible toy you’ll actually enjoy. It stops being sulit the moment you start chasing a specific character or the rare “secret” pull, because the box is built so the odds favor the house, not you. And a big chunk of what’s being sold cheap on resale pages and livestreams isn’t a bargain at all — it’s a “Lafufu,” the nickname collectors use for the fakes flooding the market.
If you’ve been on TikTok or walked through SM Megamall, SM Aura, or SM North EDSA this year, you’ve seen the line: people queuing for a chance to unbox a small, sharp-toothed monster plush called Labubu, sold sealed in a box so you don’t know which variant you’re getting until you open it. Pop Mart, the Chinese toy company behind it, has gone from having zero physical presence in the Philippines to multiple permanent stores and pop-ups in under two years. That’s a fast enough climb that most “is this worth it” breakdowns haven’t caught up — so here’s the actual math, the real buying channels, and how to avoid paying real money for a fake.
As of October 2026, here’s what the price actually buys you, where to get the real thing in the Philippines, and the specific checks that tell a genuine Labubu apart from a Lafufu before you open the box.
What You’re Actually Paying For
A Pop Mart blind box isn’t really a toy purchase — it’s a toy purchase with a small gamble built in. Each box in a series looks identical from the outside. Inside is one of several possible figures, usually 6 to 12 regular designs per series, plus a much rarer “secret” variant that isn’t shown on the box art at all. You don’t find out which one you got until you open it at home (or, increasingly, on camera for a livestream audience).
| What You Buy | Typical Price (Philippines) | What You’re Actually Getting |
|---|---|---|
| Single blind box, official store | About ₱600–₱700, depending on the series | One of several regular designs, or (rarely) the secret variant. Duplicates are expected, not a defect. |
| Full case (usually 6 or 12 boxes) | Roughly the per-box price × the case count, no discount built in | One of every regular design guaranteed — this is the only way to dodge duplicates entirely, though the secret variant can still land in any case or none at all. |
| Standalone plush or larger figure (not blind) | Historically closer to ₱800–₱900 for a standard plush, per pricing reported in late 2024 | A fixed, known item — no randomness, but also none of the “chase” appeal that drives resale demand. |
| Resale/secondary market (hot drops only) | Reported as high as ₱5,000 for in-demand characters as of late 2024 | A specific character you want, at a premium — IF it’s authentic, which resale listings don’t guarantee. |
The “secret” variant is the part that quietly drives most of the overspending. One widely cited analysis (via CNN, covering the U.S. market specifically) found shoppers spending an average of around $2,000 — about ₱114,000 — chasing a secret figure with roughly a 1-in-72 chance of appearing in that series. The Philippines doesn’t have comparable local spending data yet, but the mechanic is identical here: the odds are the same regardless of which store sells it to you, and there’s no way to improve them except buying more boxes.
Sulit Tip: If you want a specific regular-series design and don’t care about the secret variant, buying a full case guarantees you get every regular design at least once — it’s the only version of this purchase with zero gambling in it. You’ll still pay full price per box, so it’s not cheaper, just certain.
Where to Buy the Real Thing in the Philippines
This part has changed fast. Pop Mart went from no official Philippine footprint to several permanent stores within about two years. As of mid-2026, the brand’s confirmed official channels are:
| Channel | Notes |
|---|---|
| Permanent stores: SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, SM North EDSA | SM North EDSA opened February 2026 as the brand’s first permanent Quezon City location. |
| Glorietta (Makati) | Ran a temporary Dimoo World × Pixar pop-up from July 23 to September 23, 2026, with a permanent store slated to follow in October 2026. |
| Cebu and Davao pop-ups | Periodic pop-up activations outside Metro Manila — check Pop Mart’s official channels for current dates, since these aren’t permanent fixtures. |
| Pop Mart’s official website and official Shopee/Lazada stores | Restocks sell out quickly; this is still the official price, with no markup. |
Before Pop Mart had its own stores here, collectors leaned on bookstore-and-hobby shops like Fully Booked and Filbar’s, which carry Pop Mart lines in select branches. Those are legitimate retailers, but they aren’t Pop Mart itself, so stock and pricing vary by branch. Non-retailer resale spots — Greenhills stalls, random Shopee/Lazada sellers, and TikTok Shop live-selling accounts with no verified Pop Mart affiliation — are where most of the markup (and most of the fakes) show up. One report from late 2024 described Greenhills resale prices running double to five times the original cost for in-demand characters; treat any number like that as a sense of scale rather than a current quote, since it shifts with whatever character is trending that month.
Heads Up: A seller running a TikTok Shop or Shopee livestream isn’t automatically fake just because they’re not Pop Mart itself — but the same verification habit that applies to any live-selling purchase applies here too. Check the shop’s actual profile, transaction count, and reviews before buying, not just what’s said out loud during the stream.
The Fake “Lafufu” Problem
“Lafufu” is the nickname collectors gave to counterfeit Labubu figures, and they’re common enough that spotting one has become its own mini-skill. A counterfeit sold for as much as ₱2,500 was reported in late 2024 — meaning some fakes aren’t even priced like a bargain, they’re priced to look legitimate, and buyers often only find out after unboxing.
The checks collectors and toy-authentication guides consistently point to:
- Tooth count: A genuine Labubu figure has nine teeth, evenly spaced. Fakes frequently have the wrong number or uneven spacing.
- Head and face shape: The official mold has a specific proportion to the head and face — a head that looks too boxy, too round, or slightly “off” compared to official photos is a red flag.
- Logo placement and print quality: Genuine boxes and the fabric strap tag carry crisp, complete Pop Mart branding. Blurry, cropped, or missing logos are a common tell on fakes.
- QR code / authenticity card: Pop Mart includes a QR code on the box or an insert card that lets you register the figure’s serial number through its official app. A missing or non-scanning code is a strong warning sign.
- Pop Mart logo on the left foot: Official figures carry a small stamped logo on the sole of the left foot. It’s a small detail, but it’s one of the harder ones for counterfeiters to get exactly right.
Good to Know: None of these checks are things you can do before buying from a sealed blind box at a livestream or resale listing — you can only check them after you’ve already paid and opened it. That’s exactly why buying from Pop Mart’s own stores, website, or official Shopee/Lazada storefront matters more here than it does for most other purchases: it’s the only way to rule out the fake-figure risk before you spend the money, not after.
Worked Scenario: Deciding How Much to Spend on a Drop
Say a new series just dropped and you want in, but you’re not sure how much to commit. Here’s how to think about it in order: first, decide if you actually want a specific design, or if you’re fine with “any regular design, surprise me.” If it’s the second, one or two single boxes from an official store is a reasonable, low-stakes buy — you’re paying roughly ₱600 to ₱700 for a toy you’ll like regardless of which one you get, same as buying any other collectible. If you want a specific design, a full case is the only purchase that guarantees it, and you should budget for the full case price, not hope to get lucky on a single box.
Where it stops being sulit: the moment you’re buying extra boxes specifically to chase the secret variant, or paying resale prices for a character “because it’s trending.” At that point you’re not buying a toy anymore — you’re gambling on toy packaging, and the odds were set by Pop Mart, not by how many boxes you’ve already opened.
Who This Is Actually For
This is genuinely sulit for someone who likes the toy itself, enjoys the brief “what did I get” moment of opening it, and sets a fixed budget before buying — the same way you’d budget for any hobby. It’s a bad buy for someone chasing resale profit (margins get thinner the more people pile into reselling) or for someone who can only be satisfied by one specific character, since blind boxes by design don’t let you pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Labubu or Pop Mart blind box actually worth the money?
Yes, if you buy it from an official Pop Mart store or its verified Shopee/Lazada storefront and treat the price as what a well-made collectible toy costs — roughly ₱600 to ₱700 per box as of recent official pricing. It stops being worth it once you’re spending extra to chase a specific rare variant, since the odds don’t improve no matter how many boxes you open.
How do I know if my Labubu is a fake “Lafufu”?
Check the tooth count (genuine figures have nine, evenly spaced), the head shape against official photos, the sharpness of the Pop Mart logo on the box and strap tag, whether the QR code on the authenticity card actually scans and registers, and the small Pop Mart logo stamped on the left foot.
Where can I buy an authentic Pop Mart blind box in the Philippines?
Pop Mart’s own permanent stores (SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, SM North EDSA, with Glorietta following in October 2026), its periodic pop-ups, its official website, and its official Shopee and Lazada storefronts. Bookstore-hobby retailers like Fully Booked and Filbar’s also carry it legitimately in select branches.
Can I return a blind box if I don’t like the figure I got?
Generally no — a blind box is sold specifically as a random item, which is different from a defective or misdescribed product. The usual consumer right to a refund or exchange applies to products that are broken, fake, or not as described, not to “I didn’t get the one I wanted.” We break down how return and exchange rights actually work in the Philippines in our guide to “no return, no exchange” policies.
Also Worth Checking
If you’re buying any collectible through a livestream, our guide to verifying a live-selling seller on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop covers the same red flags that apply to blind-box drops. Worried about whether the glowing comments on a resale listing are even real, check our guide to spotting fake reviews, and if you’re verifying any online listing before you buy, our guide to checking FDA, PS/ICC, and DTI registration covers the broader authenticity-check habit worth building for any purchase, not just toys. And if blind boxes aren’t your only discretionary splurge, our guide to whether topping up Mobile Legends diamonds is worth it runs through the same real-price-vs-real-risk math for in-game purchases. For more of this kind of value-first breakdown, head back to more sulit finds.
Verified Sources Used
Daily Tribune: Confirmed the typical Philippine blind box price (about ₱600–₱700 depending on series), Pop Mart’s profit growth, and the U.S.-market secret-variant spending and odds figures.
Philstar: Confirmed Pop Mart’s permanent Philippine store locations (SM Megamall, SM Aura Premier, SM North EDSA), the Glorietta pop-up and its scheduled October 2026 permanent store, and the Cebu/Davao pop-up activations.
Manila Bulletin: Confirmed the SM North EDSA store opening date (February 13, 2026), its size and location within the mall, and its status as Pop Mart’s first permanent Quezon City store.
StyleVanity: Confirmed historical (2024) resale price ranges, counterfeit “Lafufu” pricing, and non-official retail channels like Fully Booked, Filbar’s, and Greenhills resellers.
Spot.ph: Confirmed general authenticity-check guidance (tooth count, logo placement, QR code verification) for distinguishing genuine Pop Mart figures from counterfeits.
