"How much does a Labubu cost?" is the first question asked before a purchase, and the honest answer is: it depends significantly. Between the official release price and what the secondary market demands for a sought-after piece, the difference can be tenfold. Here is what explains these differences, so you can know when a price is justified and when it is not.
Three different prices for the same character
The first is the Pop Mart release price: the one displayed when the series is available in stores or on the official website. This is the lowest price, but it requires being there at the right time.
The second is the reseller price. It is higher, and that is normal: it covers sourcing, inventory costs, authenticity verification, and customer service. This is what you pay to have the item available immediately.
The third is the secondary market price between collectors. Here, there is no longer any cost logic: it is rarity that sets the price. A "secret" piece from an out-of-stock series can reach several times its original price.
What really drives the price up
Rarity within the series, first of all. In a blind box, not all characters are distributed with the same frequency: so-called "secret" pieces are intentionally rare, and it is this rarity that creates the price gap.
Condition, next. A sealed box that has never been opened is worth significantly more than a figurine removed from its packaging, even in perfect condition. For a collector, the packaging is part of the item.
Finally, age: a series withdrawn from the catalog will not return. Its price depends only on what collectors are willing to pay.
Conversely, the format also influences the price: a plush keychain and a large figurine are not in the same price bracket at all.
When a low price should alert you
This is the most useful reflex to acquire. For a sought-after, high-demand product, a spectacular discount does not exist: no one sells off an item that sells itself.
A price significantly lower than the market rate almost always signals one of three things—a counterfeit ("Lafufu"), an already opened box being resold as new, or a shop that will never ship the item.
Our rule: if the difference from the market price exceeds half the price, consider it a sign of a problem rather than a good deal.
The hidden cost: customs and import fees
This is the line item that many buyers forget. A figurine ordered from outside the European Union—or, from Switzerland, from outside the territory—arrives with import VAT and the carrier's customs clearance fees.
For an item costing a few tens of francs or euros, these fees sometimes equal the cost of the product itself. The displayed price is therefore not the price paid: always compare the landed cost, once all fees have been added up.
This is precisely what you avoid by purchasing from a seller based in your country.