Fake 'Lafufu' dolls reportedly taking over as fans struggle to afford the original Labubus
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The Labubu doll (Image via Instagram/@popmart)Labubu dolls have taken over consumers’ imaginations after being carried by stars like Rihanna, Dua Lipa and K-pop group Blackpink’s Lisa. The nine-toothed monster dolls, which are used as bag charms, are originally manufactured by Pop Mart.
However, the trend-worthiness associated with carrying the dolls, and the inconvenience of buying it at its original $30 price tag has prompted buyers to purchase fake dolls, dubbed as ‘Lafufu.’
According to a report by New York Post, the fake Lafufu dolls have overtaken tourist shops at New York City’s Canal Street, where the dolls are being sold for as less as $10.
The attractiveness of the mere 3 inch monster doll is apparent. With wide eyes and poppy colors with tiny hands sticking out, the doll is simultaneously adorable and strange, with both adults and kids becoming addicted to the Labubus.
A young mother interviewed by the New York Post revealed that while she bought a counterfeit Lafufu for her young son, she spent an hour to buy two original Labubus for herself from an online auction for a total of $76.
The price of original Labubus is driven up by the resale market which takes advantage of the fact that the real dolls come in blind boxes which does not offer a consumer the ability to choose which color doll they want. As per Dexerto, a Labubu was sold for as much as $5,000.
The fact that consumers can actually see which doll they are buying, is also fueling counterfeit Lafufu sales, as per The New York Post.
Can fake ‘Lafufus’ be distinguished from original Labubus?
Collectors and fans of the Labubu dolls note that there are a variety of ways for users to spot a fake ‘Lafufu’ in case they are confused.
According to Dexerto, one user discovered that Lafufus sometimes carried tags where instead of ‘Pop Mart,’ the name of the original retailer, “Pbp Mabt” is written. The news outlet noted that:
"Original Labubus were pale complexioned, but the counterfeits sometimes had hues of pink, orange, or yellow. Additionally, checking if the dolls carry QR codes or not can help customers with recognizing if their doll is a fake."
What is behind the surge in Labubu doll sales?
Consumers largely agree that seeing the Labubus being carried by celebrities influenced their attraction towards the dolls. According to The New York Times, Page Six’s hosts, Evan Real and Danny Murphy spent $745 on buying the dolls on the black market. As per the publication, Murphy said,
“When you see them in the wild, when you see someone with, it you get hooked into it. I fell for the rush and I love the fact that I was able to go to the opposite of an outlet mall for it.”
Real, who has bought six dolls, told the publication,
“I feel six times more joy in my life every day when I look at them sitting on my desk.”
At the same time, the Lafufus have their own charm. As per The New York Times, a buyer of the dolls said she was surprised by her Lafufus and preferred them over the original. She said,
“I was actually really excited to see what it would look like, because I’d seen TikToks of people unboxing the scariest looking Lafufus. And when I unboxed that Lafufu it was just so funny looking that I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’”
The consumer noted that she liked the ‘botched’ look of the fakes.