Jess, a 28-year-old from Ireland, spends around $270 weekly on blind boxes, which are sealed surprise items. Although she has never gambled before, she believes she has developed a gambling addiction related to these collectibles. Popular brands, such as Labubu, have contributed to her compulsive buying behavior, particularly after being influenced by social media. Despite her attempts to limit herself, she often succumbs to the urge to buy more boxes for the excitement of unboxing, leading to a cycle of guilt and unnecessary purchases.
The buyer's guilt that I get nearly every time after I've spent is insane ... Sometimes I open things and I don't want them.
I would end up buying stuff that I didn't care about just for the thrill of opening a box.
Pop Mart, the Chinese company behind Labubus and many other mystery collectibles, is now estimated to be worth $40bn.
Jess believes she is addicted to blind boxes: after she tried banning herself from buying them in July, she snapped and suddenly found herself ordering 25 more.
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