Why Box Condition Matters
For many collectors, keeping the original box in good condition matters for two reasons: display (many collectors keep figures in their boxes or use the box as a backdrop) and resale value. Figures sold 'with original box' consistently command higher prices on secondary markets than loose figures.
The good news is that Pop Mart's blind box packaging is designed to be opened neatly. Unlike some toy packaging that requires cutting, Labubu boxes use standard tuck-tab construction that can be opened and re-closed.
Step-by-Step: Opening Without Damage
Step 1 — Identify the bottom. Turn the box over. The bottom of a Labubu blind box has a tuck-tab flap (folded cardboard tabs tucked into the box body). This is where you should open.
Step 2 — Gently loosen the tuck tabs. Use your fingernail or a flat letter opener to slide carefully under the outer tuck tab. Work slowly and evenly — the tab is glued lightly. If it doesn't budge, check that you're going under the right layer. Don't force it from the wrong angle.
Step 3 — Open the flap. Once the tab is free, fold the bottom flap open. The inner foam tray holding the figure will now be accessible. Slide the foam tray out gently — it may be snug at first.
Step 4 — Remove the figure from the foam. The figure sits in a molded foam cutout. Lift it out by the body, not by any accessories or protruding parts. If it's seated snugly, gently flex the foam edges outward while lifting.
Keeping the Box for Display or Resale
After removing the figure, the tuck-tab bottom can be folded back into place and re-secured with a small piece of double-sided tape if needed. The box can then stand upright as a backdrop display for the figure.
For resale, a cleanly opened bottom-tab box is generally considered 'box intact' by collector community standards. Torn, ripped, or cut boxes are considered damaged. The bottom-tab method is the universally accepted way to open while preserving box condition.
If you're considering whether to keep a figure in its sealed box as a 'mint in box' investment piece, note that sealed figures command meaningfully higher premiums for rare editions. For common series figures, the sealed premium is minimal — open and enjoy it.