Tier 1: Highest Resale Value
Secret rares from sold-out collaboration series sit at the top of the Labubu resale market. These combine two scarcity factors — the 1-in-144 pull rate of any secret rare plus the non-restocking nature of collaboration releases. Secondary market prices for these frequently exceed 10x retail.
Event-exclusive figures released only at specific pop-up locations rank just below. Supply was physically limited by the event footprint, and buyers who weren't present have no official channel. These trade at 5–10x retail depending on how coveted the design is.
Tier 2: Solid Resale Premium
Collaboration series generally (non-secret-rare figures): these don't restock and have a defined collector base. Typical secondary market range is 2–5x retail. The specific collaboration partner affects the ceiling — fashion and art brand collaborations tend to trade higher than entertainment IP collaborations.
First-wave releases of new series: before a series becomes widely known, initial production is smaller. First-wave buyers often have the only supply available before restocks. If the series becomes popular after launch, first-wave figures appreciate significantly. Risk: the series may not catch on.
Tier 3: Near-Retail Trading
Core series like The Monsters (non-rare variants): these trade close to retail because they do restock. Buyers have a reasonable alternative to the secondary market — wait for a restock. This limits the secondary market premium to roughly 20–50% over retail for common variants.
Recently released series with abundant secondary supply: when a popular series generates high initial demand, many buyers purchase multiples hoping to resell. This inflates secondary supply quickly and suppresses price appreciation. If you're buying to resell, avoid series where flipping is obviously popular.
What This Means for Buying Strategy
If resale value matters: prioritize collaboration series at retail price, especially lesser-known collaborations that haven't yet generated secondary market speculation. Buying before demand spikes is when the upside is greatest.
If collecting is the goal: resale rankings are mostly noise. Buy what you love to display. The core series figures that trade near retail are often the most satisfying to own daily precisely because they're the most iconic versions of the character.