Urgent warning issued to anyone buying a Labubu this Christmas
The furry monster dolls normally sold at Pop Mart retailers have surged in popularity this year
Rhiannon Ingle
There's no question that a load of kids, and adults for that matter, will have a Labubu doll on their Christmas list this year.
The popularity of Labubus, those little furry monster dolls everyone and their nan seems to be absolutely obsessed with, has skyrocketed this year and it doesn't seem like the TikTok-viral internet craze is dying down anytime soon.
But anyone planning on getting their mitts on one of these collectables has been issued an urgent warning ahead of the festive shopping season after the removal of almost 100 from shops in Reading, England.
Third-party sellers via online marketplaces and high street shops are breaking the law when they sell fake Labubu dolls, with Reading Trading Standards sharing that cease and desist letters were delivered to the 10 retailers found to be selling the counterfeit toys.
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The BBC reports that Reading Trading Standards visited 12 retailers in the town centre in October, and all of them were found to be selling Labubu dolls in some form.
However, they were unable to provide invoices for their stock to verify that they were genuine.
As many as 93 toys were later confirmed to be fake, with 10 unable to be verified due to the 'highly sophisticated packaging' that made them indistinguishable from the real deal.
Trading Standards has warned that, without proper safety checks, it is unknown if the dolls' materials contained toxic substances such as lead, harmful dyes, or banned plasticisers.
Karen Rowland, the lead councillor for environmental services and community safety, lamented that it was 'worrying' the toys could have got into the hands of children.
"It is understandable when money is tight, to be tempted by what may look like genuine bargain goods from sellers on the street and online," she said. "But the clear message we want to send out is to be on guard; whilst these products may be cheap, you have no guarantee they're up to standard."
So, if you're still planning on picking up a Labubu doll for your loved one this Christmas, be sure to look for CE or UKCA safety markings on the toy.
First things first is ensuring you're purchasing your doll from an official retailer - AKA a Pop Mart store.
It's not as simple as simply walking in and picking up your chosen doll, however, as you will need to enter an online lottery to buy one. If you spot a Labubu for sale at a retailer that isn't associated with Pop Mart, it may be a resale item or it could be fake.
Packaging is also a major tell when it comes to checking authenticity. Real Labubu boxes are famed for their matt finish and muted colours. You can also double-check for a holographic Pop Mart sticker and a QR code.
You can also check authenticity in the doll's teeth as real Labubus have nine triangular teeth, resembling fangs - something which many fakes don't get right.
Alongside that, quality is also another major tell as real Labubus generally have higher quality fur, blush on their cheeks applied by airbrush and embedded glossy eyes and moveable but not wobbly limbs.
And, lastly, keep an eye on the dolls' feet as newer Labubu editions have a UV-detectable seal on the right foot. Under UV light, you should see a silhouette of the specific Labubu model.