The mystery box concept is interesting-- one of the few areas where consumer protections are greater for digital products than physical. I believe some EU members have laws against loot boxes, which has motivated most major games to avoid them altogether despite their favorable economics. I have your same hesitancy against outright regulation against them, however it seems more obvious when it comes to products clearly meant for children.
Adding onto your gripe with the 3rd party salesmen prowling hardware stores-- I hate how they approach so nicely and then begin to ask untoward questions. "If you don't mind me asking, when was the last time you renovated your kitchen?" etc. They're pretty good at structuring their pitch in such a way that YOU feel like you are breaking social norms to extract yourself from the interaction, when they are the ones accosting you at a store.
I remember about a decade ago when subscription boxes for every little thing were very popular. There are still a few out there, but many went belly up after people decided they didn't like paying for random things to be mailed to them every month. This too shall pass, but as usual, it's the consumer who gets caught up in the hype that benefits least.
This is in some ways an extension of the gacha toy vending machines that are all over in Japan. Blind boxes were also popular for things like Gundam or other anime and game characters when I was in Tokyo 20 years ago. The Instagram and TikTok aspect of it definitely turbo charged it though. I feel like it's one thing to go to a toy or comics store and buy one of these, maybe trading with friends or whatever, versus having it become an influencer thing, but I could also just be yelling at cloud here.
The "blind box" phenomenon is not that different from buying packs of baseball cards in my youth. You didn't know exactly which players you would get, but worst case scenario, at least you got a stick of questionable bubble gum.
And "Ladder Day Saints"? Priceless. I'm stealing that. Well played.
Hahaha thank you! Yeah I guess so - it seems like it's taken seriously now by actual adults, and not just a kids' amusement, so even though the idea is the same the context/use/fallout feels different. But maybe that's just one of those libertarian, burn up your money if you want to kind of things. I guess the trading card business is different because real players/collectors do actually trade, it isn't solitary, which seems like a difference too.
My experience with Lowe’s is much different. The stores I have been in (VA & NC) have been staffed with knowledgeable people who usually know where stuff is in the store. And when you go there it is actually in stock. In the orange store you can eventually find the empty spot where your item is supposed to be but isn’t because it is stocked out.
I dunno. I think the issue of "blind box" collecting is overstated here. It's certainly a form of gambling–no doubt. But the people decrying their addiction to buying Labubu in search of some golden goblin would probably be as addicted to scratchers or bingo or something else in the absence of the "blind box."
Rolling the dice with prudence and within budget can also have some benefits. For instance, Pokemon cards. Every Friday after school, I take my kids to buy a few packs of cards at a hobby shop. We then come home and open them together. Naturally, we seldom pull rare cards. But when we do, it creates incredible moments. (My kids still bring up my pulling a $200 Vaporeon six months ago.)
Sure, it's disappointing to not hit big, but life is full of minor letdowns. Better to let kids experience that, within reason, of course.
Great piece, thanks for sharing.
The mystery box concept is interesting-- one of the few areas where consumer protections are greater for digital products than physical. I believe some EU members have laws against loot boxes, which has motivated most major games to avoid them altogether despite their favorable economics. I have your same hesitancy against outright regulation against them, however it seems more obvious when it comes to products clearly meant for children.
Adding onto your gripe with the 3rd party salesmen prowling hardware stores-- I hate how they approach so nicely and then begin to ask untoward questions. "If you don't mind me asking, when was the last time you renovated your kitchen?" etc. They're pretty good at structuring their pitch in such a way that YOU feel like you are breaking social norms to extract yourself from the interaction, when they are the ones accosting you at a store.
Thank you! That is a great point about the sales pitches.
I remember about a decade ago when subscription boxes for every little thing were very popular. There are still a few out there, but many went belly up after people decided they didn't like paying for random things to be mailed to them every month. This too shall pass, but as usual, it's the consumer who gets caught up in the hype that benefits least.
This is in some ways an extension of the gacha toy vending machines that are all over in Japan. Blind boxes were also popular for things like Gundam or other anime and game characters when I was in Tokyo 20 years ago. The Instagram and TikTok aspect of it definitely turbo charged it though. I feel like it's one thing to go to a toy or comics store and buy one of these, maybe trading with friends or whatever, versus having it become an influencer thing, but I could also just be yelling at cloud here.
Yeah. I feel the same way.
The "blind box" phenomenon is not that different from buying packs of baseball cards in my youth. You didn't know exactly which players you would get, but worst case scenario, at least you got a stick of questionable bubble gum.
And "Ladder Day Saints"? Priceless. I'm stealing that. Well played.
Hahaha thank you! Yeah I guess so - it seems like it's taken seriously now by actual adults, and not just a kids' amusement, so even though the idea is the same the context/use/fallout feels different. But maybe that's just one of those libertarian, burn up your money if you want to kind of things. I guess the trading card business is different because real players/collectors do actually trade, it isn't solitary, which seems like a difference too.
My experience with Lowe’s is much different. The stores I have been in (VA & NC) have been staffed with knowledgeable people who usually know where stuff is in the store. And when you go there it is actually in stock. In the orange store you can eventually find the empty spot where your item is supposed to be but isn’t because it is stocked out.
I dunno. I think the issue of "blind box" collecting is overstated here. It's certainly a form of gambling–no doubt. But the people decrying their addiction to buying Labubu in search of some golden goblin would probably be as addicted to scratchers or bingo or something else in the absence of the "blind box."
Rolling the dice with prudence and within budget can also have some benefits. For instance, Pokemon cards. Every Friday after school, I take my kids to buy a few packs of cards at a hobby shop. We then come home and open them together. Naturally, we seldom pull rare cards. But when we do, it creates incredible moments. (My kids still bring up my pulling a $200 Vaporeon six months ago.)
Sure, it's disappointing to not hit big, but life is full of minor letdowns. Better to let kids experience that, within reason, of course.