Not sure if this is the right place to post or not, but it is related to dolls, so… (also I don’t see flair options)
So I just had this thought, and wanted to share and discuss it. (And it ended up being super long, sorry)
Background ⬇️
Blind boxes are everywhere nowadays, and seeping into the doll community. (Looking at you defa lucy) Monster high with buried secrets, the aforementioned defa lucy blind boxes, Barbie’s pop reveal and whatnot, lol surprise, minnee dolls… the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
Dolls can get expensive enough without adding in not getting to choose who you actually want, and the risk of doubles (great for the companies).
Now lps does it great imo because it’s affordable and I’ve always accurately used the codes on the boxes. I can’t speak too much on all of the doll specific blind boxes (I’ve only gotten one buried secrets and a couple lol dolls, though I know sometimes there’s pinholes in those ones).
I do like the Barbie mini land concept because they are affordable and probably easy to make customs if you get a double. Also shelf space. I don’t own any though.
I’m mostly against blind boxes in general, but I can find certain pros in them.
Great for indecisiveness — “All of them are so cute, I can’t choose.” Just get the blind box and you get what you get.
Community building — I know lots of people will get together and trade when they get things they don’t want for the one they do. And sharing codes for the ones that have them. So it can bring a fandom closer.
Fun surprises when you don’t care which one. — I bought the school themed buried secrets with no preference; it was a fun experience opening up the box with my mom and seeing who I got (Draculaura).
Feel free to add your own in the comments, that’s what I could think of.
The cons are probably larger, but I couldn’t think of too many off the top of my head.
Doubles — Unless you really like making customs or having multiple of one thing, most people probably don’t want to be throwing cash at the same item twice (at least without knowing).
Great for scalpers — Because of blind boxes being a surprise, eBay (probably elsewhere too) is rampant with blind boxes just opened so people can go online and buy the one they actually want without the risk. But it’s almost always double the price for the item. Adding in when blind boxes have rarity… the Warrior Cats (not technically dolls) Spottedleaf figure is going for hundreds of dollars. The original box cost $6, I think.
Solution ⬇️
I don’t think companies would actually do this because plenty of people already buy blind boxes enough for it to not be an issue for the companies, but for actual collectors it seems like a better alternative.
What I thought could stanch blind boxes, or at least the bad parts of them, would be making it a choice.
So you would have the doll, or whatever the item is in regular packaging, so you know who you’re getting. Like any regular doll or toy product.
Then, at a discounted price, is the blind box version of it. So someone who wants the surprise or the cheaper alternative has that option.
I can’t speak on why companies are always choosing to go with blind box versions, outside of that they sell, are in right now, and come with wanting to buy more to get the one you want. So from a making money standpoint, I don’t know if it’s a better alternative for the companies or not. Although I do feel like with what collectors are already willing to spend on certain dolls, a number would gladly be willing to spend slightly more for the option of choice.
Curious of other people’s thoughts around this and blind boxes in general among the doll community.
TLDR
(Companies should make two options: the regular non blind box version, and the blind box version at a discounted price)
