He shared how he was first drawn to designer toys such as Bearbrick and Labubu for their cute and stylish appeal.
WHETHER you are a dedicated collector or a cynical observer, you have likely heard of the furry dolls that became a global sensation last year: Labubu.
With a quick online search, these quirky figures can be found retailing anywhere from RM55 to RM4,000, depending on their rarity and market demand.
For one Malaysian, however, this hobby has turned into a financial crisis, leaving him with RM200,000 in debt.
In an anonymous post shared on Facebook, the collector described how he was initially drawn to designer toys—such as Bearbrick and Labubu—for their aesthetic appeal. He started by purchasing just a few pieces to display in his home.
The situation rapidly escalated after he joined online collector communities.
“Every day, people were unboxing items, showing off limited editions, or discussing the ‘appreciation in value’ of certain figures,” he wrote.
What began as a series of modest purchases soon snowballed into significant expenditure. The collector admitted that his motivations shifted from genuine interest to social comparison.
“If others had it, I wanted it too. If it was limited, I felt I had to get it. If prices were rising, I feared missing out. Step by step, I fell deeper into the trap,” he confessed.
By the time he re-evaluated his spending, he had accumulated nearly RM200,000 in debt.
Today, his once-prized collection sits on display in his home, serving only as a source of regret.
“I tried selling them, but I ran into a harsh reality: no one wants them.
“The ones I bought at high prices are now sitting in a market that has cooled. Prices have dropped, and some cannot even be sold at cost,” he said.
He lamented how the funds could have been better utilised—potentially as a down payment for a property or the outright purchase of a luxury vehicle.
“What do I have now? A pile of toys that I cannot eat, cannot use, and cannot liquidate.
“Throwing them away is painful, keeping them is agonising, and selling them is impossible. It is not just about the money; it is a profound regret over my past choices,” he added.
The collector concluded his post with a stark warning to others, urging them not to fall into the same cycle.
He emphasised that not all limited-edition items will appreciate in value and that many collections are not the sound investments they are marketed to be.
“To those about to get into this, or who are already becoming addicted, please pause.
“Because what you believe is collecting is, in reality, just paying for fleeting trends,” he said.
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