how this Japanese doll broke the toy industry

[@answerinprogress]

I hope you liked that video! It took me down a path I really didn't expect but it was fun one to follow. Like I mentioned in the video, I'd love to know how you feel about this blind box trend so let's start some discussions in the comments :)

[@shadoboi8963]

Sigma

[@chiblast100x]

One thing worth some, though possibly minor, consideration within your independent research: you didn't, so far as I can see, control for people using the ability to buy them as a way to make a one time limited contribution to you rather than as a means of acquiring them.

[@MadsterV]

now do gashapon :)

[@dieidiot3413]

DOLLY. good video

[@williamriven]

I play Magic: The Gathering (my pfp is art from one of my favorite cards), and it's had the blind box sort of thing for thirty years (a booster pack has 14 game cards, rather than just one figurine, but it's similar in that there's a dopamine hit when you open a pack with something you wanted in it).

[@Poondeh]

One of the biggest features I dislike about modern games are loot boxes. It's just manufactured rarity giving you the idea that something is worth more than it is.

[@milkshakebananaz]

They’re worth what people will pay!

[@The_Biff]

If they’re free and non predatory I think they’re okay! Although *some* (cough cough EA) are very annoying for the games they’re in imo>:(

[@Dead_pixelz_]

I thought they did away with those a couple years ago. I see lots of battle passes these days, but those are not deceitful like loot boxes.

[@The_Biff]

@ True! Although EA still get away with them in FIFA and Apex!(I think)

[@charlesmoxey8122]

​@@The_BiffI'd hate having to pay $50 for a game just to have it push me to spend more

[@Summer_and_Rain]

I think FOMO also plays a part. If it is a limited time design, which they often are, then you have to hunt for the box and your favorite designs. Then if your friends are into it to, you get that kid excitement of getting the "good ones", no matter if you actually like them or not.

[@skywatcher458]

and then when you have a favorite design you might as well get the whole Series, right? and when you keep going on the loop of this cycle with new collections.

[@Summer_and_Rain]

@@skywatcher458 True!

[@captainmycaptain8334]

FOMO is def a big part. everything is being monetized in this "don't miss out, you wanna be part of the ""in crowd"" dont you?" type of way. and it doesnt help that you have influencers pushing products/loot boxes/blind boxes onto their impressionable fanbases of kids that will beg their parents for the item so they can be part of the cool kids club. I never got the hype, i dont want a bunch of plastic junk sitting around collecting dust in my house, but i had a friend who got addicted and would spend the last of their check trying to get some ""rare "" toy or item. Just ridiculous consumerism to me

[@TheInfintyithGoofball]

​@@captainmycaptain8334 because it is.

[@DoveJS]

​ @captainmycaptain8334 You're absolutely right; part of it is companies trying to pressure people into buying more stuff and even the nicest influencer, who's just creating a review to let you know if the item is worth buying, can inspire people to buy it who might not have otherwise. On the other hand, as an adult, I enjoy watching other people open blind boxes sometimes so I can vicariously live through their experience. It might tempt me to get some as well, but sometimes just seeing it happen is good enough since it scratches that itch for me. I think this can apply for children as well, but that also depends on the child and certainly adults can get swept up in the excitement as well and buy on impulse.

[@mintpalmer]

Ex-LEGO Store employee here. Over 5 years I felt through hundreds of blind bags picking out specific minifigures for customers. People rarely bought ones that were fully blind. I dunno if it's just a LEGO thing, but people seemed to much prefer picking the one they wanted.

[@lil_floofer]

Haha, I've spent hours in shops with my mum when I was younger, we'd be there feeling each packet and organising them to which we thought they were before I bought one. Great memory you've reminded me of. Shame the little store I used to go to shut down

[@Jason_Bryant]

People prefer picking the one they want when they have that option, but when there's a solid box that prevents that, weird things happen in our brains.

[@MadsterV]

People prefer to pick, but that way the buy only the one they want :)

[@mintpalmer]

@@lil_floofer it's definitely a skill you pick up over time!

[@ThatSocialMoth]

I think the variable here is that it then becomes game-ified in a different way, it becomes a guessing game and a skill game which is a fun gamble in and of itself

[@marnierose7816]

As a 47yr old mum who’s bought a number of suprise boxes for my kids, another aspect I’d like to add is when times are financially tough and you need a gift but are tight on budget, a suprise box works to not only provide a toy for a special occasion but also gives the child a sense of wonder, intrigue and fun! In a world full of tech and answers at the tips of your fingers and few surprises left in life…these little boxes are a breath of fresh air ❤

[@kira5505]

I actually agree with this, at least for my own blind box enjoyment. It's less about getting something specific for me (so avoids gambling), and is just about the fun of a surprise. They're also easy to put on a wishlist or something for friends who want to send me a little gift for my birthday or Christmas - cute, fun, and reasonably inexpensive, so no one feels like they have to spend too much.

[@RockinBoz]

Buy your kid a couple $5 scratchers

[@firapuroki]

nice answer

[@xaviersmith5154]

​@@RockinBoz you dont always get something with those. Yall hate just to hate.

[@biazacha]

@@RockinBozthat’s just gambling for more money…. the kids still focused on the toy part of the blind boxes.

[@Nao_Craft]

As a qualitative researcher, I find it fascinating that your discussions with friends and this comments section is revealing more about why and how people use blind boxes than many of the papers you read! It shows the power of just talking and listening to people. Thanks for the great video!

[@DMStraylight]

I feel like a missing piece of data here, that might be important, is what percentage of total sales of blind boxes go to people who DO experience signs of addition versus those who don't. If these products hook, say, one out of every hundred people, but that one spends as much as the other 99 combined, well, then we have both a business model and a problem.

[@juanmacias5922]

those unlucky few are known as "whales"...

[@PhotonBeast]

@@juanmacias5922 Truthfully, yes and no. Some may be addicts, but others may be wealthy individuals for whom dropping 600 bucks per month on something is the equivalent to getting McDonalds for the rest of us. Some may be both.

[@clubtonberry]

100% this. Addictive tendencies are a thing and whilst technically these things aren't classified as 'gambling', you are still relying on chance to get what you want. There is a history of gambling in my family, for example, and when i was in my early twenties i would spend SO much money on gacha games and blind boxes (I spent over $5k on Love Live: School Idol Festival, which for a student with no job that was a LOT). It is getting harder and harder to avoid all these gacha mechanics, whether it's in video games or blind boxes so i feel so, so much for the people who have not got their addictive tendencies under control. South Park has a good episode on this (Freemium isn't Free).

[@puellanivis]

I mean, if we can look at her practical experiment webpage as a simplified example the relation seems to be pretty much 1/x… which means a bit like that Zipf’s law applies. That is, the person you get the most money from is likely paying about twice what the second person is, and then triple the third person, etc… 🤷‍♀I mean, this is all very “back of the napkin” and very Fermi Estimation. But yeah. You’re earning way more from those whales than from any other single individual… but also, you’re making ~half your income from the single purchases anyways as well. So, the single purchase people add up, and so do the whales.

[@XandaPanda42]

@@juanmacias5922 In GTA Online, one of the Shark Cards (an item that you buy with real currency to give you in game currency) was called the Whale Shark I think, and it is or was the most expensive one. It's bad that they made them, but it's somehow worse that they likely named it that on purpose.

[@PetDKK]

I feel like Social media plays a huge role in the blind box boom. Watching others unbox and enjoy their blind box surprises with their friends, laughing and having fun creates the illusion that buying one will give you the same happiness, experience, thrill and excitement. It seems to be a new way to try and fill a void so many people feel today.

[@erojerisiz1571]

so many things that social media glamorizes fomo is an incredibly powerful force

[@tonkinthehanoian1843]

I swear Labubu plush blows up just because Blackpink's Lisa owns it. It's crazy, and art toys craze but for the sake of trend is disgusting to me.

[@FeroxX_Gosu]

Thats some dystopian shit right there.

[@devinjab1869]

yes i think so to. And its an easy way to create content

[@maksymisaiev1828]

This is also artificially created by gaming industry. Hundreds of mobile games with lootboxes and gacha, hundreds of PC games also with battlepass and limited skins. Social media is only part of it, but reality is it is just evolved marketing, which ignore what people really need and push what people "want".

[@Hotaru9]

Japan has been doing blind boxes for ages and it wasn't too bad because you could still go to stores where you could buy the individual toys if you really wanted. But I don't think other countries have those kind of stores so you spend a lot of money on ebay.

[@HumbleWooper]

The USA has stores where you can buy/sell single trading cards like pokemon, magic the gathering, or sports cards... I haven't seen one for blind box style toys yet though.

[@saltiestsiren]

I would have to guess the government mandated that. Japan has really cracked down on gambling mechanisms but particularly when children are involved. I could very well be wrong, though. Most other countries are more liberal when it comes to government(s) legislating restrictions on businesses and gambling.

[@CommonNoctul]

If you live outside Japan, secondhand shops with an international online store like Mandarake are often the cheapest for individual toys (and they're diligent about bootlegs, while eBay is bootleg central). The downside is that they're competitive because people set up alerts and can snatch items up barely 30secs after they're listed. Yahoo Japan Auctions can be cheaper too, but you'll often need a proxy buyer, which can cancel out the lower item price.

[@万恶共匪毒害中华]

Pop Mart is a Chinese company, not Japanese

[@AfterBurnerTeirusu128]

@@CommonNoctul Buyee is a great proxy. Their fee's just a few bucks and these small figures ship abroad for pretty much nothing.

[@shibafox]

This is super interesting to watch. I'm an artist that makes keychains and acrylic pins and I've been thinking of trying out blind bags because it seems really fun. Personally I only buy blindbags/boxes if I like most of the options and would be happy with any of them. I think that if I were to offer blind bags at conventions, it would be nice to have a basket with a couple of commons thrown in, and if people open their blind bag and would prefer one in the basket- they can swap. Even if the one they swap is of higher rarity, I'd still leave it in the basket for the next person. It's kind of like an insurance that people walk away happy. I know it's not the most lucrative business model but selling my art on merch isn't my main source of income and is moreso something I do for fun.

[@evelynbinoya6412]

I know some people find this kind of thing fun, but as someone that likes buying things from local artists, any kind of blind bag without the option of buying ANY of the options (at a mark up for rarity is fine) would make me never purchase your artwork again. I'm definitely on the extreme side of things but unless you have the option I have an incredibly hard time seeing at as anything other than gambling unless you like the unboxing experience.

[@Call-me-Al]

Please have the blind boxes alongside being able to buy any of the art by design. I like kinder eggs because I don't care if I get the ones I really want, I'm only going to buy one or two anyway and I am not going to want the whole collection of kinder egg toys. But actual art, I don't want to have to look for some reseller to get what I want. I might add that I have never been into gambling because it seems too futile and I hate loot boxes in games. Let people like me directly buy the art from you, and people who just want to treat it like kinder eggs because they can't decide which ones of your collection to get and would prefer that choice being out of their hands can be happy with blind boxes.

[@littleboo2002]

Whenever I go to conventions, if there is an artist where I love all their art, but can't decided what to get, their blind boxes, or bags help. They are usually cheaper that just picking one, but it also helps with the stress of what to get. it helps support the artist, and gives me less stress on what to buy with the limited money I bring.

[@shibafox]

Wasn't expecting to get comments on this- To start, if I were to do blindboxes/bags then having the same items for sale kind of trivializes the rarity aspect of it- at that point it's whoever can buy up the rares the fastest vs blindbags where each one has the same chances as everyone else for the same price. I'd definitely offer the same art in the form of a vinyl sticker or other merch for sale (the bags/boxes would include a matching sticker) but I'd want the keychains/pins to be special. It's not just the unboxing part that's appealing, it's the lack of control over something small and inconsequential. I've bought blind bags and paid for gachapons from other artists, and the experience is just as much part of the fun as the item itself. The swap basket is my idea of a compromise- while I doubt anyone would put a hidden rare, if the pin/keychain you want is already in the swap basket, you're still paying the same price as everyone else when you buy and open a bag and swap for the item in the basket- whether that be a common or uncommon. Sure, technically it's a form of gambling but I'm selling to adults and a couple of $8-10 bags that always give a reward of some rarity is a far cry from going to a casino, dropping a ton of money, and leaving with nothing. It's like those claw machines that allow you to play on the same single payment until you get a prize. Anyways, even if I were to do this it would be specific series designed for it- 95% of the rest of my art merch is purchasable normally.

[@autonomousAcquaintances]

I love that so much. I’m really new to selling my art but I want my business model to give back to the comunity and make people happy! I have a pay it forward system where any tips I get create coupons for the next person buying, anyone who wants to use that discount can. So it makes it so I get assured money even if I don’t sell stuff right away, and also makes it so people with less money can get what they want too. I plan on keeping the coupons around throughout shows so I’m not making extra money from people’s goodwill. I also have a free art supply box anyone can take from or donate to either physically or with money that I can stock nicer stuff into it. Might make lil grab bags for people from it so they don’t have to pick through 100 different colored pencils if they don’t wanna- all that to say- I really hope other business people and artists continue with this spirit of love and joy rather than pure profit

[@Tinnguyen123]

First of all, the cinematography in this video is amazing-all the cuts are so smooth and well-edited. The content is also great. I’ve never really understood why people like mystery boxes; I usually just spend the extra money to get exactly what I want.

[@___Zack___]

Lel same. I think they're the same people that would have taken the food early as a child instead of waited a short moment longer for something better (if you know the experiment?)

[@OwOlord9000]

I gambled on a plushie bag at a con one time and I got even more than I could have dreamed of, so I've decided to quit while I'm ahead and never do it again

[@gost5704]

you are a rare case and i respect you lol

[@___Zack___]

Finally a man who beat the system 💪

[@elise441]

Dutch person here! Blind box regulations are more strict in video games than irl. For example, in FIFA games you now get to see the contents of a lootbox before buying it, but actual physical toys are not regulated I think (like those LOL surprise boxes are still allowed). But, I recently saw one of those dragon egg hatching things in a toy store, and the manufacturer had the dragon poke outside of the egg, so you can see what colour you're buying. Manufacturers are already adapting, so I think that means the plan is to have the legislation be extended to physical toys as well.

[@elise441]

Then again our government is pretty bad at preventing adult gambling addiction. All the lotteries, betting companies etc. are state-owned. You'd think the government would try to prevent addiction in its citizens, but they still run an unbelievable amount of targeted ads, because ultimately the state profits from it. Like, they even hire celebrities for sports gambling sites. But I guess it's something that they try not to expose the children to it?

[@seakr_7o9]

@@elise441 While most of the things you mention are correct, however not all lotteries and betting companies are state owned in the Netherlands.

[@DrCocofruit]

Your second comment is quite saddening but I'm glad there's *some* degree of honestly and push for reasoned decision making in your area

[@breanna_bee]

Also Dutch, and yeah, the regulations are far more strict for video games. Pokémon decided not to release their new TCG mobile game here (and not in Belgium either), but the physical cards (and other blind boxes) are still perfectly fine. The government also loosened gambling advertising laws for a couple of years recently, but luckily course corrected again a bit last year.

[@Cropcircledesigner]

Bigger surprise toys tend to "preview" what's inside, while smaller (cheaper) ones are usually blind. I think that's just because they have to stay somewhat affordable to get people to buy multiples and put up with doubles.

[@ryuthebuizel6266]

Honestly Lego accidentally did the best things for their blind boxes When they switched to cardboard boxes they added QR codes to identify the Minifigs in case they had a safety recall Now there's apps you can download that'll scan the box and tell you exactly what's in them, so you don't have to get a random figure if you don't want to

[@sheepysnowtato824]

Woah! :0 That actually is like a really go.od middle ground! Maybe if companies put the designs of the characters on the bottom of the box, then people wouldn't even have to scan the QR code.

[@stephgreen3070]

It’s $25/year now after you’ve logged 12 scans. If you want to scan any more than 12, Lego’s got you over a barrel. Just another company squeezing every last cent out of their fans with yet another subscription.

[@ryuthebuizel6266]

​@@stephgreen3070Lego doesn't run any of the scanners, I've been using the Falcon Bricks website that doesn't have any scanning limits and it's been working fine

[@robot7485]

​@stephgreen3070 There are free apps that you can use to scan, and the employees in the Lego stores will scan the boxes for you, too. I think it's a great woek around and makes collecting Lego way more fun. I'm glad I got into lego blind boxes instead of any other blindboxes/bags.

[@narutoman876]

@@stephgreen3070 What the hell are you talking about? There's 3 separate free apps you can use to scan the minifig QR code. And that's just the 3 that I know

[@Mcwollybob]

Other than the gambling, my hypothesis for why people love blind boxes is because it's sort of like a micro-dose of what you experience on christmas or your birthday. It's so much fun to open a present and not know what that present is. Not only do blind boxes give you that experience, the amount of packaging and secrecy to that packaging gives the feeling of literally unwrapping a present. This is also why I think companies make sure to add a lot of packaging to their items for kids. So many of these toys seem to have more packaging than toy. If you make opening an item into an experience, especially a similar experience and feeling to being a kid on christmas morning, then you're going to make a lot of money.

[@umopapisdn.]

this ‼️

[@steakyhumus5628]

I think this is honestly one of the best videos made by this channel yet. From editing, script, explanation, diversity of opinion (e.g scientific papers, policy, interviewing individuals who actually buy the toys) and graphics. This was a really interesting video, thanks for making it!!

[@malusdraco3793]

here's a thought- blind boxes are like a gift to yourself. because you don't know what you'll get, it's like someone else picked something out for you (who knows your general vibe, because you pick the series/collection and decided it was good enough to gamble) and has that sort of surprise factor. i am concerned with the amount of blind box-esque things being sold to children. i think one of the things i'm okay about with the art toy blind box market is that it's mostly geared towards adults rather than to kids.

[@user-gu9yq5sj7c]

Even if I was giving a gift to myself I would still want to pick out what I wanted. I don't want to be stuck with something I don't want. Some people said they didn't really like their gifts from people because of being stuck with junk.

[@jaehunt6529]

I kind of get this. I like surprises but as an adult you rarely get them. Also, living alone I make all my day to day decisions, which is a great kind of freedom but can also be exhausting (it'd be nice once in a while to have someone else organise dinner, or decide what I'm doing on the weekend, or whatever). I don't buy the kind of blind boxes in this video, but I do get a couple of monthly food/pamper subscription boxes, just because someone else has decided what I'm spending that money on. I know it'll likely be something I like (I picked the subscriptions) but its a little piece of my life where I can be surprised and not have to make all the choices myself.

[@utsinboots]

EXACTLY 👏

[@ShirleyShirley-t5f]

Don’t open gifts until on your own or not at all. Use as wrapped display ornaments?

[@AyeshaKhan-wb2of]

I have always loved collecting trinkets, and when I discovered blind boxes (surprisingly, not through social media), I set some rules for myself. I only buy one blind box for whatever series I want. This makes me only end up purchasing blind boxes for a series where I like or am happy with most if not all the designs present in the box and also helps me not get duplicates. I do think my love for blind boxes comes from how detailed and creative some of these series are so for me buying blind boxes is more about loving the art rather than finding THE ONE. I am just happy none of the series I usually collect from are viral so I can save up and take my time buying blind boxes ✨.

[@J00ZIESTJ00Z]

great idea 👍

[@kitkakitteh]

Or - you could hit Ruby Lane and buy actual collectible antique jewelry for the same prices. You know, stuff with actual value.

[@puttinontheritzcrackers3301]

I tend to buy from sellers that unbox them. 😅 Often that means I can't afford the one I want, which saves $$$

[@kindlin]

@@kitkakitteh Or, almost anything else. I'm sensing another Beanie Babies product.

[@iismaxyt]

@@kitkakittehtrue but because of the popularity, pricing, and somewhat rarity of these they do hold some value. But ur right bc jewlery and many other things would be a better use of money

[@Gelatin223]

I think our culture is just generally shifting towards some form of gambling most of the time, like random songs coming on Spotify, random videos showing up on KZbin, lootboxes in games, it subjectively feels like large companies are trying to normalize gambling, and it’s honestly working pretty well. (I am addicted to pokemon tcg pocket)

[@kathychiley5893]

I've never thought of spotify and youtube and tiktok as gambling, but they really are with their algorithms gambling for your attention. it's such an interesting analogy for how addictive they are!

[@lolo-no9pm]

pokemon tcg pocket gave me a gambling addiction and I didn't even notice 😭 it's that good

[@56independent]

Isn't it only really gambling when you're putting a possession of yours on the line? Shuffle and algorithmic content feels much less dangerous than any kind of gambling.

[@Tinil0]

@@56independent And I would argue that the reason it is so enjoyable and ubiquitous is only for part of the reason that blind boxes are, and not at all what traditional gambling is based on: Not having to make a choice. People already make so many choices during their day that matters and each choice adds a small amount of stress. Being able to just let go of control and let an algorithm decide what you get is fundamentally relaxing in a small way. That was mentioned as part of the appeal of blind boxes of course, but like I said, isnt really relevant to traditional gambling where the result is usually binary, you win or you lose. Blind boxes and loot boxes and all that sort of stuff doesn't really have a true lose condition, you always get SOMETHING, it just may not be what you wanted the most, but by only picking stuff where you like all the possibilities you move it more strongly over to the "Surrendering choice" appeal.

[@MultiHamguy]

That!... Is a good point.

[@jaredblunk1]

DAMN, LADY! That was the smoothest in-content AD I've ever seen. I didn't even have time to skip until I realized it was almost over and then I didn't even need to! 😮

[@demja2468]

I was just about to say something similar!!!

[@PiNKxEVERYTHiNG]

WAIT… there was an ad in there?

[@hehelaugh]

my friends and i ALWAYS buy like 3 blind bags each when we hang out (about $5 each). it's like we encourage eachother to buy them, and we match each other in how excited we are to open them, we make a whole game out of it. this bonding aspect is probably the biggest part for me.

[@0xBerto]

So is sharing a crack pipe in a circle lol

[@viciousqueen5096]

I never open Blind Boxes in the store, I think that's a big factor in wanting to buy more. Like you said, I always choose boxes where I would be fine with every design and then I rarely buy more than one or two of each. To me, that's part of the whole fun, like it's almost destiny what design you get. You now like the people reading tarot cards and thinking it's a sign of the universe, nobody would shuffle the cards again because they didn't like the outcome, that would defeat the whole purpose.

[@evanbarnes9984]

I have known too many people who are really into tarot, and I've watched every single one of them pull card after card after card, only stopping once one really intrigued them. And then somehow they forgot about all the misses of the previous cards and simply marveled at the power of the tarot because of the last card.

[@madeleineprice3556]

One or two, thats interesting feedback. You probably collect hoard don’t you

[@TahtahmesDiary]

​@@evanbarnes9984 I can't imagine that mentality, you should already know what the cards in your own deck look like. Ive never seen that in over a decade around tarot readers and talking with them, especially adults.

[@rbkhrchs]

I think this strongly correlates with the way advertisements over several decades (probably the last century) have made us think consumption=happiness. Take the person at 11:40 "I like buying stuff" - there's a whole lot of research that shows people will buy things to feel better, and they get more emotional reward (i.e. happy brain chemicals) from the actual act of buying something than the product itself. A lot of that research relates to fast fashion and clothing consumption, but applies more broadly. That makes the nostalgia aspect of this whole thing even more insidious: these blind boxes aren't just exploiting the gambling fallacy of the human brain, they're feeding and nurturing spending as a coping mechanism in a society full of inequality and increasing stressors

[@Cationna]

YES, absolutely. Even if this isn't gambling addiction, it's an aspect of the larger shopping addiction we all experience to some degree in our consumerist society.

[@happyplum2822]

I think we also just lack a lot of control over our lives. Everyone I know is suffering through extreme burnout. Gatcha and the like are an easy adrenaline rush. I hear so often from people that they just don't get to do their hobbies as much as they like too. Blind boxes are easily accessible (Either a link and a press of a button, or you're normally passing by the store). It's a passive hobby that keeps you engaged in a community. It's art. It's cute. It's nice to own pretty things when in reality so many products are shrunk, worse quality, higher price and just frustratingly short-lived. They don't take up much room. It's an isolated experience that you can easily come back to and from reality with. I know Gatcha games gave me a schedule, as someone with depression it meant a lot to have a strict thing to look forward too. Tuesday is a new release, I have to wake up early to catch a reward, I get to talk about upcoming news. Pokemon Go got me walking when my back was bad, and I could only handle 5 minutes. I could justify putting on pants to claim a gym down the street, I can't justify 3 minutes of pants wearing otherwise! I bought digital tokens because I just wanted to enjoy myself without having to think of implications that other hobbies might saddle me with. But I have ADHD and this REALLY gets to me, I avoid cell games because I know I can't handle myself... it really sucks. It sucks to see everything be so temporary, Nintendo store closing down makes me realize how little we really own and how temporary it is. Gatch designs dissapear making you feel FOMO. All these tactics play on mental health issues strongly. I get itchy trying to min max things. I hate that they know I'd buy two boxes if the first one I got was meh. I hate how addictive existing is now, you just have constant ads and everything shoved in your face. Also, blind boxes and the process of picking the right one just stretches that "Buying" act even longer with all the math and imagining. Which, as you mentioned, is what gives people the most happiness. Sorry, this is kind of a ramble with no solid topic.

[@DoveJS]

​ @happyplum2822 I understand some of those frustrations and I've used Pokemon Go in similar ways (although the weather has been an obstruction for me sometimes lol so you've done better than I have in that regard. Kudos for keeping yourself as active as you can be, even if it's brief.) I've been battling with depression for a long time too and one of the worst things it told me is that I can't create art, which wasn't true, but it's insidious suggestions trapped in my head so building up the motivation for that has been a struggle ever since. I've also been engaged in retail therapy since I was a kid, sadly (and this was long before blind boxes became the phenomenon they are now.) But one of the things I realized is that if I couldn't have something (not practical, too expensive, unlikely to fit me, it's big and where do I put it, bad odds) I could draw it and try to give it to one of my OCs or a character from some franchise that I love. That said, I have trouble getting motivated to draw so then I just save copious amounts of images as references that I hope to use some day lol. (Which I just might! I need to draw more fanart for my own good, honestly.) And I still have issues with online shopping to an extent. I've spent WAY too many hours window-shopping, it does seriously scratch the itch simply adding things to a wishlist or a cart sometimes but the level of time I've spent deciding on this over that has still been unhealthy; it's a shortcoming I'm also struggling with. At least I've gotten better about not actually purchasing things on impulse. I did finally realize through some videos discussing these topics and just assessing my actual experiences that I get the dopamine rush and then I don't really do much with what I bought even when it comes to art supplies. So, I'm at least trying to be more thoughtful about how and what I actually get now, especially since everything takes up space, even the small things in life (and time... I'm bad at time management and trying to get better.) It's so easy to slip into the collection mindset regardless of what I'm getting... Seriously, I bought way too many pens and pencils at the thrift store recently. Some of them were great finds, a few were broken but it's not a big deal because I have others. Some I managed to sort out so they're still functional. I even realized/remembered that standard pen caps can be used as point protectors (lol but the pens I grabbed with caps are still usable so I feel bad stealing those until they're done.) I'm already itching to get more, online and also from that store, even though I have so many now. I need to start actively using what I've got, especially so I can feel some connection to what I have, instead of frantically looking for the next new thing and simply adding more items that I need to maintain and store. Anyway, sorry for the tmi. I also realize I mentioned a suggestion and then explained how it hasn't worked for me lol but the problem isn't the concept so much as my inability to implement it fully. If nothing else, maybe it was interesting to read? I hope your life improves and I hope things get better for humanity overall. We're living in rough times which people try to gloss over somewhat but emotional and mental suffering is serious, especially since it doesn't happen in a vacuum. 😅

[@HumbleWooper]

@@happyplum2822 And similar to more conventional addictions (drugs, alcohol, etc), I'm not surprised our society is developing a tolerance for loot box style gambling. Just like how longtime alcoholics need more booze (or stronger booze) to get the same amount of drunk as they did a few years ago, or drug addicts take more of their chosen poison (or move to something stronger), people with loot box addictions eventually need either more or better (however they define "better") prizes to get the same highs from each round of opening them.

[@erojerisiz1571]

@@happyplum2822 what's a cell game?

[@sheHerTheyThem]

Had to subscribe, because you PROVED why i don't like blind boxes,and WHY my husband does!!! I am not a gambler, hate it, I do not like risks, i also don't like leaving things up to chances, ESPECIALLY when it comes to my money. I would prefer to buy something specific to what i want. My husband loves to gamble AND he loves the thrill of blind boxes, he doesn't even really care what the contents are,he just enjoys opening to see which one ,the gamble is will you get the chase, or the icon. Thank you for this video! Because the years of me trying to explain to my husband why i have zero interest in the process of blind boxes,even though i do like whats inside them!

[@violetsnotroses3640]

I'm with you on this. I've long suspected the part of my brain that is supposed to like inconsistent rewards just doesn't work right. I am also extremely risk averse when it comes to money, and the one time someone tried to teach me to play poker I kept folding right away. We weren't even playing with real money. It's nice to see someone like me!

[@NeighborhoodOfBlue]

Never. Let him. Control. Your finances.

[@sheHerTheyThem]

@NeighborhoodOfBlue oh trust me he doesn't, we are partners, but we both have different likes, things of chance just aren't it! I am a collector of miniatures and Barbies and that's where I spend my money,but I don't leave my money up to chance. I don't like spending where I don't know what I'm getting. Just my preference. I don't get a dopamine rush or whatever people seem to feel when they gamble,THAT was my point. That I exist with someone who does enjoy the process of gambling, whereas I am someone who doesn't. No control,just a preference.

[@sheHerTheyThem]

@violetsnotroses3640 right! I don't get the dopamine hit, I get the panic of nope,that risk versus reward,it's $ and I might lose,I never think I might win! I entered a drawing at Best Buy on a fluke about 12 years ago, my husband did too,he always does, his thoughts is,it's free,why not,I could be the winner, me,I NEVER enter because I always assume the odds aren't in my favour and I literally sat there and broke it down why I shouldn't enter while the person was trying to encourage me to enter as was my husband. I was just statistically my odds tell me not to bother,that I would be more disappointed that I didn't win, than if I never entered in the first place. They both convinced me to enter... I won. 😂😂Ya my husband to this day doesn't let me forget it,that I won a tv because I argues statistics and took the chance. I was the statics. But it really hasn't gotten me to gamble more,I told him that was it! That was probably my one big win, he disagrees😂. I'm happy with my one big win

[@AntonYadrov777]

@@violetsnotroses3640 risk aversion is an integral part of self-preservation instinct. While it shouldn't be exaggerated (trauma-induced, usually poverty), it still needs to be there and function consistently. Gambling addicts are the ones for whom it "just doesn't work right", sometimes completely replaced by reliance on immediate rewards+ severely misguided sense of clout from throwing money around.

[@nathiicf]

I'm glad this video popped up in my recommended. It was really interesting and found myself watching it till the end. Great content!

[@Dejavudea]

This was absolutely fascinating, and the editing was incredible as always. A casual Labubu fan and someone who loves psych this was an awesome watch

[@daughterofthestars08]

Very honored to have been able to help out with this video and even get included in your background! I really did get a kick out of getting the rare brain on the first pull. My partner and I laughed A LOT at your call-out for those who checked development mode... my partner spent a few minutes looking at it because he wanted to see how the probabilities worked. XD I'm thankful I can support this channel by clicking through to Hostinger and snagging that good deal. My web host almost DOUBLED the cost of my subscription this year, so I was kinda in the market for a new one. Hostinger looks good so far with similar tools to my current webhost, but is MUCH lower cost, even outside of the black friday deal. Thanks for the videos y'all work so hard on!

[@Anonymous__S]

Flutist here. Upon seeing the thumbnail I noticed it's holding it wringly, and now I wont't stop thinking of it for these 15:54 minutes

[@maryse3846]

he just started learning

[@davecgriffith]

​@@maryse3846 thank you, I laughed out loud at your comment :-)

[@AGEJewelry22]

I play flute and now I’m just sad.

[@___HA___]

Same!

[@LoveyK]

What is “wringly”?

[@GDMiller419]

Physical media and collectibles are on the rise. In an age where licenses for digital content can and are being revoked with abandon, and after the whole NFT thing, having physical art items has more shine to it. Add community and a game element to it,and you've got gold.

[@SEH221]

+

[@erojerisiz1571]

unfortunately many 2000s physical media games aren't really safe because of securom also physical collectibles>crypto

[@Jamesssssssssssssss]

I don't like "traditional" gambling. But the moment you add some type of goodie im hooked. Pokemon cards , mystery steam keys sales, and obviously the gotcha type toys. Though I don't purchase them often, I am well aware its the gambling part that makes it "funner" to me .

[@dizzylilthing]

8:12 this is the first KZbin video that I have sat down and just watched in months. I don't know what it is about you but you have me completely entranced.

[@FelicityUwU]

I am so glad to hear that its mostly adults buying blind boxes, as I feel a fair amount of those are marketed at kids. I could be wrong of course, as a cute little toy can appeal to both. But as much as a grown woman can buy what she wants, I'm a little creeped out by the idea of children getting hooked on gambling

[@tedioustotoro4885]

I mean, every toy I’ve gotten from Pop Mart has said it’s for people 16+

[@alitain8135]

I think some of the factor is kids probably prefer to just see what they're getting. They see an action figure or toy on the shelf that they like, they want it. Whereas it might be a bit harder to convince them to buy a chance at the toy they want. Could be wrong though. I don't know any kids to really ask, though I buy my little cousins blind bag lego minis for Christmas but that's because they're lego fans and I figure they'll just enjoy any mini they get. Maybe I should ask them this year... But also most of the blind box toys/collectibles aren't really with the regular kids toys, and are indeed their own section or put with collectible stuff which is meant more for adults so that also might play some factor.

[@maeflowrr]

It’s probably the fact that parents won’t let them get it, or at least not that many for them “We already bought you one before, why do you want another one?”

[@rayden54]

These really aren't new concepts though. Again it's pokemon cards and quarter vending machines. Those were certainly aimed at kids. I'm not sure these are. They're too expensive. Kids really don't have the disposable income to drop $5-$15 on a random plastic figurine (and they're a lot more likely to throw a fit if they don't get the one they want). Really, the only thing that's changed is that adults are suddenly willing to spend money on toys (as long as you call them collectables that is). Or has that changed? When was the Beanie Baby craze again?

[@captainmycaptain8334]

kids are even getting into gambling crypto now, dont doubt theyre buying blind boxes too. they just beg their parents for money and get swept up in all these new crazes, people thinking kids arent being influenced by their favorite tiktokers or streamers or other influencers are coocoo.

[@alexanderrmoonnn]

I want to tell you that the Google trend of “healing inner child”, and connecting that to the reasoning for the rise in popularity of these blind boxes was just so good. I also loved the visual.

[@SpectralMagnolia]

I am SO glad someone is finally talking about blind boxes, artificial scarcity, and FOMO. Some of my favorite KZbinrs fall into the limited edition toy crap and it genuinely hurts!

[@cameron7374]

Depending on the specifics of course, I think it does make sense for youtuber merch at times. Making a one-off production run of a known quantity for a thing is probably a lot simpler and cheaper than keeping it around as a niche product that still needs to be produced in... some amount to keep up with low and inconsistent demand. I'd bet that for anything more involved than printing shirts, most manufacturers probably would not want to take that risk long-term. Of course, this is probably not always the case and doesn't really excuse the youtuber really leaning into the "order now, else it'S GONE FOREVER!" thing, though that last bit is also partly just the truth at that point.

[@SpectralMagnolia]

@@cameron7374 I am primarily talking about the company Makeship and how they use FOMO to market literally all of their products. I think that if "limited edition" is a product's only appeal, the product should be better. Even when there is a VERY clear and high demand, Makeship likes to leave money on the table in the name of a frustrating and alienating business model.

[@dragonbugs_2107]

Oh I remember something like this happened during my childhood. There was this craze for different panda figurines found in candy packs almost like a kinder egg. But it had that gacha element to it. virtually my entire country was hooked onto this craze for a couple years

[@papporght]

Aside from the very informative content, I can't help but notice the great video production as well! You earned a follower!

[@obertwood]

I think this is going to be the classic 20% carrying 80% of the market. The 20% will have a gambling problem.

[@HeySlothKid]

When I last went to Japan I had a Gachapon budget and researched the best gachapon spots. It's like gambling but you win something every time, though what you're winning is like a square dog or a banana bird

[@michaelvossen7253]

My favorite that I recently saw were muscular rabbits making mochi. I don't know what inspires these mashups.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

We were in Ikebukuro ward for the 23rd birthday of my brother and I (we’re fraternal twins!), with my brother buying some gachapons. I’ve seen gachapon machines in Sydney too, suggesting that such FOMO machines have spread throughout the world. Thankfully I’m not a full on gachapon addict.

[@RadenWA]

Gachapon is fine because it costs minuscule amount of money, but $50 is waay beyond what I’m willing to pay for a chance to get nothing.

[@RadenWA]

@@michaelvossen7253rabbit pounding mochi is the traditional Japanese interpretation of the image of the moon

[@michaelvossen7253]

@RadenWA The $50 price is probably for the Secret Rare or otherwise highly desirable variants. The secondary market is driven by supply and demand. The blind boxes from most stores usually cost under $10 to encourage new buyers.

[@Ashley-xu1lk]

I've never heard of blind boxes, but I know the concept as "gacha" which you briefly mentioned. Gacha is really fun, but you also need to be aware of your spending habits. I've only done gacha through mobile games and I limit myself to only using the in-game via f2p (free to play) instead of spending my real money to get more in-game currency to spend on the gacha. This is because I don't want to spend money on something I can't touch and while I can use the product in-game, once I stop playing the game then it's just money wasted in my eyes. What I enjoy about gacha is the character design. In mobile games I almost don't care about their stats or how it feels to play the character, I just think their design is cool/sexy/cute, etc. In the mobile game, sinoalice, I loved Cinderalla and practically all her designs. I've stopped playing the game but I do miss her sometimes haha Now if you'll excuse me, this conversation has reminded me that Chasca is out in Genshin Impact. P.S. You should look up lucky bags in Japan.

[@error.418]

Are you enjoying the time spent grinding out the f2p currency?

[@ineedsleep4071]

​​@@error.418 I ain't the op but personally yes. In genshin dailies only takes around 9 minutes long. Events are a little grindy but just listen to some podcasts while doing that, and you're pretty much good to go. There's also something exciting/rewarding about getting your target character/ weapon as an F2P cuz you didn't spent a single dime for it but you still get to enjoy this cool side of the game for free. So yeah FOMO is not that much of a problem for me + reruns exists (I kinda feel bad for the people who are too busy to grind tho)

[@justicedinosaur7302]

You mean the fukubukuros that go on sale at new year?

[@DoveJS]

If you miss Cinderalla from Sinoalice, consider looking for fanart of her! And if you can't find any or there's very little, you could consider learning how to draw her or commission an artist to draw fanart to share your love of her and her designs with them and others online. She'd probably be a lot of fun and you could get to see her in different styles! As long as you preserve the art, it exists. And if you just want another game where you can have her still, if it would appeal to you, as a hobby you could learn how to create a new game just for fun to put her into and have different mechanics that appeal to you. (If you don't sell it, then you could re-use her official assets probably.) You could also consider finding or writing fanfiction as well. Pretty much anything you're comfortable engaging in. I'm not saying that you must do any of that, but it's just a thought since you miss her, and in these ways you could still continue to admire her and engage with her in some way. You could even have her as your phone background. ☺

[@shinsukesama8665]

I was looking for a fellow gacha player here XD I mostly buy BP/Welkin in Genshin because i feel like the game isn't generous enough, and it affects my enjoyment when i earn less than a pull daily.

[@yoomfy]

the very first time i discovered blindboxes because i want a figure to hang around my setup, not to big and not mainstream, and i finally found one that really filled up my aesthethics and taste. apparently i like most of the other variants on the series so why wouldn't i try to get one random figure. its like a little burst of joy getting toys that matches my taste, and rarely get disappointed because i dont buy series that i dont like most of the designs. i do adore the designs of the trinkets even the boxes! they really did a great job.

[@alexbanks9510]

5:38 this shot is sooooo nice with the chart in the background using the brick work in the chart

[@chronophagocytosis]

At 5:48 you made the lines of the graph follow the lines of the brick wall. So satisfying! Thanks for not making an infuriating mess out of that.

[@fitnessfuncody]

12:00 a concept we use in sales is, “A confused mind says, no” - this is also taking confusion of choice away leading to a higher chance of the ‘yes’. How interesting…

[@kylezo]

high end wine salesman here, that is not true. the more confused they are, and the more embarrassed they are to BE confused, the more money they'll spend on a meaningless status symbol to distract from the confusion.

[@Rapt0rham]

@@kylezo I believe they're referring to choice paralysis. Being a sommelier is a solution to the problem, you can beguile a customer or w/e but you're still leading them to an answer.

[@cyanos3]

Fascinating. And being the first time on this channel, I have to say, the editing and narrative are just amazing!!

[@cats-y4x]

Thanks

[@webs4447]

I love the contrast between your intellectual/educational sections and the personal/hands on adventures!

[@oh-hannah-]

same! gives the videos such a human feel

[@alysonmarie]

This is super interesting. (Disclaimer: I haven't purchased a blind box before.) When you were doing the interviews, the thought that popped into my head was that it's like getting a present in a controlled setting. I don't like surprises and I am only comfortable getting gifts from people who I know will share something thoughtful (this is a complicated feeling - not sure if this is a widespread feeling.) A blind box when you're choosing something that you like the art, it makes you feel joy when you look at it, and you put it on display is a way to give yourself a controlled surprise, in a way. And when you have friends that share this hobby and joy, finding one that you know someone else will love can be pretty exciting and joyful, I imagine. That being said - I think that there is a component of gambling to this, especially taking the knowledge gained from Drew Gooden's latest video where he talks about sports betting. I think it's a super important factor to take into consideration AND more current research needs to be done given how prevalent and easily accessible forms of gambling are in 2024.

[@zak3744]

That was my thought too. When Sabrina talked about people buying the experience, it reminded me of the "efficiency" argument that you sometimes hear from some people around Christmas time. "Why are we buying presents for each pther, when we could each take our own money and spend it the way we want? Surely we'll each spend the same money more effectively on what we actually want?" I'm sure there are some people in the world for whom that makes complete sense, but for me, and I think for most people, that argument just kills the point of Christmas! The jumper your granny picked out for you wouldn't mean the same to you if it was the exact same jumper but you bought it yourself. The fact that your granny picked it for you is meaningful. So yeah, maybe these sorts of random toys are psychologically like gifts, but from fate rather than from a person!

[@firuis1]

I've gotten some blind boxes before, sometimes I like the designs but I'm too indecisive to choose one. Means I get a random guy that looks cool and I dont get caught up in undecisiveness. Makes good gifts too, if I know someone like a TV show but I don't know much about it at the least theres a gurantee that they'll probably like one of the ones in the series (since they tend to have the most popular characters)

[@tux1913]

sabrina: makes free claw machine me: edits javascript to guarantee secret braindump

[@GeinponemYT]

Did something similar: inspected the source to open the in new page -> did one drop, it shows the result image -> open in new tab -> edit the version in url (hint: 0 through 9). You might say we're both quite bright 😉

[@raymondliu5582]

"This is what I get for making stuff for nerds" I was dying when she said that 😂

[@sankalppatil4711]

@@GeinponemYT I spent 2 hours on the site trying to get the ultra-rare brain before reading this comment :,)

[@thelocalcryptid]

11:59 when they said they give them to their friends as gifts it clicked for me, i always get held up on price and avoid blind boxes because i just want one design, but to stumble into a good gift for a fiend validates that price box in my head. very insightful watch loved every second

[@caramelbabystar]

I can't believe she read tons of papers to just conclude, "People are silly, anyhow look at my cute doll" looool

[@snowshinobi]

So! I just got back from a week in Japan. I planned to roll for some gacha, forgot about this until the day before the trip ended (despite seeing gacha machines all over the place!), which lead to me scouring the area for gacha (with the help of my mom, thanks mom (: ) The factors that encouraged me to gacha were: 1. I brought coins from a previous trip to use as my gacha fund -- these were likely change from money given to me by my grandparents, so spending it on treats felt like The Intended Purpose (especially culturally relevant treats! I am half Japanese). 2. I like the thrill (: and the little containers each gacha item comes with are useful. 3. I strategically picked gacha series that I could see my friends liking too, so I could give some away (: So I gacha'd! I bought seven of them I think, for around 300 yen each (that's $2.00 each, $14 total). I am keeping two, my boyfriend chose two, and the remaining three shall go to friends. I think the main reason I didn't go fully overboard with gacha was because it feels like a novelty, as do blind boxes available in the states. The thrill of the random roll fades if I don't ensure it is a rare, special treat. Plus, it's a lot less special to begin with if it's not in Japan, gacha's place of origin (and half of my cultural background). WHAT'S INTERESTING IS ... the Japanese gacha machines I encountered sometimes had a basket on top of them that served 2 purposes: hold empty containers that gacha-rollers didn't want to keep (why??? they're so reusable!) AND to hold gacha items the person did not want to keep (again! why??? regift!!). Passers-by can take whatever they want from the reject boxes for free. So of course, I scoured the reject boxes too. I only found one rejected pull (a little Gible pokemon statue) and that is one of the ones my boyfriend kept (which im tempted to steal back, tbh ... that little guy is very cute and the fact that he was abandoned adds this Oliver Twist-ian element of story arc. This rejected beast deserves love! I'm gonna make sure he gets it). I'm really interested in the phenomenon of abandoned gacha pulls. How the abandonment makes an item I wasn't even planning to roll for (I like pokemon passively but never got into it) the highlight of my gacha run. Seriously, if cosmic doesn't cherish that Gible, I Will Reclaim Him.

[@sheepysnowtato824]

I've never encountered or heard of baskets for abandoned rolls and containers before, but now I actually weirdly feel like going through what's discarded would make the whole experience more enjoyable for me personally XD

[@kirisviel]

I’ve never seen a basket for discarded gacha items in Japan before, especially since they’re very easy to sell to second hand shops over there like Lashinbang or Surugaya or online somewhere like Mercari - you could get some value back for that item you don’t want. Very interesting. I definitely don’t keep the capsules though, I personally have no use for them and if they didn’t have a recycle basket I would put it in a recycle bin or carry them until I found a recycle basket somewhere else. They’re relatively annoying to open so storing anything in them I feel would be more of a frustration… just my view though!

[@PetDKK]

The editing of this video is perfection! I was completely hooked the whole time. The topic is super interesting, and I love how you broke it down with science and all the details. Thanks for making it so engaging! :D

[@dylanmckeithen4281]

5:40 - The attention to detail of lining up the horizontal grid lines with the brick wall. *Chef's kiss

[@LeMarsouin9]

So aesthetically pleasing

[@SilveniumTheDrifter]

I've only gotten the small blind-box toys that I have (three of them) because of the social experience of being with friends in real life at the time. We were all having so much fun, and like you guys, were like "what the heck", threw caution to the wind after seeing a box set that had designs that we both liked, and opening them together. They're little momentos of the great day and memories I had at whichever place I went, but they also didn't break the bank either (since I only ever buy one or two and am content with that). You can also put them in a discreet place in an environment (such as your computer desk) where it is discreet and not distracting to you or others but you can take a quick glance at it now and then to perk you up with the cute design or the memories you had when you got it.

[@kiravarga3880]

What I see nobody really address is how kpop albums function like blind boxes too. The random photocards and inclusions turn buying albums into a gamble where fans don’t know what they’re getting but hope for a specific member or card. It leads to people mass-buying albums just for one photocard, like Soobin’s Blue Hour PC which became a collector's dream when it came out (and even as we speak) people buy 6 of that album all at once just for a chance to get it . Not only does this drive unnecessary spending, but it also fuels a resale market (like what happens with these dolls)

[@EggTamago7]

I'm slightly too old and male to be part of the prime demographic, but I love these things. But, at the same time, I buy them pretty infrequently, in low volumes (one or two per year), and only the ones where I'd be happy with any of them. The gambling connection makes sense, but... it does seem like a majority of people who buy these don't go totally bananas with it. I guess what makes this all seem a bit less gross to me is... it's all pretty up-front about what it is. Where gambling ads are all "be a baller!!!! win!!!! get rich!!!! be a real man!!!! hyper-wealth guaranteed!!!!!*", these are just "buy this box and you're guaranteed to get one of the designs pictured". The resale market is completely nutso, though. That starts to give me Beanie Baby vibes.

[@Avi2Nyan]

Yeah most people just buy a few and that's it. But then there's a small percentage who *will* buy all of them, of every series. Those are the whales funding this stuff for the most part and they're the ones who might suffer some pretty bad consequences

[@rainbowstarfall]

Men are the biggest spenders in gacha games which have digital blind boxes. You're definitely the prime demographic.

[@RussellBeattie]

12:23 "I feel like a Dad!" With all due respect and admiration, I'm not sure you've got a good handle on the whole dad experience. You would have had to be way more bewildered: "Why are we here? What are these things? You don't know what's inside? You need how much money? No, I think a couple is fine. I'm sorry you didn't get the one you wanted. No, we're not going back. Maybe next week."

[@RaccoonHenry]

😂🤣

[@pjschmid2251]

OK I asked every one of those questions. Not the dad but certainly the mom here. We have a bunch of people that complain they can’t afford food, housing , life in general and they’re spending how much on what? WTF 😳

[@helenjohnston3178]

Mum with statistics training. It's just a hard nope. I'm a mean Mum, but I'm not going to teach buying junk.

[@luipaardprint]

@@pjschmid2251honestly 20 dollars a month is not going to make a meaningful difference if housing is eight to ten times your annual income.

[@erojerisiz1571]

@@pjschmid2251 to be fair they blow away their cash on those things as a coping mechanism which unfortunately leads to a vicious cycle that's hard to break away from pretty much the same as bums who spend whatever money they get on booze or cigarettes instead of what they really need

[@Jaegi_]

The timing of this video is insane. A popmart in my town soft opened today and I am literally unboxing two boxes as I watch this video

[@SneakyTogedemaru]

Cool research! Also I really like the editing, the flow of it was very fun and natural, and occasional continuity of turning from point of view to point of view is neat )

[@youeladamas7840]

One of the major influences is the Gamification of social media, making it more interactive, and now adding things like Loot crates that give them a feeling of achievement

[@bluehourcore]

10:40 IS THAT MAIA MXMTOON???? you’re friends with MAIA ???? this is so cool i feel like my worlds r colliding lmao i love her and her music sm

[@sonofaspyder3000]

WAIT-

[@Electric999999]

I think all the youtube people are somehow friends.

[@Halexandre]

RIGHT?! I spilled my coffee. Suddenly, mxmtoon!!! Unbelievable. 🥰

[@FionaLacey-pn1me]

LOOK AT THAT FREAKISH DOLL THO. I HATE IT WITH EVERY BONE IN MY BODY AAAAAAA

[@skywatcher458]

always a bit of that uncanny valley with dolls

[@ineedsleep4071]

Lol which one

[@FionaLacey-pn1me]

@@ineedsleep4071 The first one that appears

[@Avi2Nyan]

I am a doll lover but I hate most of these trendy bling bag toys. Especially the babies! They aren't cute and they're certainly not pretty or cool

[@himbosuplex]

@@Avi2Nyan I love the sonny angel babies, they are modeled after those weird kewpie dolls.

[@Lazzyraccon]

Wow this is a great video, you really put so much thought and effort into it that’s really cool

[@laneyluneva]

There's not much we limit our kids in terms of products, toys, etc. But we do ban and discourage interest in anything blind box. It's gambling for kids and it's disgusting.

[@vgtgoat]

This is the first video I've seen from you but the quality of jounalism and video is astounding. Amazing work

[@luiseich]

Every time I get bored, nervous or disinterested in doing some research (I’m a academic) I watch your videos to get hyped in “researching”, and it helps a lot. Thanks

[@collin6885]

7:20 It should be noted that your brain gets dopamine for the anticipation of reward not just the reward itself. This anticipation alone can often be more rewarding and what causes the rush in the act of gambling and the desire to partake in it, not just after a reward occurs. Basically its one of the motivational experiences that's later described.

[@mrPurplexedYT]

Yeah, when I go to the casino, I really don't care about making money. I assume the money I take is to lose, and the fun parts are the moments between the bets and the results

[@attpepe]

You're awesome! I love your videos and the way you explain the most random topics, made me learn a lot and have a good time 😊

[@rebelwitharoyalheart]

this video kept me company during my nightly ‘making tea & snack’ routine and i loved every second of it!

[@lily-patent-pending]

great video :D the cinematography and editing in this one really stood out to me! the small details, like the slight circular warping on some of the effects to give the impression of a ring that surrounds the camera, or the skeuomorphic clicking noises really stand out when you're looking for them and make the whole thing feel really polished

[@Erisponsibility]

Answer in progress videos are usually really well edited but this one was especially phenomenal, loved all the different ways of visualising information, it's so cool!!

[@padorupadoru4477]

you are missing the most important element: You are 100% guaranteed to at minimum get 1x everything (including the secret rarity) if you buy a sealed carton. If you wanted to be EXTA EVIL, some toylines limit the ULTRA SECRET SUPER DUPER RARE to 1 guaranteed piece PER PALLET

[@TheseWhiteNights]

I just wanted to say, I really enjoy your content. KZbin has been a lot of pilates girls and podcasts. I appreciate you are still doing the old school style of nice shots, creative transitions, etc.

[@DevanBaird]

I adore the editing in this video! Amazing job to the editor and motion graphic designer!

[@xingmei818]

i think the kpop industry banks on these things as well. there are photo cards that some people deem "rare" and the photo card prices increase the "rarer" they be. I think this video has helped me reflect on my consumption of kpop albums/photocards/merch. I hope the answer in progress team continues to show important topics. thank you

[@n0vadr3ams]

i was looking for a comment like this!!

[@erojerisiz1571]

rare photo cards when a dude with a photocopier pulls up:

[@IrocZIV]

There is a connection between nostalgia and depression. I think its your brains way to remind you that there are good times in life.

[@allisonmckenzieart]

What a wonderful, high quality video about a topic I find so interesting!! I'd love more videos about collector culture etc. As someone who lives in nerd central and can walk to these shops anytime I please...THE DANGER IS REAL!! (but gosh dang it's so much fun)

[@brrrrr9945]

your editing is really good! it always made me Ooooh outloud when you made grafics apear in your irl enviromnent. Also! im super impresseed/awed by the work and time you dedicated to this - i went really bug eyed just imagining reading all those books you showed! Over all: such a great video! Thank you for making it

[@enby05]

best video i ve watch all week! Bonjour from France and thank you for your analysis

[@clairemontgomery6372]

This is so well-produced, thought-provoking, well-spoken & interesting. You are also so fun to watch! Thanks for the information :)

[@RadioactiveBluePlatypus]

15:31 idk if you put this screenshot on your desktop so people would comment about it but I have to know what it means and why it is there

[@error.418]

engagement bait, but in a fun silly way

[@Reneator]

loved the "lets go gambling" interlude at 7:12 One of my favorite gifs/animations

[@FN0844]

Aww dang it!

[@smolsheriff]

This is such a fantastic video, the cut clean cutaways were awesome! Very high quality work, yet, very investing (I’m also tickled too you’re in Toronto!!) I got into blind boxes by purchasing one from a Pop Mart vending machine at the mall, I didn’t think much of it and thought it would be a one time thing…. It wasn’t lol. Many Pop Mart figures and Smiski’s later, it can be a gamble sometimes to get the one you want. I too have purchased the same box a few times to get the design I really want, sometimes even buying an opened box at a resale price. At the end, I always try and limit myself to one box per collection, but it’s a fun and joyful hobby getting that amazing thrill once you pulled the toy you’ve wanted from the set. It is good to set boundaries and limits to it though since they are pricey.

[@CreativeCreatorCreates]

I just found this. Clicked and instantly engaged. New subscriber and I have to say I love how you and your friends vibe✨

[@cheesefoam-v7h]

ngl seeing my smiskis when I wake up brings such a smile to my face

[@thefareplayer2254]

8:13 This might be the most important point ever made in a KZbin video.

[@spaceandthyme]

I think community is so important in these conversations. before I would pick up blind boxes here or there by myself, I'd only ever get them with friends because we all wanted something small as a little souvenir for our time together. Even this Christmas our plan is to get a blind box & jelly cat and then swap them so everyone can have something cute. While I say I pull blind boxes alone sometimes, even then it's not in isolation because I still end up connecting with other fans online about my pulls and talking with them there.

[@spaceandthyme]

While I see blind boxes as a negative thing when it comes to the possibility of addiction both with kids and those who get addicted to things easily, I feel like with so many outlets in today's society if the person isn't going to partake in gambling through blind boxes, they're definitely gonna find somewhere else to do it whether that be through arcades, loot boxes, or going to a casino

[@kraizeehg4546]

Subscribed because you put so much work into your content, top-notch quality!

[@francisbarp]

I don't know this channel, this is the first video I watch of them. I'm impressed with the effort in every detail.

[@elisebrown5157]

Interesting deep dive. I've never been into the blind box thing, mostly because I don't value small plastic figurines. But I know people who do. In my observations, it seems to be a combination of (a) not having to make a decision, (b) the "surprise" factor, (c) the "magic" factor - or that this is the one the universe intended you to receive, and (d) the public reveal (much like when you and your friends all opened yours together). You get to laugh, groan, and bond as a group. And there very much is a sense of "earning" your collection, especially if it's complete - moreso than if you just purchased each piece knowing what it was. I do think the blind box concept is selling the experience as much as the toy.

[@salamisofdragons4597]

My problem with blind boxes is I only want 1 or 2 things usually. If I can't guarantee I can get them, then it makes me feel bad. But also, the price drives me off. Most of these things cost about $3-$5 tops for me, so seeing something at $10 or higher is a real deal breaker. Then the second hand market drives the price up further. A while back, there were these digimon plushies you could get out of a bind bag. I wanted to grab more but the price was too high. $15 is worth one try, not 2, and I only got this because you NEVER get digimon plushies in an affordable range. I ended up getting Biyomon, which wasn't bad, but she wasn't what I wanted. I wanted Gabumon, Gomamon, Tentomon, or maybe the Greymon. Ultimately, it's the fact I can't pick that drives me away. If I knew what I was getting for the same price, I'd pick the one I WANT to buy every time and wold be able to gauge how much I'd buy for it much better. If I pay that money and I'm not satisfied, it's just a bad experience that counts as a loss. And that's why I don't ever wanta go gambling, because I hate losing. It's EXTREMELY frustrating, and it's the same here. XD

[@AIbertoCruz]

Just by seeing the title I knew it was a video from Sabrina

[@k0rnelas899]

Thank you for posting this...really. A few days ago, I saw Pop Mart in person for the first time. I couldn't enter since I had to do something, but it was so captivating like my inner child was really happy. The thing is I was willing to drive to that store for almost an hour AND use 16 dollars to pay for a blind box that is really small...... So, I ended up searching and contemplating on Amazon if I needed it since I'm not doing that great on money right now + it's Christmas so I felt like I needed something?? Anyways, mixed with Christmas and scared that the series will change or be sold out I ordered it. That's when I looked on AliExpress and saw the cost difference and that really knocked some sense into me. I saw replicas that were also beautiful and other versions that were MUCH cheaper. So, I refunded the Amazon one and really looked for ones that I liked on AliExpress. I think it is sweet that you get new emotions, but it is also worrying when it becomes a problem like you said. 😟

[@SOONHUENGNEOH]

Bumped into your video for my interest in learning about blind boxes. You've done a very detailed study and I love the way you analyze and document the entire process. Keep making good content like this. I'm subscribed! p/s: Gachapons have been there in Japan since the 60s where the dolls are mostly made by Bandai. The recent rise of these cute toys is mainly from the rise of popularity of PopMart - a Beijing-based company.

[@ICVRXS]

ngl I was really feelin' it when you were showing the footage of going out with your friends and all getting blind boxes. In that way, I can absolutely understand why some folks would get really into it.

[@1980rlquinn]

I get that influencers are beholden to their sponsors, but for the sake of your audience's mental health, it would be best to give your sponsor it's own separate section of the video instead of grotesquely shoehorning their name in at every opportunity. Integrity should not be _that_ cheap.

[@marzy_music]

thank you, i thought i waas the only one that got annoyed by this

[@banukaii]

This

[@FemboyCatGaming]

Use sponsor block :3

[@Morgan-oq7uj]

I thought that was really annoying as well.

[@stoneumbrella]

I have an extension on my browser that gets rid of those sponsored parts specifically so I had to go back and click them to see them and youre right. That is messed up.

[@idkwhattonamemyselfsoyeah]

4:34 Is this the secret one?

[@andrewswieton4681]

Hey, this my first time seeing you outside of crashing course kids! I love your way of delivery! Keep it up!

[@fitzcatalyst9023]

always a good use of time to watch an Answer in Progress vid :D

[@emmacook3065]

I thought these were cute but I never could bring myself to buy them because all I could think of was how most of them would end up in landfills. Please donate them to kids in need/sell them once you get tired of them/don't want them!!