You find yourself in your local department store, casually browsing the shelves for whatever you may be searching for, but next thing you know, you are face-to-face with a section filled with these figures in boxes labelled “Funko Pops.” You are intrigued by their cute appeal and whimsical presence, noticing there seems to be a figure for virtually anything you could think of. Now you are on the verge of buying one for yourself – or perhaps a loved one! Or potentially, you already have a few Funko Pops and are debating on expanding your collection further.

Whatever your situation, I am here to explain the world of Funko Pops to you and hopefully help you decide whether Funko Pops are for you! This article will provide some insight and information on buying Funkos – from our personal experiences of the collectibles industry throughout many years!

At face value, Funko Pops are fun and unique collectible figures that appeal to a wide range of audiences; however, like all collectibles, collecting Funko Pops depends on your situation. For example, if you are investing in something like Funko Pops for the sake of profit, we don’t recommend it. We always encourage our customers to collect something YOU are passionate about (you’ll find the process much easier!).

We want to inform you, the reader, that all of our blog articles are purely for entertainment purposes only. You should not make any financial decisions based on any of our articles; if you wish to collect Funkos (or any collectible for that matter), be sure to do your thorough research and create an educated decision based on so. As a company, we do not give investment advice (so please, do not ask for our opinion(s)).

Also, if you ever want to skip the hassle of selling your Funko Pop collection, you’ve come to the right place! MyPops.ca is THE place to sell your Funko collection (no matter how big or small)... feel free to send us an email (info@mypops.ca) and we will get back to you with an evaluation as soon as possible! We’ve been in the collectible community for years and our knowledge sets us apart from the others!! That being said, let’s begin our guide to collecting Funko Pops.

Where It All Started: A Brief History On Funko Pops

Funko, as a company, has been around since the 1990s and began selling bobbleheads featuring original characters shortly after creation. These characters did not catch on, but in the mid-2000s, Funko began to work with licensed properties with their “Wacky Wobblers” – a different kind of bobblehead. While these Wacky Wobblers saw a slightly better reaction than their original characters, it wasn’t until the early 2010s that Funko reached a new level of success with their new line: Pops.

Many collectors loved the cute design of Pops and these figures made for amazing impulse buys across the nation. Moreover, having multiple licenses (for movies, television, comics, etc.) made Pops so popular that Funko skyrocketed in the late 2010s.

Over the years, Funko has definitely tried other lines of vinyl figures, but to no avail. It is difficult to say what the future holds for Funko, but the Pop lines have stood the test of time.

What makes a Funko Pop rare?

One of the first questions we (the staff) receive when working around Funko Pops is: “What makes one Funko Pop worth more than the other? Why is this Pop more than this one?” And that is a totally valid question!

Majority of the Funko Pops you see on the shelves are NOT rare. Most non-exclusive Funko Pops are produced for a few years and are made in massive quantities; and with that said, they are not limited or low in production numbers, making their prices on the lower end of the Funko value spectrum. Typically, many pieces are retired after a long production period, and by the time this happens, the line has already flooded the market’s population.

Store-exclusive Funko Pops (such as Hot Topic, BoxLunch, and even our MyPops exclusive) are also a factor in the Funko community! US and Canadian locations have Pops limited to release in their locations ONLY. This exclusivity definitely can affect the price of the Funko Pop based on sticker alone!

Let’s look at the example above – we see the same Funko Pop, but with different stickers. The Pop on the left, AAA Anime (store) exclusive, on the right is a Special Edition sticker. But what is the difference?

Shortly said, the store exclusive (AAA Anime) is the licensed United States release, while the Special Edition sticker is the international edition (moreso meant for Mexico, EU, Asia, etc.). The figure remains the same between both, and made in the same factory as well. The only difference: the sticker (yes, the sticker).

But how much truly can one single sticker change the price of a Pop? More than you think. The US store exclusives typically retail for HIGHER than the international release! So next time you wonder why the Pops you’re looking at are different prices, it’s important to take a glance at the sticker on the window! That may be the difference you were looking for! 

There are also some Pops that are limited to conventions, such as San Diego Comic Con (or SDCC). These Pops are definitely difficult to obtain as only con-goers are able to retrieve those limited releases!

Generally speaking, most Funko Pops that you see on the shelves at your local store are very common and aren’t necessarily “rare;” however, some “common” Pops to keep an eye out for are early pieces! Many earlier releases were sold before the popularity of Funko Pops increased.

A term thrown around within the Funko Pop community is “Chase.” But what IS a chase?

You’ve most likely heard this word mentioned in passing if you’re starting to get into Funko Pops, but in essence, what does that even mean?

The Chase is basically a variant of the normal Pop! Sometimes it is a mold change, a different character or texture, or in some cases, it even glows! A Chase can find itself in many different forms, but the concept is always the same: stores receive Funko Pops in boxes of SIX (6). One of the six Pops will be different from the rest (ergo, making it the Chase). Chases are rarer and more valuable than the common Pop, making it typically more expensive than the others!

“Do all Funko Pops have a Chase variant?” Nope! Sometimes lines won’t feature a Chase, simply because… they don’t! Every now and then, Funko will create a Chase variant to be released with the common, and that’s always fun to see what they come up with.

Let’s take a look at this Eleven with Eggos Pop as an example.

Stores will receive a case of six Eleven with Eggos Pops, five of them being common and one being the Chase! The Chase, being lesser in quantity than commons, will be more expensive and harder to find.

You can see the clear difference in this example; the common has a shaved head, while the Chase has hair! Chase versions vary depending on the release, but will always be indicated on the box when you receive one!!

What does the number on the box mean?

There are multiple reasons mentioned online about the purpose of the small number at the top of the Funko Pop box… but none seem to agree from what we’ve seen!

Some say it’s the mold number, while some say it’s the order of release within the set. Although the consensus is unclear, we always tell our customers that it is an indicator!

Sometimes, there are two of the same character within a set… but instead of describing the Pop in detail and guessing which Pop we’re describing, simply giving the box number always helps out! For example, Trafalgar Law #1016 versus Trafalgar Law #1894!

Different Kinds Of Funko Pops: Pop Sizing

The classic Funko Pop we think of is the 4” Pops found in most retailers; however, Funko has released a variety of sizes throughout its time.

It doesn’t stop there either! Some sizes not shown:

• Premium;
• Plus;
• Covers;
• and much more!

Sometimes people collect only the 6” Funko Pops! Or even the 18” Mega Pops!! It’s always up to YOU what you decide to collect. Collecting has no rules – do what makes you happy!

What Funko Pops are good to buy?

Another question our staff receives a lot is the commonly wondered: “What Pops should I buy?”

This question always boils down to personal preferences! The amazing quality of Funko Pops is that there is something for everyone. A vast majority of pop culture licenses are covered by Funko; so whether you are into sports, anime, television shows, or anything in between, there is a high chance there is something out there for you.

Sometimes, we realize that the ones we do want are expensive… but this is when you think about the alternatives! Some franchises are rereleased and the newer versions are cheaper than the OGs.

We never recommend buying Funko Pops as an investment, but rather, buy a Funko Pop that you enjoy. If you buy what you like, it’s definitely worth the hunt and search. The price won’t matter, but if it does happen to go up, then that’s even better. 

Wondering how much your Pops are going for? Not a problem. We always recommmend the Pop Price Guide (PPG), or even Last Sold listings on eBay! Of course, gather a median from a variety of research sources, not just one.

Conclusion: Make It Your Journey & Your Hobby!

Whether you started your collection off a whim, or maybe your friend got you into it, what matters is that you make your collection your own. The Funko Pop community is continuously growing and learning as more and more Pops get announced, so it is important to remember there are others into this hobby, just as much as you!

There are other beginners who share your common experiences, and senior collectors who are always open to lending a hand. The hobby is only getting bigger, so why not start your collection today?

MyPops.ca is THE Funko Pop storefront for you. With vaulted grails, newest releases, and endless variety, we pride ourselves on being one of the TOP collectible stores in Canada! We will always do our best to deliver amazing quality service and friendly smiles within the community (our plethora of positive Google reviews speak for us).

Our staff are always happy to help you throughout your Funko journey, no matter your experience. We hope this article helped you, even just a little bit, on your entry into the Funko world.