If you've been delivering parcels in the last 12 months, you've noticed it. Small boxes, usually from Pop Mart Australia or resellers on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Labubu. Sonny Angels. Jellycat. Whatever the current collectible craze is, delivery drivers see the wave before the general public even knows it's coming. We're the ones carrying them — hundreds of them, every week — and it's worth understanding what's in those little boxes.
What Drivers See That Nobody Else Does
There's something unique about being a delivery driver — you see consumer trends in real time. Long before the news reports on a product craze, you've already delivered 50 of them in a single shift. Labubu dolls from Pop Mart have been one of the biggest ones recently. Small packages, light weight, but the customers treat them like they're made of glass.
And for good reason. Some of these collectibles resell for 5–10 times their retail price. That $30 blind box you just delivered might be worth $300 on the secondary market if it contains a rare figure. The customer who's home waiting anxiously for a small parcel from Pop Mart isn't being dramatic — they've potentially got real money on the line.
It's not just Labubu either. Every few months there's a new wave: limited edition sneakers, trading cards, vinyl figures, skincare drops. As a driver, recognising these patterns helps you understand why some customers are more particular about their deliveries than others.
Why This Matters for Your Delivery
Handle with care. These items are often fragile — ceramic figures, delicate packaging that's part of the product's value, or limited edition boxes that lose resale value if dented. Don't toss these into the van loose. Stack them where they won't get crushed by heavier parcels.
ATL decisions matter more. Leaving a $300 collectible on an open doorstep is different from leaving a $10 t-shirt. If a fad item gets stolen, the customer isn't just annoyed — they're potentially out hundreds of dollars and the item may be irreplaceable. Think carefully about safe drop locations for small, high-value packages.
Expect the door to open. Customers waiting for hyped items often track the delivery in real time. Don't be surprised if they open the door before you even knock. They've been watching you on the map for the last 20 minutes.
Theft targeting: Organised parcel thieves know about delivery fads too. During peak hype periods, be extra vigilant about van security. A thief who follows courier vans knows that small Pop Mart boxes have a high value-to-size ratio.