Mattel’s “Infamous” BTS Dolls Are Back On Sale — And Confuses The Heck Out of K-ARMYs

May 29, 2023

0 451 3 minutes read

“STOP COMING BACK…!”

1 hour ago

In 2019 mattel– the American toy company best known for giving to the world Barbie– heralded the beginnings of bts dolls.

And while the group’s fan base loved the amount of love and attention BTS members received from around the world, ARMYs ended up feeling… well, “not particularly satisfied” about the Mattel collection.

Over the years, it became a joke among the Korean armies “The only way to get rid of the Mattel BTS collection is to buy it up.” And in a way, the fanbase’s playful approach – pushing the dolls out of the range – seemed to be working.

다 사서 없애버리자ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ pic.twitter.com/c8fsYPggiM

— 쏘햅삐 슈퍼지니어스 러블리 큐트 김파사 (@my_lover_v_) April 16, 2019

Let’s get rid of them by buying them up. LMAO.

— @my_lover_v_/Twitter

Except… Four years after release, the dolls have reappeared out of nowhere in Korea: and K-ARMYs have had the funniest reactions to this never-ending saga.

see that NAVERThe official Mattel store lists the seven-pack at a discounted price of ₩17,900 KRW (approx. 13.50 USD)…

[MATTEL] Official BTS Fashion Dolls 7 Pack

Original price ₩19,900 KRW (approx. 15.00 USD)
Concession price ₩17,900 KRW (approx. 13.50 USD)

received voucher

— MATTEL Storefront

…K-ARMYs are “feel many feelings” it seems. In response to the unexpected May 2023 sale, some believe the stock has been charmed and therefore simply cannot dry up…

“Wow… I’m actually uncomfortable with that.”
“WHO paid full price for this? Hello It’s Me. LMAO.”
“Actually, I want to buy these, but have never found any. Which DAISO carries the actual dolls?”
“I think MATTEL believes demand is still high because fans keep selling them out to get rid of them.”
“These look a bit like the actual members, which pisses me off even more…LOL.”
“HAHA! I’ve seen this before. I heard BTS fans are trying to get rid of these by buying them up.”
“I see some similarities. I wonder if repainting them would help.”
“This is terrifying…I’m so scared.”
“There are some really talented people on the internet repainting these dolls. I think these will serve as a great foundation for reimagining BTS your way.”
“Oh, hmm. I can actually recognize J-Hope, RM and Jimin. Haha.”

…while others believe the “sell ’em out” tactic will backfire and cause Mattel to produce more “Meet the (non-existent) need.”

“How come there are seven Jimins…?”
“Gosh, LMAO.”
“I bought these. And I’m reasonably happy with them. HAHA. It makes me really sad that the dolls are now on sale.”
“STOP COMING BACK LMFAO.”
“Is that… 90% OFF? Lolol.”
“Yes… I have these too. HAHA.”
“I wonder if some fans have repainted versions of these. I would like to see her.”
“What the hell, hahahahahahahahaha.”
“Can these stop being replenished? T_T”
“Cut it man…I can’t believe there’s some leftovers. LMFAO. Sigh…”

Whatever the case, the K-ARMYs are having fun making fun of themselves, the dolls, and themselves for spending KRW 17,900 (about $13.50 USD) on the dolls… ONCE AGAIN.

“For heaven’s sake… I couldn’t help it. I have placed the order. TT”
“I guess the fans haven’t managed to buy up every single track, have they? How do they keep coming back from the abyss?”
“It is a doom-loop. you buy them out You consider it a sale. They do more.”
“I saw these on sale at DAISO for 5,000 KRW (about US$3.78)… and the fans bought them. When you see that they are on sale for ₩17,900 KRW (about 13.50 USD), it’s almost over.”
“It’s hilarious how desperately the ARMYs have tried to sell these but they keep coming back. LMAO.”
“I think it’s time the ARMYs questioned whether the buyout tactic is working. LOLOL. It feels like they’re making more from time to time.”
“This is bloody hilarious. LOOOL.”
“But what bargain? That’s a good price for all seven.”
“I’m wondering if I’ll have to buy a pack for these to finally sell out.”
“HAHAHAHAHA. I’m not a BTS fan at all. But this is all too funny to buy myself a pack for fun and giggles. lol.”

What did BTS’ Jin think of his plastic counterpart? Read more here.