Blind Boxes

I keep seeing these toys that, when you buy them, you have no idea which you'll get or what bits and pieces they will come with.  They remind me of the trading cards my brothers used to collect.  Get a double, trade with your buddy, no big deal.  Usually they just came in an envelope or a tiny box.  I like the "World's Smallest Toys" because they're good for the dollhouse.

Blind boxes have exploded in popularity and now you can buy a thing the size of your head (or bigger) that has a whole bunch of things in it.  Again, if that's what floats your boat, go for it.  But once all is said and done, in most cases, you end up with maybe enough toys to fill a cereal bowl and enough trash to fill a stew pot.

With some of them, the packaging is meant to be used as a play set or display, but even with those there are:  Cellophane-type wrapping on the entire thing, a collector's guide, cardboard boxes or compartment doors for each item, and plastic envelopes for each item.

Since so many are dolls, I see unboxing and review videos, and every time, I'm more impressed by the amount of waste than by the toys.  Yes, reuse and recycle is a thing, but so is reduce.




UPDATE:  I found another one I like.  Five Surprise Mini Brands.  Dollhouse scale, realistic looking, toy versions of actual products.  Minimal waste if you're into the reuse thing.