The drawer full of duplicates: we’ve all got one (admit it)
By Léna, co-founder & Art Director at swap-iit
≈ 4 mins’ read
Open that drawer. You know the one. The one crammed full of figures you’ve got two, three, sometimes even four of. The real question is: what to do with all those duplicate blind box figures? We’ve all got a drawer like that. And no, it’s not because you’re bad at the game. 🙃
Contents
- The unspoken rule: you’ll end up with duplicates
- The 4 stages of the double
- What should you do with your duplicates these days?
- The real problem: it’s the system
- What we’re preparing for your drawer
- FAQ: your duplicate blind box figures
The unspoken rule: you’ll end up with duplicates
Nobody tells you this when you start out, but it’s a matter of maths. You open them blind, so statistically you’re bound to end up with the same figure several times before you complete a series. It’s not a hiccup: it’s the very principle of the blind box.
Result: the more you collect, the fuller your drawer gets. And the more the figure you’re missing (sometimes a chase or a secret) becomes an obsession.
The 4 stages of the double
Stage 1: Hope
The box is still sealed. “This time it’s the one, I can feel it.”
Stage 2: Denial
You open it. It’s a duplicate. “Well… maybe a friend is looking for this one.”
Stage 3: the drawer
You put it away ‘for now’. It joins the twelve others that are also waiting.
Stage 4: Acceptance
You’ve got a ‘graveyard drawer’. You sometimes look at it with fondness and a touch of despair. 💀
What should you do with your duplicates these days?
Spoiler: nothing satisfactory. Here are the current options, and why they’re not working.
The drawer
The default option. Zero effort, but your figures are just gathering dust, and meanwhile, somewhere out there, someone is looking for the very one you’ve got three of.
Vinted
It might work, but your figurines are lost amidst the latest trends, with no proper catalogue, no price guide, and swapping isn’t even really part of the concept. You’re just winging it.
Social media and Discord
Instagram, TikTok, Discord servers with thousands of members: the community is there, it’s lovely, but everyone’s shouting at once and nothing’s secure. Scams do happen, and they put a quick stop to things.
The real problem: it’s the system
It’s not you. You’ve got a duplicate of someone else’s. Someone else has yours. You should just be able to swap. Except there’s nowhere designed for that: no tool that tells you “here, this person has exactly the piece you’re missing and is looking for your duplicate”, safely, without you having to spend your evening scrolling.
It was precisely this gap in the market that inspired us to create swap-iit.
What we’re preparing for your drawer
On swap-iit: you list your duplicates and your wishlist; the matching system finds you the right person; and the swap is completed via a secure payment system where funds are held in escrow until both parties have received and confirmed their figures. Your ‘graveyard drawer’ is transformed back into a living collection.
We’re launching in September 2026. In the meantime, the waitlist is open: the first 500 people to sign up will receive a Lifetime Founder badge and priority access from launch. 💛
FAQ: your duplicate blind box figures
Why do we end up with so many duplicates in blind boxes?
Because you’re buying blind. Statistically, you’ll end up with the same figures several times before completing a series. Duplicates aren’t a glitch: that’s the whole point of the product.
Can you resell your duplicate blind box figures?
Yes, it is common for private individuals to resell a figure that has already been opened. However, many collectors prefer to swap (barter) in order to complete their collection without losing money.
How can you swap your duplicates safely?
Ideally, you should use a system where payment is held until both parties have received and confirmed their figures. This is precisely what swap-iit has put in place to prevent scams.
Is Vinted suitable for swapping blind boxes?
Not really: the figures are lost amongst fashion items, with no catalogue organised by series or price guide, and swapping isn’t part of the service. It’s a stopgap, but it’s not designed for blind box collectors.
How many duplicates do you have in your drawer right now? We’ve lost count.