Treat blind boxes, gacha pulls and other random sales as money that will not come back

Cost

Free. Just fix the budget before you buy. The hard part is stopping when you didn't get the one you wanted.

What you get

The basis is the Guidelines for Blind Box Business Conduct (Trial) (《盲盒经营行为规范指引（试行）》). Article 9 lists key information that should be displayed prominently so that consumers know it before buying. That information is: product name, type, style, draw rules, product distribution, the number of limited items released, draw probabilities, and the range of product values. The same article also sets out 3 things that are not allowed. First, no disguised inducement of spending by manipulating draw results behind the scenes or arbitrarily adjusting draw probabilities. Second, no refusing or deliberately delaying the delivery of blind boxes through cash-out, buyback, exchange and the like. Third, no empty boxes. Article 11 only "encourages" operators to set up a pity mechanism, guiding rational spending by setting a draw time, a cap on draw amounts and a cap on number of draws. Article 17 covers blind-box goods sold over the internet. If the operator has fully informed and reminded the consumer, and the consumer has confirmed it at each single purchase, such a blind box may be exempt from the 7-day no-reason return after it is opened. Operators may not replace the consumer's confirmation step with a default tick. Article 21: blind boxes may not be used to engage in gambling, or disguised gambling. Article 23: blind boxes may not be sold to minors under 8; when selling to minors aged 8 or older, the operator should confirm in accordance with the law that the guardian's consent has been obtained (national)

Notes

This document is a guideline. It governs how operators should behave, and is not itself a basis for punishment. When something really goes wrong, it is handled under the Product Quality Law, the Anti-Unfair Competition Law and the Consumer Rights Protection Law. There are 3 specific grounds on which you can complain: the probabilities were not displayed, the displayed probabilities don't match the actual ones, or you got an empty box. Before complaining, screen-record the rules on the page and the unboxing and keep them. Being exempt from the 7-day no-reason return after opening has a precondition: the merchant fully informed you, you confirmed at each single purchase, and the merchant may not use a default tick to confirm for you. Sales to minors have separate rules: a merchant may not sell to a child under 8, and for ages 8 and up it must first confirm that the guardian's consent has been obtained. For how to get a refund when a child tops up or tips with a phone, see §5.9 (children's phone top-ups and tips). For the 24-hour cooling-off period on large nonessential purchases, see §5.23 (set a cooling-off period for large nonessential purchases). For the cycle of "the thrill fades once you have it, so you keep buying," see §6.23 (don't expect buying things to improve your mood).

Evidence grade

A : Specific numbers from meta-analyses, large cohorts or randomized trials; for law and policy, the statute or official text.

Sources

1. 市场监管总局 (2023). 盲盒经营行为规范指引（试行）（国市监稽发〔2023〕39 号，第九、十一、十七、二十一、二十三条）. https://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/zfxxgk/fdzdgknr/zfjcs/art/2023/art_e2facd76a7fb4e90b03912cffb5e7d53.html

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 5, tip 35. This section is about money and spending. It is general information, not financial or investment advice. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer