Unboxing review – C. Militar Writes

Unboxing my 2021 limited edition Funko POP! figure of Mose Schrute

Disclaimer: This is not a branded post. The item reviewed here was purchased using my own money and I do not receive any commission or payment on the links in this post.

Sometime last month, I finished watching the entire nine seasons of The Office (US version) and truth be told, I’m still not quite over the series. Because for the past few months, it’s kind of been my stress reliever. There, I could always count on Michael and Dwight to make me laugh, swoon over Jim and Pam’s blossoming romance, and enjoy the crazy antics that happen at the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch.

In a way, the series became a safe place for me to unwind and relax and it helped me a lot in forgetting my anxieties. That’s why after finishing the show, I couldn’t help but check local collectible shops for The Office Funko POP! toys. Since then, I’ve bought the collectible figures of Jim Halpert, Kelly Kapoor, and Angela Martin.

Recently, I decided to splurge a little more on a limited edition figure of a quirky yet lovable side character in the series. In this blog, I’ll be unboxing and reviewing the 2021 Funko Exclusive Fall Convention vinyl figure of Mose Schrute.

Viewers of The Office will remember Mose (who was played by Michael Schur) as Dwight’s strange cousin who lived on his beet farm. Although the character had little screen time, a lot of people (including myself) enjoyed his over-the-top actions and couldn’t help but laugh out loud at his unusual mannerisms. In fact, there’s a whole compilation of clips on YouTube that’s all about Mose–proving just how much fans love him!

This Funko POP! figure highlighted a funny scene between Mose and Ryan in season 3, wherein Dwight, as part of Ryan’s initiation to becoming a salesman, asked Ryan to fight his cousin Mose in an attempt to “wrestle fear to the ground.”

I purchased the figure through the Big Boys Toy Store website for 1,100 PHP (excluding shipping fee). It arrived a few days later, well-packed in bubble wrap and the store’s box covering. After removing the plastic and box, I saw Mose through the clear POP! box protector.

I unpacked the figure from the box (which had a 2021 Fall Convention sticker) to reveal Mose Schrute. Now, I’m not going to lie and say that I didn’t fangirl while unboxing the figure. It looked exactly like the character did in the scene, complete with Mose’s bushy black beard, ‘Fear’ shirt, and gray pants and overalls.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the figure with a screengrab of the scene from YouTube

Unlike other Funko POP! figures in the series, Mose doesn’t have a clear base plate. The figure, however, didn’t need it since it could balance well on its own.

At first glance, everything seems to be in place–the figure’s a good size, it stands well, and twists easily from side to side.

But upon closer inspection, the figure had a few paint defects. Mose’s hands, in particular, didn’t look smooth and well-put together. And there were some minor paint mistakes in the front and back of the figure.

The collectible toy brand Funko has addressed issues like this on their website, stating that they “cannot control slight manufacturing variations and are not able to replace items based on these variations, including but not limited to minor paint flaws or figure positioning.”

Personally, I don’t mind these minor flaws since they’re not super noticeable in the figure. If they were bigger, then that would become an issue.

Overall, I am satisfied with this special edition figure and would probably give it a 9/10 based on character accuracy and design (removing one point over those paint flaws).

It’s on the pricey side for a Funko POP! (compared to other The Office figures) though, so only get it if you’re a really big fan of the character or just can’t get enough of The Office-related merchandise.

Until the next blog!

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IN PHOTOS: Unboxing my first-ever Funko POP! Alien Remix figure

As many of my loved ones already know, I am a huge fan of the Toy Story franchise. From the moment Pixar introduced the animated characters back in 1995 to its final movie in 2019, I have loved every part of this four-part film series. So, when the Funko brand announced that they were releasing their second set of Alien Remix POP! vinyl figures to celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary, I was rightfully excited to get my hands on some of these collectible toys.

Luckily, my brother decided to give me one item from the second wave of the Alien Remix POP! figures and one POP! keychain from its previous collection, as a birthday present for me this year. So, this is the first time I’m unboxing and reviewing them.

Please note that this is a personal review and not a paid, branded post. And I’ll be starting with my thoughts on the figure and then, the keychain.

With that said, let’s begin unboxing…

On the POP! Alien Remix figure

The POP! figure was encased in two boxes. The outer box was just a regular box that showcased details about the item (this was most probably a spare box from the store as it said that the figure was from “Pretty Woman” when it really was not). The second box featured the logo of the store where the item was purchased from.

Upon opening, I found that the figure my brother had chosen to give me was the Pixar 25th Anniversary Alien Remix #759 Sulley Pop! Vinyl Figure.

The item was securely intact within its clear protective covering and there were no damages on the box itself and its protector.

The plastic covering was also very strong and sturdy–so, it took me a while to get the POP! figure out of it. It’s also good to note that this POP! protector is ideal for customers who want to keep the collectible safe inside its box.

The POP! figure itself was in good condition. The head was easily moveable and Sulley’s features–his furry eyebrows, neck fur, purple spots, and even the gray ridges on his back to his tail–were perfectly captured in the figure.

I particularly liked how the designers were able to seamlessly showcase the Pizza Planet alien’s annoying (yet very likeable and endearing) personality through the figure. It’s almost as if you can hear its nasal-ly voice saying “The claw” as you look at the collectible toy.

Overall, I am very happy with this collectible figure and if I were to rate it, I would give the item a solid 10/10.

On the POP! Alien Remix keychain

The keychain was wrapped in a few layers of bubble wrap when it arrived at my house. Although it seemed to be properly wrapped, there was a dent on the box probably made when the item was still in transit.

Now, this is definitely a deal-breaker for collectors who want pristine casing. However, I was okay with it since I really plan on taking the keychain out of its box packaging.

The keychain I got was a POP! Alien Remix of Russell from the first wave of the Funko POP! Alien Remix collection.

Upon closer inspection, the keychain was very detailed–even more so than the #60 Funko POP! Russell figure.

Compared to that POP! figure, the remix version has a bit more detail, particularly in the back where it showcases Russell’s backpack of knick knacks. This is impressive especially considering the size of the keychain compared to the standard four-inch vinyl figure.

And much like the Alien Remix version of Sulley, I liked how this one also exemplified the Toy Story character’s quirky personality.

Through it all, I really do like the appearance of the keychain. Though one part I do question is the hole found at the top of the figure’s head behind the keychain pin (as seen in the right most image).

After some research, I found out that that is where the alien’s antenna should be. Here’s a comparison of the one I received to one being sold at Amazon.

Given this product defect, I’d have to give this specific item a rating of 7/10.

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Did I get ‘way more than I paid for’ with the Papemelroti Surprise Box?

NOTE: This is a personal review of the product and not a paid, branded post. This means the author does not receive any money from the publication and clicks made on this article.

Ever since my college years, I have been a fan of Papemelroti‘s products. Whether it’d be their stationery pads made with recycled paper or their colorful wall art, I have always been enthralled by the creativity and farmhouse-like design of their products. And truth be told, I have a variety of their items stocked up in my room–particularly their stationery sets and cards which I use to write letters and notes to my family and friends.

So when I found out that they were selling surprise boxes online, I was eager to buy one of my own and see what goodies I can find inside them.

According to the store’s Shopee page, these boxes are said to “contain a unique selection of products that are worth way more than its price” and that they range from 199 to 499 PHP (excluding shipping fee).

Since I was a bit tight on budget, I opted for the lowest priced box. And combining the 199 PHP cost of the item to the 40 PHP shipping fee, I spent a total of 239 PHP on the whole order.

Here’s what I discovered about the Papemelroti Surprise Box:

On packaging

Seeing as my last boxed purchase showed some external damage upon its arrival, I was a bit skeptical with this one. But to my surprise, the item was securely wrapped in corrugated paper before it was placed inside the courier’s plastic packaging.

This extra step ensured its protection while in transit and I am grateful for it since the box was not damaged upon receipt.

The box was light brown and featured the brand’s logo and a gift carricature in black ink. It also had a dedication note which allowed buyers to give the box as a gift to a loved one.

I personally liked this idea because now, the customer doesn’t need to find nice packaging if she or he would choose to give this item as a present.

Inside the box, I found the following items:

– One (1) black, faux leather bag tag with the word “Hope” on it
– One (1) square notebook with a Christian-themed cover
– One (1) Shakespeare-themed stationery pad
– One (1) inspirational designed notebook with a hot air balloon design
– One (1) free teacup card (this item was not inside the box but inserted in between the box cover and the corrugated paper covering)

Let me go through each of these items one by one…

On the black, faux leather bag tag

The bag tag looks to be made out of black, faux leather and has a copper plate with the word “Hope” engraved or stamped to it. The tag’s lock also seems to be very tight and sturdy–which makes it ideal for luggages you would choose to check in when traveling.

It basically satisfies everything that a bag tag should be. However, in terms of design, there’s nothing particularly special about it. And compared to the whimsical designs of their other products, I have to say that I am not totally impressed with this item.

And after much digging on their website and Shopee account, I can’t seem to find the price for this product. But I found a similar item online that retails for about 85 to 138 PHP (excluding shipping fee)–and I’ll be using this price range as the basis for my overall calculation.

On the Christian-themed square notebook

Everyone who is familiar with the brand knows that it showcases a lot of Christian-themed designs on its products. From bible quotes to religious images, many of their items immediately show customers that this is a store that is highly influenced by Christianity.

And in this particular case, I received a square notebook designed with a blue background, a dove image, and the Philippians 4:6-7 bible quote that says, “I am not anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, I present my requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”

As someone who is diagnosed with severe anxiety and is also a practicing Roman Catholic, I do appreciate the message being shared in this item’s design cover. Plus, its overall appearance is also quite pleasing to the eyes and the pages are clean and made out of recycled paper.

This item also doesn’t seem to be listed on any of their selling platforms, but if I would guess its price, I believe the item would lie somewhere between 80 to 100 PHP (I based this amount on the store’s ring notelets, which look like a smaller version of this notebook).

On the Shakespeare-themed stationery pad and the inspirational notebook

Earlier in this article, I mentioned how the store has a lot of pretty, whimsical designs–and these two items are proof of it!

Even though the stationery pad has a relatively simple design, I liked how it was laid out on the page with Shakespeare’s quote seamlessly integrated on the lower left side of the pad.

Likewise, I liked Robert A. Alejandro‘s hot air balloon design on the notebook. It also featured clean, ruled pages–which is ideal for me since I like writing on notebooks with lines.

But I think the highlight of these two products (and possibly almost all their products in the store) is that they are both made locally and created with recycled paper.

On their website, a colored notepad like this would sell for 28 to 35 PHP and a large notebook like this would sell for 50 to 64 PHP.

On the free teacup dedication card

This free item was lodged in between the box and its corrugated paper covering. It featured a colorful floral and bird pattern created by Robert A. Alejandro and was shaped exactly like a teacup.

This was, for me, the prettiest and most aesthetically-pleasing from all of the items I’ve received. It’s also the cheapest in the bunch as it sells for 8 to 10 PHP on their website.

So, when added all up, did I really get “way more than I paid for?”

Upon calculating everything, at the very least, all of these items would amount to 251 PHP–only a few Pesos away from my total purchase of 239 PHP. So surprisingly, the brand did deliver on its claim of “getting way more than you paid for.”

Despite this finding, I don’t totally recommend buying the surprise box for the sole reason that you can’t choose the items that go in it. Just like in this review, I received a bag tag that I don’t necessarily find pleasing or have a need for.

Moreover, if you are thinking about giving this as a present, I suggest giving it to a friend who likes stationery items and is okay with receiving religious-themed items. The brand has a very unique set of designs and products and that might not appeal to everyone.

Lastly, I recommend choosing from the store’s gift sets instead of buying the surprise boxes. At least, in this way, you can be assured that you will like the items you have ordered from the brand.

Hopefully this review helps you make a decision on whether or not you should buy the Papemelroti Surprise Box. And until you make that choice, I wish you all the luck in shopping!

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I bought a Harry Potter–themed box online – was it worth it?

As a Potterhead, I have always wanted to buy some of the Harry Potter-themed subscription boxes featured by YouTubers like The Potter Collector. Unfortunately, because many of these boxes cannot be shipped to my country, I have never been able to purchase one.

So, you can understand my excitement upon finding out that local artist Ella Mercado was selling her own Wizarding World-themed boxes online. Immediately, I purchased her limited edition Potterhead box 2.

Now, before I share with you my review of it, I would like to note that this article is not sponsored and that I have purchased the box on my own volition. Therefore, all thoughts and opinions expressed in this article are that of my own and are not influenced by external factors. With that said, let me continue with my thoughts on the item…

On packaging

When the box was delivered to my house, I was disappointed to see that a portion of the plastic had either been chewed off by a rat or partially burned as seen in the photos below.

However, this is not the fault of the seller but perhaps, the courier for not taking better care of the item. Luckily, none of the items inside were damaged, but the box was frayed in the corner.

The box itself is plain brown, with a few Harry Potter-themed stickers on it. When opened, you can see that the items are carefully wrapped in yellow japanese paper–which I love since I am a proud Hufflepuff–and joined with a rolled-up map of the Wizarding World on top.

Inside the folded-up yellow paper are the following items (which I will go into further detail later):

– Four (4) glittered postcards that feature scenes from the movie
– Nineteen (19) glittered sticker pieces
– Three (3) pins
– One (1) Deathly Hallows necklace
– Three (3) Daily Prophet posters
– One (1) Quibbler poster
– One (1) Hogwarts acceptance letter signed by Professor McGonagal
– One (1) copy of the Hogwarts rules and regulations

On the Wizarding World Map

The Wizarding World Map was printed on a thick, yellowish-brown paper and its illustrations are printed with black ink (the teaser video I made for this changed the color of the details on the map–making it purple instead of black).

I consider this item as one of the highlights of this Harry Potter bundle. Not only was it rolled up well but it was very detailed and showed almost all the locations of the Wizarding World–From Hogsmeade to Hagrid’s Hut in the Hogwarts campus.

It’s definitely a worthy piece of merchandise in this bundle.

On the glittered postcards

Personally, I like almost anything that’s been bedazzled or glitter-fied. And these postcards are no exception.

I like how they were printed clearly on quality glittered paper. And that the scenes chosen were memorable moments from the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone movie.

On the glittered sticker pieces

These stickers are my absolute favorite from this box! They are not only made from what looks like waterproof, glittered paper, but they are also masterfully designed by the artist.

I especially love her designs on Hedwig, Dobby, and the Sorting Hat.

On the pins

There are three pins in this lot: a Butterbeer shrink pin, a cat-themed button pin, and a Harry Potter enamel pin.

All three pins are very cute and well-designed. Although from the three, I absolutely love the Harry Potter enamel pin as it is very detailed and it features the infamous Quidditch scene in the first film.

These, again, are a win for me.

On the Deathly Hallows necklace

After seeing the quality of the stickers, postcards, and pins, I was excited to see the next item. To my surprise, I ended up greatly disappointed with the Deathly Hallows necklace.

The reason I said is because the lock on the necklace won’t even open and the chain is not long enough to fit over the head. This makes it unwearable and honestly, quite useless as an accessory.

On the Quibbler and Daily Prophet posters

What I love about these posters is that they are about the A5 size so they are quite small and are perfect for displaying.

The text and illustrations of the posters are also very clear and readable, making it a good addition to the box.

On the Hogwarts acceptance letter and the rules and regulations

Like the posters, these were also printed quite well and the text is clear. The only thing I really have to comment here is that I kind of hoped that the letter would be more personalized because at the moment, it does say “Dear (Your name)” in the acceptance letter.

So, through it all, one question remains: was it worth the buy?

Generally speaking, I am happy about this purchase but if I could, I would have preferred if the item was maybe 100 Pesos cheaper, especially since the lock on my necklace wasn’t functioning.

Other than that, I still do consider this as a worthy buy since I was able to receive a cool set of well-made Harry Potter stickers, pins, postcards, and posters. And I was also able to help a local artist continue to share her work with the world.

So, if any of you are interested in checking this item out or looking through her other Harry Potter-themed boxes (yes, she has more), you can check out the artist’s Shopee account here.