Introduction:The limited-edition merchandise launched by Chinese tea chain ChaBaidao in collaboration with Disney’s Frozen, including snowflake phone charms, handheld mirrors, and goblets, attracted numerous fans with their exquisite designs. However, many consumers reported quality issues such as the phone charms breaking easily, the handheld mirrors chipping or cracking, and the goblets having scratches, turning the highly anticipated collab items into "beautiful but useless" products. This article compiles consumer feedback in detail and analyzes the quality control controversies surrounding this collaboration.
Recently, ChaBaidao announced a partnership with Disney’s popular IP Frozen, launching a limited-edition fruit tea called “Green Grape Jasmine,” along with a series of themed merchandise such as phone charms, handheld mirrors, and goblets. All products were inspired by the beloved character Queen Elsa from the animation, featuring an icy-themed design.
As soon as the collaboration went live, it attracted a rush of fans, especially for the exquisitely designed snowflake phone charms. Due to their delicate appearance and practicality, they quickly became a hot item. Many consumers put them on their phones upon arrival, using them as everyday accessories.
However, within just 12 hours of the event going live, social media platforms began seeing complaints from consumers about the poor quality of the phone charms. Some users said that the bead chains snapped unexpectedly when they simply lifted the charm, causing their phones to fall as well.
Initially, some suspected isolated cases, possibly due to improper usage or overly heavy phones. But soon, more users posted photos showing their newly received phone charms breaking after minimal use, with beads scattering everywhere — a widespread issue.
Faced with continuous negative feedback, many buyers grew concerned. Some chose to reinforce the phone charms themselves to prevent breakage, while others removed the bead chains altogether and kept only the packaging, treating them as collectibles rather than functional items.
Aside from the phone charms, other merchandise in the collaboration also faced criticism. Consumers reported issues with the handheld mirrors, such as glitter flaking off, paint peeling, or even cracked mirror surfaces. Meanwhile, the goblets, which were meant to be practical drinkware, were found by some to have noticeable scratches or chips, raising questions about quality control.
Many fans said they had rushed to buy the items because of the appeal of the Frozen IP and the beautiful designs, only to end up with a bunch of "pretty but useless" merchandise. Some even described the freebies as “beautiful waste,” questioning whether the brand had fully considered practical usage needs during the design and production process.
Industry insiders pointed out that collaboration merchandise is not just a marketing tool but also an extension of a brand’s image. Poor quality control not only affects the consumer experience but can also cause long-term damage to brand reputation. The quality controversies surrounding ChaBaidao’s collab merchandise deserve serious reflection from the brand.
Numerous netizens shared their experiences on social platforms, expressing disappointment with the quality of the collab merchandise and calling on brands to prioritize product durability and practicality — rather than focusing solely on aesthetics — in future collaborations.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
