EMP review
Updated October 1, 2026 · LootCue Editorial Team · Facts checked October 1, 2026
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Our verdict
EMP suits fans who want officially licensed anime, game and figure merchandise in one place, with preorders on new and limited runs, a loyalty club in selected countries, and a return window for anything that arrives wrong. Figures start at €5.99, so a first box is an easy way in.
Key facts
- Best for
- Fans who want officially licensed anime, figure and band merchandise in one order.
- Return window
- 30 days (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Loyalty scheme
- Yes (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Pre-orders
- Yes (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Officially licensed only
- Yes (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Markets
- DE, LU, FR, IT, PL, CZ, NO, CH, FI, IE, GB, SE, DK, NL, AT, SK, BE, ES (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Legal entity
- E.M.P. Merchandising Handelsgesellschaft mbH (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Germany (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Founded
- 1986 (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Support channels
- Chat, Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Departments
- Anime merch, Apparel, Band merch, Figures, Game merch
- Official website
- emp-online.com
Figures and collectibles
- Brand or store
- Store (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Pre-orders
- Yes (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Officially licensed only
- Yes (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Price from
- €5.99 (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Return window
- 30 days (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Markets
- DE, LU, FR, IT, PL, CZ, NO, CH, FI, IE, GB, SE, DK, NL, AT, SK, BE, ES (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Legal entity
- E.M.P. Merchandising Handelsgesellschaft mbH (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Germany (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Founded
- 1986 (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Support channels
- Chat, Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
- Products
- Vinyl figures, Statues, Action figures, Blind boxes
- Franchises
- Anime, Video games, Marvel, Dc, Star wars, Harry potter, Disney, Horror, Sci fi
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- Google Play
Pros and cons
Pros
- Officially licensed anime and entertainment merchandise, so collectors get genuine franchise pieces rather than lookalikes
- Preorders on new and limited runs, so a small release can be secured before it sells through
- A 30 days return window, which gives time to open a figure box and check it before keeping it
- A loyalty club that extends the voluntary take-back guarantee for members in the countries it covers
- Figures from €5.99, so a collection can start at a modest outlay
Cons
- Delivery charges and times differ by destination, so shoppers in 18 countries including Germany, Luxembourg and France outside their own country can pay more and wait longer
- Prices are listed in euro, so a shopper billing in another currency watches the total shift with the exchange rate
- The loyalty club is for selected countries only, so the longer take-back guarantee is not open to every shopper
Who it suits
- Anime and manga fans who want officially licensed pieces from well known franchises
- Figure and statue collectors who want preorders on limited editions and 30 days to return an item
- Band and music fans buying merch, vinyl and pre-orders in the same order
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers outside the countries EMP serves, where delivery charges and times differ by destination
- Collectors who want a maker's own vinyl figure range rather than a store that also carries clothing, band and game merchandise
- Buyers who want their own currency on the page, since prices are shown in euro
What it does well
Licensing is the part that sets EMP apart from a generic souvenir seller: the anime and entertainment side is officially licensed, so a figure or a t-shirt carries real franchise branding rather than a lookalike. Preorders cover new and limited runs, which matters when a release is small and goes quickly, and music fans can pre-order exclusive and limited CDs, vinyl and cassettes. Buying also carries less risk, because you have 30 days to return any item, and the loyalty club extends the voluntary take-back guarantee for members in the selected countries it covers.
Who runs it
EMP trades as E.M.P. Merchandising Handelsgesellschaft mbH, with its head office in Germany, and has sold alternative clothing and music, film, television and video game merchandise since 1986. Trading across that span gives a fan store some staying power, and a named legal entity means there is a real company behind the checkout. Support runs by chat, email, phone and a help centre, so a question about a preorder, a delivery or a return can reach a person rather than sit unanswered. Separate country shops cover the markets it serves across Europe.
How EMP compares
9.4 vs 9.3Plarium
9.4 vs 9.2- 9.4 vs 9.3
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9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.2
9.4 vs 9.0
9.4 vs 8.9
Starforged
Crossout
Star Stable
War Thunder
Enlisted
Inn.games EU
Humbrol GB
GGPick
Woodestic
Perfect World RU
Norns
Vertexhub
Where EMP is available
Countries from the brand (Source, checked October 1, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What do figures cost at EMP?+
Figure prices start at €5.99, so a first vinyl figure or mystery box is a modest outlay rather than a big commitment. That entry figure comes from one listing, while statues and jumbo figures sit well above it, so a larger shelf piece is a separate decision. Above that, price follows the size of the piece and how small the run is.
How long do I have to return an item?+
You have 30 days to return any item, which gives room to open a box, check the sculpt and finish against the listing, and change your mind. Keep the item and its packaging in the condition they arrived in while the return is arranged.
Is the merchandise officially licensed?+
Yes. The anime and entertainment merchandise is officially licensed, so pieces carry real franchise branding rather than unlicensed imitations, and preorders run on upcoming releases so you can order before a launch. Licensed collectibles start at €5.99, which makes it easy to test a franchise with a small piece first.
What does the loyalty club add?+
EMP runs a loyalty club, and membership extends the voluntary take-back guarantee, giving members a longer take-back period. Entry is limited to the selected countries the club covers, so check eligibility for your country before ordering. The return window of 30 days still matters, since the extension is a take-back rather than a change to it.
Does EMP deliver to my country?+
The head office is in Germany, and the store runs separate country shops across the markets it serves, which usually means the site you land on and the delivery terms match where you are. Destinations outside that list can still order, but expect a different delivery charge and a longer wait, so check the rate before buying.
Is EMP an established seller?+
Yes. The store trades as E.M.P. Merchandising Handelsgesellschaft mbH, a named company rather than a trading name, and it has been selling alternative clothing and music, film, television and video game merchandise since 1986. That length of trading matters for collectors who want a store that will still be shipping when a preorder is due.
What can I buy in one order?+
The shop menu covers anime merchandise, apparel, band merchandise, figures and game merchandise, and the collectible side runs to vinyl figures, statues, action figures and more. That mix suits a fan filling out a whole set, from a figure on the shelf to a t-shirt and a vinyl record in the same basket.
Sources
- emp-online.com checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Franchises, Brand or store
“Can't get enough of Star Wars? ... Learn the spells from the worlds of Harry Potter ... Disney ... DC or Marvel universes ... Fans of One Piece, Dragon Ball, Tokyo Ghoul or Sailor Moon are sure to...”
- emp-online.com checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Founded, Markets, Pre-orders, Departments
“EMP - Alternative Clothing and Merchandise since 1986”
- emp-online.com/customer-service/frequently-asked-question... checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Return window
“How long do I have to return an item? You have 30 days to return any items.”
- emp-online.com/customer-service/terms-%26-conditions/term... checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Loyalty scheme
“12. Backstage Club (for selected countries only) ... Online orders are free of delivery costs for you. Our voluntary take-back guarantee shall be extended to 100 days.”
- emp-online.com/fan-merch/anime checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Officially licensed only
“Anime Merch | Official Fan Merchandise & Clothing | EMP”
- emp-online.com/fan-merch/figures checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Products
“Figures (384): Funko Pop! (224), Collection Figures (101), Statue (34), Funko Bitty Pop! (11), Funko Pocket Pop! (6), Jumbo Pop! (1), Action Figure (1)”
- emp-online.com/fan-merch/figures checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Price from
“Rudolph - Mystery Box Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Funko Pop! € 5,99”
- emp-online.com/imprint/imprint.html checked October 1, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Support channels
“Head Office Address: E.M.P. Merchandising Handelsgesellschaft mbH, Darmer Esch 70 a, D 49811 Lingen, Germany”
Compiled from 8 source pages, checked October 1, 2026. We did not open an account.
EMP
Fans who want officially licensed anime, figure and band merchandise in one order.