The types of auctions that are going to be available for an Auction Watch can vary greatly. Currently there does not appear to be an overabundance of wildly exciting auctions. However, there does seem to be a fair amount of auctions suggesting a wildly exciting theme – reasonable and attractive auctions.
The first three auctions are nearly identical. They are all sealed 10-packs in very good condition. They feature acceptable pictures. The sellers (doc_moore_j and limegizmo) have spotless feedback. And the auction descriptions are efficiently succinct.
The only differences are that one of the auctions had a $0.01 starting bid (plus free shipping) and the other auctions had a starting bid of $10. However, both of those starting bids are attractively low starting bids for 10-packs. And while the other two auctions didn’t offer free shipping – it was still very low.
These three auctions are brilliant. They stand to attract the greatest audience, which also means the greatest number of bidders. These auctions could appeal to collectors just starting out or seasoned collectors looking to upgrade on the condition of their 10-pack.
Most importantly, auctions like these help the sustainability of M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting. It gets M.U.S.C.L.E. items into the hands of collectors, but it also encourages potential sellers – even if there isn’t a ridiculous ending price. Any worthwhile seller is going to do, at least, a little research about a product them might sell. Seeing a product that rose from a low starting point to a far higher end price is going to appeal to both the “bottom line” and the gaming aspect of selling.
The niche nature of M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting needs M.U.S.C.L.E. items that can be easily bought, sold, and traded. Without low barriers to entry and continuation M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting will fall into stagnation. And some of the recent trends in auctions, prices, and collector habits give some credence that M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting has some early signs of stagnation.
The fourth auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. lot 140 colored Muscle Men free shipping, is another auction that could be considered a positive auction for the M.U.S.C.L.E. community. The seller is again doc_moore_j and features a $0.01 starting bid and free shipping. The only downside is that the auction picture could be much larger.
However, given the starting price the auction picture is acceptable – but not ideal. The combination of low starting bid and low picture quality may entice seasoned collectors, in addition to novice collector, to consider putting a bid on this large lot of colored M.U.S.C.L.E. figures.
The final price of this auction will be $77.00.
The fifth auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. muscle men knock offs, is a lot of oddball M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. It may be a combination of Kinikumann figures and knock-offs. The most easily identifiable figure is the black figure #7 (pending a name).
Like the auction before it, this auction offers a starting bid that can’t be ignored; in addition to low shipping, a great picture, and a seller with great feedback (gunsmoke.50 – mentioned several times on UofM). Considering that many collectors completely disregard counterfeit M.U.S.C.L.E. figures this is how all auctions featuring counterfeit figures should start.
The final price of this auction will be $4.50.
The last “auction” will have come to an end by the time Auction Watch #77 is posted. The auction, Nestle Quik M.U.S.C.L.E Men Premium Figure MIP #24, featured a sealed Nestle Quik figure. The starting price of the auction was $24.99 – which many collectors have said is an acceptable price for sealed Nestle Quik figures.
Figure #124
The final price of this auction will be $26.50.
This auction picture will also be added to the visual archive of sealed Nestle Quik figures in Advertising & Promotion 300.
Follow-Up: The first three auctions did not have any final price predictions. However, final auction screen captures were taken for future reference purposes. The final price can be found on the last line of each picture caption.
1st Auction
Final Screen Shot
Final Price $56.77
2nd Auction
Final Screen Shot
Final Price $55.77
3rd Auction
Final Screen Shot
Final Price $51.77
The fourth auction sold for $93.50, which was $16.50 more than the predicted price of $77.
4th Auction
Final Screen Shot
The fifth auction sold for $16.50, which was $12.50 more than the predicted price of $4.50.
5th Auction
Final Screen Shot
The sixth auction sold for $27.49, which was $0.99 more than the predicted price of $26.50.
6th Auction
Final Screen Shot
