UofMUSCLE.com – M.U.S.C.L.E. Figures from Mattel

Satan Cross has been a relatively popular topic on UofM lately with the SCI and Auction Watch #10. With the appearance of two Satan Cross auctions on eBay it seemed worthwhile to acknowledge both auctions for various reasons.

The first auction features a lone Satan Cross figure and is titled, M.U.S.C.L.E. Satan Cross Figure Exc Condition. It started with an enticing open price of £0.99 (currently approximately $1.65), and very reasonable international shipping rate. The auction description was simple and straightforward:

M.U.S.C.L.E.
Satan Cross Figure
In excellent condition
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me anytime and i will try and reply as soon as possible.
Thanks for looking.

With additional clarification given through two posted questions and answers:

Q: One more question. Is the tip of the sword attached to his upper hand.
A: Yes his sword is still attached. Thank you for your interest.

Q: Is there any markings under his feet (ink, paint, cuts, ect.)
A: Hi, No his feet are blemish free, with no marks or scuffs.

Perhaps, most importantly, there are clear pictures of both the front and back of the figure. Not only does the seller have a perfect eBay history, but he also has sterling feedback on LittleRubberGuys.com (you must be logged-in to the LRG message board to view the feedback).

This first auction is arguably a perfect buying situation for anyone looking for a Satan Cross figure.

Currently on eBay there is another Satan Cross auction titled, M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Satan Cross. This auction actually shares many of the attributes of the previous auction – simple and clear title, good pictures, decent description, good pictures, and stellar eBay feedback.

Unfortunately, there are two main shortcomings: (1) a restriction to only US buyers; and (2) and surprisingly high starting bid with a reserve price.

This second eBay auction has limited their potential bidders both by region and price. A similar Satan Cross auction sold for only $26.25. With a starting bid of $40, and an unknown reserve, a bidder would not even win the figure with a $40 bid.

Buyers and sellers are certainly responsible for their own choices. These auctions are examined and contrasted because they highlight the continued schism within the M.U.S.C.L.E. marketplace regarding Satan Cross.

The first auction will likely sell for around $30, perhaps more because of the wider buying audience, forthright communication, and stellar reputation. The second auction will likely not sell because of the high starting bid, reserve, and reduced potential buying audience.

Follow-Up: As expected, the first auction sold and the second auction did not sell. In fact, the estimate of approximately $30 for the first auction was quite accurate. The final sale price was $27.96. The second auction did not receive any bids.