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

The SHA from last week’s Auction Watch didn’t sell. Not really a huge surprise to most M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors. Also not a huge surprise the auction, Vintage 1980s M.U.S.C.L.E. spinning head ashuraman figure EXTREMELY RARE no head, was re-listed.

Here comes the surprise – new pictures. Why?

If the seller, ravenfanatic1213, believes that the problem with the previous auction was the pictures, then potential bidders don’t need to concern themselves with the Reserve Price. It will be as ridiculous as the logic of new pictures.

There have been some grumblings within the M.U.S.C.L.E. community that the auction received shill bids from other SHA owners to keep the price high. That may or may not be true – but that’s not what is stopping this auction from selling. M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors are always willing to pay a fair price for a desirable piece of M.U.S.C.L.E. history. However, they will not play silly games for those pieces.

A $0.99 starting bid is great, but this item doesn’t need a Reserve Price. It is a headless Spinning Head Ashuraman and without its head it does not automatically demand a premium price. A “Non-Spinning Head” Ashurman deserves a fair price. And until this seller switches his approach he’ll continue to re-list this auction.

The second auction, Lot 35 ++ KINNIKUMAN KINKESHI M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Figures Mattel muscle, a lot of four Class A figures – Light Blue #19, Dark Blue #22, Purple #29, and Light Blue #145.

This auction serves as an interesting counterpoint to another auction. The third auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Figures, X 7 USED VINTAGE, is ending very soon and may have already ended by the time most people read this Auction Watch.

The second auction is almost a prototypical Class A auction. It features a few figures, even some of the more attractive Class A figures, as part of a larger auction. The seller appears to have no idea of the desirable figures included in the lot.

This is the type of auction where collectors may spend a large amount of money. It is also the type of auction in which a buyer might offer rationalizations of their purchase as: (1) “paying what I want;” or (2) “it’s worth it to me;” or (3) “I’m going for a Master Set.” All of those, or any combination of those, ideas are just fine.

But the third auction acts as such an interesting counterpoint. What if the Class A figures are damaged in some way? M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors have a wide spectrum of opinions when the issue of “condition” is discussed. Being particular about a Flesh figure is easy when hundreds of the figures are readily available.

The first and last auctions provide M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors an interesting and unique opportunity for reflection. How much do M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors care about condition? How much do they care when it’s a figure that isn’t seen everyday? What’s worse black feet or no head? How do these things impact the price? Should they impact the price?

Wrapping up with the question, “Why do I really want this figure?”

To see the Final Results of the auctions – CLICK HERE