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

Idioms never make a strong argument. In the M.U.S.C.L.E. community when something looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck – then it’s safe to assume it’s a duck.

Last week we saw this tube listed and then it wasn’t. People seemed to believe it had sold. Apparently, it didn’t. Is this a duck?

The first auction, RARE NESTLE M.U.S.C.L.E Pack Tube Of Muscle Men Kinnikuman Mattel 1980’s Figures, is for the Nestle Tube. I don’t have anything new to add since Friday’s ramblings.

There is the issue of the duck. Relisting something isn’t too unusual. Especially when a seller realizes they have something more special than they originally realized. But this seller knew they had something unique. Hmm…it swims.

There’s also a very strange addition to the auction description:

Selling for a friend whom got this tube at grade school…

Quack.

Adding “selling for a friend” is a very, very strange addition to the description. It’s addition only serves to raise red flags. Superfluous information, like this, has never been a positive trait for M.U.S.C.L.E. auctions.

This auction sure has a lot of duck qualities.

With all of that said, it’s still a cardboard tube. Last week I asked, “What do you think is a fair price?”

This auction made me realize I was asking the wrong question. The correct question for an item like this is, “What is the sale price?”

A M.U.S.C.L.E. item like this one will always be subject to the MRT. There isn’t a “fair” price; there’s only a price. Because of that fact I’m very appreciative that the listing is an auction format. I will be very curious to see the final price. As of writing this, the price of the cardboard tube is $212.

Let that sink in.

The second auction, M.U.S.C.L.E MEN 1985 DISPLAY GARBAGE CAN BOX USED SHAPE L$$K, continues the cardboard theme.

Frankly, I can’t believe someone hasn’t bought it. The, currently, $212 cardboard tube is much less attractive than this empty 10-pack box.

I think this second auction highlights the absolute absurdity that is M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting.

I wouldn’t pay $135 for an empty cardboard box. But if a relatively plain cardboard tube is, at least, $212 then isn’t a big, attractive cardboard box with a price tag of $135 pretty good? Maybe it isn’t worth it without the cardboard insert?

I don’t think so, but maybe someone else believes it. The last one I saw sold for $156.34, but it came with four 10-packs and the insert.

That’s the absurdity of M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting. As collectors we see certain trends with prices and can often agree on price ranges. But an absolute hallmark is also absurdity. Certain items pop-up and feature final prices that defy explanation.

The third auction, Muscle men figures toy lot of 24 mixed color M.U.S.C.L.E. action figures, may also feature an eye-popping final price. The lot of figures features a Purple #107. This is one of the Final 10 that I need. I’ll be placing a bid. I don’t expect to win, but that’s ok. (My $65 bid was instantly outbid.)

I couldn’t find a Purple #107 in any of the past Auction Watch posts. I expect this auction’s final price to climb past high, sail past silly, and finally land near disgusting. I don’t mean that as a compliant. I think it’s just a sound guess.

There’s a secondary eye-popping component of this auction. Twice I’ve had people notify me of the identity of the real seller. I don’t think it matters in this case. The “real seller” certainly has a history within the M.U.S.C.L.E. community. But he has always delivered on the item he has listed for sale. That’s the reason I don’t think it matters.

My preference is always transparency, but that’s just my personal preference – no a right or wrong. Maybe eBay Entrepreneur Exchange could have a third installment?

I think it would break the “M.U.S.C.L.E. internet.”

In the spirit of full transparency, I should also note that there are four additional Class A figures. However, they are pretty worthless and I don’t think anyone will care about them. The Dark Blue #92 had a sale price of $5.90. The Salmon #179 sold for $0.99 (you have to go through the seller’s feedback, but trust me). And the Dark Blue #97 and #114 were part of a 14-figure lot that sold for $20.50.