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

The already wide chasm between sane and insane M.U.S.C.L.E. listing seems to increase with each listing.

The first auction, MARVEL SECRET WARS MOTU MUSCLE X-MEN ?? GUMBALL VINTAGE FIGURES PLASTIC FIGURE, highlights the insanity side of the chasm.

Sadly, I think the insanity is fueled by ignorance mixed with misinformation. That’s a very difficult combo to combat. Sellers see stupid prices on eBay, they don’t know any better, and they recreate the stupid prices with their own listings.

What makes this combo even more devastating is a total ignorance of the tiny M.U.S.C.L.E. community. The microscopic community of active M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors knows what they are looking for, they know what is special, and they know what is a fair price.

A $50 BIN for this lot of figures is so crazy it is comical. That’s the only bright side to auctions like this one. M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors are able to have a little fun laughing at the listings.

Losing the M.U.S.C.L.E. community leaves greedy, ignorant sellers one potential audience – ignorant, impatient, misinformed buyers. Is that population larger than M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors?

It might be arguable, but my answer would be no.

On the opposite side of the chasm are the sane, knowledgeable sellers. I feel like these people are, at least, trying to keep the hobby fun. (I should add, I don’t think the insane sellers are bad people. However, they are killing the fun. A hobby needs to be fun. If it’s not, then what’s the point?)

In this case our old friend lint-speed is trying to keep it fun.

The second auction, M.u.s.c.l.e. M.u.s.c.l.e.s, Muscle men toys, Class A , 1980s, highlights the best way to sell a Class A figure. I have always argued that the Class A label shouldn’t simply be synonymous with valuable or expensive.

But when you’ve got a popular, cool sculpt the price is going to climb. The auction started at $0.99, but, as of writing, is already at $56.55. I was going to site a previous Purple #3 on Auction Watch, but there wasn’t one. I think Purple #3 is comparable to Purple #2, and that figure has ranged from about $50 to $150. Considering this is already at $56.55 I think we may see a final price closer to the $150.

The only thing that could ruin the fun of this auction would be a clown shill bidding his own auction. I know lint-speed wouldn’t do something like that. It takes a special kind of clown to do something like that.

The third auction, M.u.s.c.l.e. M.u.s.c.l.e.s, Muscle men toys, Vintage Board Game , 1980s, is also from our friend lint-speed. He has some other cool auctions, be sure to check those out too.

But this sealed game is very cool. Longtime readers should make sure they are sitting down.

Seriously.

Ready?

I don’t think the $100 price tag is terrible. As I said in the Price Guide a really nice set could command around $50. It’s not crazy to think $100 is a fair price for a sealed game.

But there won’t be a bidding war for this thing. Again, as I said in the guide, there’s not too much passion for the board game. This item will only end up in the collection of someone that truly loves the game – which is great!

I like the game. I think a sealed example is pretty cool. But I’d rather display an opened box. And that’s who I think will buy this item. I believe the buyer will open it because they want a perfect mint example of the game.

Do you agree?