The opening bid is $35 and the BIN is $70.
But that isn’t the weird part. Here’s the auction description (I’ve bolded for emphasis):
Hi! This is an unused pack of M.U.S.L.E Men – one of the coolest and most peculiar Japan-originated action figures of the 1980s. Is of great nostalgic value to me, but the time has come to say goodbye. 10 multicolored wrestlers for your enjoyment! Don’t play the NES game of the same name: it’s terrible. But these are great!
“Unused?” I can understand claiming the figures are in mint condition, but unused? It seems like the most bizarre claim. Has anyone ever assumed an open toy was unused?
Again, I get that it could be true – but just say mint. Am I wrong?
The last two sentences are utterly unnecessary. If it is meant to be a joke, then it is a painful failure. If it is meant to be informative, then it remains a painful failure. Why include it?
I honestly thought the auction description was weirder than the price tag. (Having said that, wasn’t this listed before? Did a bidder back out after learning it was open? Are there more pictures this time?)
The second auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. Sunshine Lot Mini Figure 1 blue, 1 purple GREAT LOT!!!!, is a bit of a throwback to Auction Watch #223.
That lot of #15 figures sold for $31.88. I am shocked, but I know these kinds of lots make bidders crazy.
Will this lot cause the same reaction? I think the answer is no because it’s not a single figure in multiple colors. I think it is specifically that combination that makes bidders extra crazy. But a mix of Sunshine figures could do it too – maybe?
The real wrinkle is the counterfeit #3 figure. I think it makes the lot more attractive, but do other bidders feel the same way?
I can see some bidders that view a counterfeit figure as a negative.
The third auction, KINNIKUMAN & BUFFALOMAN giant 6″ Deka Bandai MUSCLE Men wrestler Kinkeshi BOXED, looks really cool but I don’t know anything about it.
I don’t know it’s history. I don’t know if the $129.99 BIN is a good price. It just looks cool. Can anybody shed some light on this set?
The $129.99 might be a fair price. Hell, maybe it is a low price – but I would never spend $129.99 for this set.
I think my absolute top-dollar would be $50. I also know that I would put that bid in and instantly regret it. My joy from buying stuff is a fraction of what it used to be. But that’s a rant for another time…and probably a totally different website.
The fourth and fifth auctions are the both the big, weird thumb wrestlers.
The fourth auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. thumb wrestling figure KO “M” man green kinnikuman vintage muscle !, is obviously the better priced of the two figures. The last one I can remember sold for about this much.
Didn’t a big lot of these sell somewhat recently? Maybe it was a dream.
The fifth auction, M.U.S.C.L.E figure Muscle Men MUSCLEMAN KINNIKUMAN Green 4″ Rubber SUPER RARE!, just seems way too expensive. Of course, if I was a hardcore collector of these figures I can imagine dropping $20 on a figure I needed.
The race is still being watched, but as of writing there’s no change.
| vs. |
#1 by Terry on September 19, 2017 - 6:11 am
The Giant 6″ Deka here are worth about $30-40 maximum. I saw this listing too and scoffed at the price. The paired figures also aren’t as popular as the singles figures in the set making this pricing even more absurd. The seller here is banking on someone who cannot or doesn’t know about buying figures from Japan to purchase this.
#2 by Chad Perry on September 19, 2017 - 8:01 am
Thanks!
I’m also shocked my guess was in the somewhat correct neighborhood.
#3 by Matt Skeels on September 22, 2017 - 12:17 am
Damn… a person puts one sentence at the end of their auction, having a little fun, and it ruins your day. You’re fun at parties aren’t you?
#4 by Chad Perry on September 22, 2017 - 9:10 am
Seems like someone’s tissue-paper skin got cut. I said it wasn’t funny or informative.
It wasn’t fun either.
Wait – is the $70 BIN the fun part? Because that is funny!