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

Often I admit a final sale price has surprised me. Last week the prices of the two 4-packs, at $39 and $75, kind of surprised me. However, it was the eight 4-packs being unsold (as of writing) that surprises me the most. The 4-packs would cost $32.50 per pack. They look to be in FAR better condition than the $39 4-pack. While they are punched, they seem to be in roughly the same neighborhood as the $75 4-packs.

Was the $75 just a crazy one-time price?

M.U.S.C.L.E. prospectors seemingly love trying to buy low and resell. Or is that trend in decline? Maybe the M.U.S.C.L.E. prospecting population is shrinking? I’ve spent over 15 years arguing that it was a stupid waste of time.

Of course, over 15 years later I don’t have the time or energy to waste “flipping” M.U.S.C.L.E. toys. Maybe people don’t think it is stupid; instead they just don’t have the time. What do you guys think?

Obviously, the Vol. 2 figure didn’t sell. Let’s move onto the new stuff.

After 250 of these things I felt that #250 should be “special” for some reason. And when I saw the first auction I thought it might happen, but then, like a ground ball in baseball, it took a bad hop. I had to make the best play possible. This is the best AW possible given the current state of M.U.S.C.L.E. on eBay.

The first listing, Vintage Mattel M.U.S.C.L.E. Muscle Men MR. VTR #168 Dk Blue Class A figure RARE!, is easily the best M.U.S.C.L.E. listing currently on eBay.

The seller has started a Class A Dark Blue #168 figure at $0.99. It takes equal parts courage and admission that you don’t know everything. It’s something most sellers can’t do. They are too afraid of not getting top dollar. And they want to pretend they know best.

When a Class figure starts at $0.99 it lets the figure find it’s natural price. Unless we get into shilling and shenanigans. I hope that’s not the case here.

If I had to predict a final price, then I would guess, at most $15. I believe the Green #168 is much more difficult to find than the Dark Blue figure. And this figure isn’t popular enough to demand a top-dollar premium. Even if I’m wrong I’ll be fascinated to watch a $0.99 Class A auction unfold.

The second listing, M.U.S.C.L.E. Kinnikuman Orange Color #002 Terri-Bull Class B, is the exact opposite of the previous listing. It is a listing that highlights the problematic fear and know-it-all-ness of most M.U.S.C.L.E. sellers on eBay.

This figure has a $39.99 BIN. I doubt the previous auction will come anywhere close to this price.

Even worse, the picture is terrible. How can a buyer honestly assess the condition?

Take a look at the first auction’s picture compared to this picture. A thousand words aren’t enough to fully explain the difference.

I may have buried the lead. An Orange #2 figure isn’t a Class B figure. It is Class C. The seller has an, at most, $1 figure selling for $39.99.

This seller has completed the trifecta of terrible M.U.S.C.L.E. selling on eBay: (1) fear; (2) know-it-all-ness; and (3) old-fashioned stupidity.

The third auction, M.U.S.C.L.E Muscle Men Vintage Poster Original Mattel 1980’s Toy Collector Rare, left me a bit speechless. M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors have essentially declared that beat-up posters are nearly worthless.

They have also declared that posters in good condition can command a decent price.

In what kind of condition is this poster? Seems like something that should be known when the poster has a $99 BIN. According to the auction description:

Has folds, some missing corners, and/or rips. It was well loved and shows. Some of the stars are colored in but most are not.

Well, I think we have our answer. The seller didn’t complete the trifecta, but they perfectly demonstrated the fear and know-it-all-ness.

The fourth auction, Lot of 25 muscle men figures M.U.S.C.L.E Kinnikuman Canada Colors Mattel, instantly raised, what I would consider, an important question.

With the auction title, who are they keyword spamming?

Any M.U.S.C.L.E. collector that is knowledgeable about “Canadian Colors” would instantly know that none of those figures are Class A figures.

Hell, there is even a Purple #180 figure. I’ve believed Purple #180 to be the most numerous Color figure (maybe because I love him, but he is inarguable numerous).

If you don’t know about Class A figures from Western Canada, then what would you think when you read “Canada Colors?”

This might be the most useless effort to maximize a final price.

The fifth auction, Milton Bradley Vintage Press-on Stickers for M.U.S.C.L.E. Mega Match Game 1986, is another auction that is looking for a very specific, perhaps nonexistent, buyer.

This used, incomplete sticker has a BIN of $8.99. What is a fair price for something like this?

My games had their sheets as a part of the game. The last time I can find an unused sticker sheet (AW #199 it sold for, as a part of a lot, for $65.43. AW #203 had an unopened game. It didn’t sell for $100, but it did eventually sell for less (I believe).

A used sticker sheet has to be worth less than a damaged poster, right?

Does that mean it’s price is closer to $1 or less?

I’m sure someone wants the sticker sheet from the board game if they are missing it. But are they willing to waste $8.99 on a used sticker sheet? I doubt it.

The fifth, and final, auction, RARE 1985 Nestle Muscle Park, Nestle’s Quik Promotion, Action Figures Lot of 10, leaves me with only one thing to say.

Are you fucking kidding me?

God damn it. I thought this tube, uneventfully, sold for $100 in AW #249. I even hoped that Brian got his tube. He did not.

Now it is for sale AGAIN with a $129.99 BIN.

M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors are the worst. That’s not true. I think the vast majority of them are amazingly cool. However, our little pond is too small. It doesn’t take very much effort to pollute the pond.

How powerful is the self-hatred that makes you poison your own pond?