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

Last week there were two Class A figures starting at $0.99. I absolutely love these auctions because it gives us a excellent “temperature check” of the Class A prices in the current marketplace.

I wondered if the Light Blue #145 would serve as an example of the Class A price drop-off. I think it does. I think, as I said Saturday about macro- and micro-Class A madness, we’ve entered a new period of Class A prices.

The label of “Class A” is no longer enough to demand an extreme premium price. I imagine that we’ll still have occasional new Master Set collectors, but most will quickly burn out. Chasing 1,528 figures is a crazy, foolish goal. Purchasing them, at an average $5 per-figure price, turns the finish line into a $7,640 price tag. Macro-Class A madness is over.

Welcome to Micro-Class A madness. Purple #2 is desirable enough to still demand a premium. But the pool of desirable Class A figures, and the buyers looking for them, is continually shrinking. I wish I could offer some numbers based on objective data. I can only guess. My best guess is that maybe a dozen, two at most, Master Set collectors will fight over maybe two or three dozen figures.

What do you guys think?

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The first auction, vintage MUSCLE Figures lot of 16 Kinnikuman little 1980s men M.U.S.C.L.E. colors, continues the Class A discussion. The is a lot of 15 figures plus the Magenta #167 figure. I believe Magenta #167 is not a part of the micro-Class A madness.

The final price will provide the answer. I would guess that the final price is going to be, at most, $21.25.

If we have entered micro-Class A madness, then is their any impact on Non-Poster figures? Maybe. Take the BHS that can’t sell. We’ve seen Non-Poster figures’ prices trending down. The “normal” price is around $900, but will that also start to trend down?

Until we see a Non-Poster figure that doesn’t have an absurd opening bid or BIN we won’t know. It will remain a mystery for a little bit longer.

Speaking of mysteries, the second auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. Muscle Men Mattel Vintage DEFACED Poster or Wrapping Paper 1985, has me completely flummoxed. I mentioned in the last Epilogue that even I wouldn’t spend $0.99 on “wrapping paper.” That listing apparently sold for $2.05, but it was relisted.

Amazingly, as of writing, it is selling for $8.50. WHAT?!?!

I can’t believe it. How could this shitty poster have four bids? Have you taken a really close look at the poster? Some kid wrote names all over the poster. This might be the poster in the worst condition collectors have ever seen. How could there be multiple bidders? I’m speechless.

This situation has to be shill bidding, right? The cancelled first auction, followed by shill bid second listing – right? The poster is just so shitty I can’t imagine any other scenario.

The third auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. Kinnikuman, Satan Cross, # 236 Rare Action Figure, is a Satan Cross that caught my attention.

The listing started at $25. The last AW SC sold in a lot for $133.50. I thought that price was ludicrous.

I’m curious to see the final price of this Satan Cross figure. And I’m curious to see it in relation to the first auction and other recent Class A figures.

M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors are intoxicated by the mythos of this figure. I would never over-pay for a Satan Cross figure, but I’m done complaining or suggesting others shouldn’t. I think they’re buying a feeling more than the figure.

That means, to me, that they’ll always overspend on a feeling. Does that mean SC will soon demand a higher premium than most, and eventually all, Class A figures?