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

There’s not much to answer from the previous AW because I couldn’t wait. I had to talk about it in the last Epilogue.

There also weren’t any answers to my question, “Are we in a new period of M.U.S.C.L.E. pricing?”

I do think we’re seeing a general increase in the worthless stuff and a decrease in the absurdly expensive. We see lots of surprising prices for routine lots and things like this and this sit unsold. Admittedly, I think both prices are stupid – but that doesn’t stop other people from buying it. But nobody buys it.

As I mentioned in the last AW, it feels like most of the recent Class A auctions have been in the $20-range. That sure feels like we are seeing people interested in the figures broadly – but no interest in the “rare.”

The seller, gunsmoke.50, unknowingly will help us test this hypothesis. This seller has been mentioned many times on this website – he’s one of the good ones. This seller, like the King of Class A auctions (lint-speed), this seller believes in starting his listings at $0.99.

He has 10 Class A figures for sale:

1. Class A Light Blue #61 Figure
2. Class A Purple #93 Figure
3. Class A Purple #123 Figure
4. Class A Magenta #125 Figure
5. Class A Magenta #135 Figure
6. Class A Magenta #136 Figure
7. Class A Salmon #156 Figure
8. Class A Purple #156 Figure
9. Class A Salmon #165 Figure
10. Class A Dark Blue #168 Figure

I am expecting that the ceiling for most of these figures is the $20-range. But let’s watch and see. It is always interesting, and it gets M.U.S.C.L.E. figures into the hands of people that actually want them. What kind of idiot tries to sell the same over-priced figure(s) for years?

The second auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. Muscle Men Lot of 119 Action Figures by Mattel, is also starting at $0.99 and getting M.U.S.C.L.E. figures into the hands of collectors.

This is a pretty nice mixed lot of 119 figures. There’s a nice mix of Color and Flesh figures, plus it looks like a counterfeit or keshi figure too.

I don’t think any person could provide me tangible evidence that a method, other than starting at $0.99, is better for selling M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. If you have several figures, then group them together and start the lot at $0.99. If you have previous unseen Non-Poster figure (e.g., SGS), then you can also start at $0.99. You’ll be just fine.

Sadly the people that need to know that don’t read this website. Or maybe some of them do read it? That would be even worse. Someone with no experience with M.U.S.C.L.E. figures thinks they know more than a dummy that has spent way too much time pouring over the minutia of M.U.S.C.L.E. since October of 2002.

The final auction, Vintage 1985 M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Figure Muscle Knockin Rockin Ring Complete w/ Box, might be one of those things that only I am interesting in seeing.

The ring appears to be in fair condition. The box is total garbage. And I’m not a fan of the $19.99 opening bid.

With all of that said, this is still an interesting lot to be because of the cardboard insert. Years ago I bought another ring, because it had the cardboard insert. I didn’t even care that the kid had turned it into a steel cage (actually, I think it made me like it more).

It was the first time I could remember an opened ring having the insert. I have seen them since, but I still get excited. For me, it is a piece of M.U.S.C.L.E. history that you rarely get to see. Either you have a mint, unopened box with it or you probably don’t have it. I think it is fun to see.