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

The changing M.U.S.C.L.E. selling landscape is something that has garnered a lot of attention on this website. Last week I started following a lot that would have sold instantly years ago. A similar lot didn’t sell at $299 about 18 months ago. In fact the last similar lot I can document selling was for $202.50 in AW #190. That was over three years ago and had a Purple resin placeholder.

The BIN has dropped to $190, but it still sits unsold on its fourth week.

Well.

Well.

Well.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I try to write parts of the Epilogue throughout the week. The above portion was written earlier in the week. I was double checking the links (because I often make copy/paste mistakes) and, to my surprise, the lot had sold.

What kind of asshole would buy that lot? Let’s take a look:

Weird. That 1150+ feedback score looks familiar.

It kind of reminds me of the same colossal asshole that bought the two ULTIMATE AOTW Battle of the Champions Winners. But those feedback scores were 1150. It can’t be the same guy. I recently documented those specific feedback:

Wait. What if their feedback scores changed to 1152? Let’s check:

Wow. What kind of colossal and clueless asshole would buy these ridiculous listings?

Hmmm…let’s think:

1. She must be one of the most dedicated UofM readers around. Arguably, she might be the most devoted reader. What other explanation is there for buying these three specific listings?
2. She seems embarrassingly desperate for attention. Based on my experience, M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting is the last spot you’ll get any attention.
3. She is disgracefully lazy. She is either trying to get attention in the laziest way possible or the laziest, stupidest buyer ever. Either way this is one tragically lazy person.
4. She is participating in her own sad, lonesome game. There might be a goal or agenda with these purchases, but nobody cares. Sure, I’m talking about it – but I’m trying to create, hopefully, interesting content on a daily M.U.S.C.L.E. blog. If I didn’t pay attention to stupid minutia, then this website wouldn’t exist.
5. She is willing to waste money. She seems very comfortable overspending on eBay. Why would someone want to do that? In my experience, the only people vested in seeing prices stay high are people trying to sell M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. What could be the connection there?

I’m sure I’m missing some other things about this sad, sad lady. Feel free to add whatever I’ve overlooked in the Comments.

I need to say one last thing before I move on. If this is the same buyer, then I feel genuinely sad for them. For a second, assume it isn’t some form of shenanigans. Then that person is without a single person to talk about M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting. Nobody in real-life. Nobody online. They are 100% alone. That’s incredibly bleak.

If it is shenanigans, in some form, then that’s even more sad for the person.

We are one competitor away from our next Battle of the Champions. That winner will come from this pool of combatants. And the first one, AOTW #1, might be a front-runner. They have a $14.99 BIN, plus shipping, for three Flesh figures. However, you’re only get two different figures. The seller is packaging doubles at a premium price. Weird.

The AOTW #2 could have been any of the single figure listings from this seller. The Flesh #208, which I have always considered one of the most common figures, having a $7.75 BIN seemed like a worthy choice.

The AOTW #3 has a Red #153 with a $55 BIN (plus shipping). That price sucks for a Red #153. That price seemed especially funny after the “sale” of the #153 lot at the top of the page.

Finally, the AOTW #4 has two terribly damaged figures with a $29.99 BIN (plus shipping). Are these the most expensive dirty, damaged figures ever?

Cast your vote and crown the next AOTW Fatal-Four Way winner. Here are the four combatants:

AOTW #1 $14.99 BIN for Doubles & One More

AOTW #2 $7.75 BIN for Crazy Common #208

vs.

AOTW #3 $55 BIN for Red #153

AOTW #4 $29.99 BIN for Two Badly Damaged Figures

Remember to cast your vote and crown this week’s AOTW Fatal-Four Way winner:

[poll id=”90″]

There was sadness when our ULTIMATE AOTW Battle of the Champions Fatal-Four Way Winner #1 was no longer selling her empty box.

We thought this was the fine image of our old friend.

It was painful to consider our journey was over. We watched as she started at $250. Unable to sell it, dropped down to $160. The drops continued: $149, $145, $139, $135, $125 and finally $120…for a beat-up, empty box.

When she did stop, we knew there was a zero-percent chance it actually sold. It is an empty box. M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors see crazy things, but this sale was simply impossible. Plus, there is no feedback posted by either party.

We now have irrefutable evidence the box did not sell. It has been relisted with a $150 BIN.

Oh dear lord. Some other dope has “bought” the box and there is feedback from the buyer this time. Interesting that the seller didn’t leave feedback.

I think there is zero percent chance this belt has actually sold. It will be relisted. Pay attention sellers, this winner perfectly demonstrate the level-of-asshole it takes to be an ULTIMATE champion. She truly is the ULTIMATE AOTW Battle of the Champions Fatal-Four Way Winner #1.

Our inaugural champion has a very worthy companion.

The initial listing for the $3 figure was for $1500. The entire story was covered in AW #284. Apparently, there’s still a little more to add. The figure is STILL for sale with a $100 BIN.

This seller probably could be a repeat winner with their other listings.

An original SHA, with the head spur still attached, in the original Flesh color was sold for about $185. This seller is attempting to sell a yellow, headless version for $1,000. That is the level of commitment needed to become the 2nd ULTIMATE AOTW Battle of the Champions Winner.

Sadly, it looks like our second champion has paused their grifting efforts. I do not see the figure for sale, nor do I see any feedback.

This poor guy to the left has to just wait. It is going to be quite some time before his three challengers emerge.