That sale sparked an idea I haven’t had the energy to argue in a long time. It is the idea of price versus value with M.U.S.C.L.E. items. It wasn’t that I was insightfully ahead of my time; I was simply ahead of the marketplace.
In the past, the argument of price versus value often centered on what was being paid for a Class A figure, or a Non-Poster figure, or the per-figure price of a lot. And it got even messier when people used both terms (price and value) interchangeably. The UofM Price Guide is probably a more accurate “value guide.” It gives you a long-term, mostly agreed upon price for items. Far from perfect; but certainly a decent guide.
However, M.U.S.C.L.E. “prices” have become unpredictable and ridiculous because of the shift to lots of single-figure, BIN listings. Take a look at these sold listings. Here’s one listing that sold for $12.95 for $1.50 worth of figures. How about $3.50 worth of figures for $25?
That’s not to say every listing is absurd. Here’s a lot of 20 Flesh figures that sold for $11 or $0.55 per-figure.
The absurdity appears rooted in the BIN. Any price becomes possible because only one sucker is required. That buyer doesn’t need to know about or care about the established value.
For example, some dope spent $59.95 on a single Orange #153 figure. Does that mean my, maybe 2,000 figures, are worth $119,900? Certainly not. Insurance wouldn’t cut me that check. A buyer wouldn’t cut me that check. In this case the price and value are incorrect. This model probably holds true for quite a ways down the pre-figure price scale.
M.U.S.C.L.E. prices might be going a bit crazy because of uninformed, impatient single buyers; but I think we’re also seeing significant stabilization in M.U.S.C.L.E. values.
Do you guys agree with that idea?
AW #290 featured an experiment: How much would a Class A #2 figures sell for if it started at $0.01?
The answer was $26.
Between that experiment, the money going to charity, and the Miserly M.U.S.C.L.E. post it inspired M.U.S.C.L.E. collector Bill Raeth to join the fun.
He provided a #60 figure still wrapped in the Nestle Quik promotion plastic.
The listing, Sealed #60 Nestle Quik M.U.S.C.L.E. Figure from UofMUSCLE.com – muscle figure, is similar to the last one. It will start on Friday evening. The opening bid is $0.01. I had planned on donanting the money to Toys for Tots, but eBay wouldn’t let me select Toys for Tots. I thought Feeding America was a worthy second place.
It has been a longtime since we’ve seen a single Nestle Quik figure. I am going to be very interested in watching this listing unfold.
#1 by Matt Skeels on November 8, 2019 - 3:55 pm
Seems like a flawed experiment. If it was for charity, often those are inflated to promote a good cause. So the figure is likely worth less than the final charity amount.
Don’t forget that websites like yours have a well known market bandwagon effect/observer effect. You guys seem to be aware of it, which is why you are constantly trying to remind your readers that these things are worth less than they think – but in the same breath document all these rare Class A figures and non-poster figures and just how hard it is to complete a full color set.
Don’t underestimate your influence on inflated prices.
Btw, your Nestle Quik #60 link doesn’t work.
#2 by Chad Perry on November 8, 2019 - 5:18 pm
This must be your first time here. Welcome.
There’s already been another experiment. If you’re suggesting that $26 is the inflated “charity price,” then the Class A Purple #2 figure has fallen even further than anybody ever dreamed. Plus, there’s this.
While my ego appreciates the suggestion of influence, you’re about 10 years too late. Ten years of posting has had zero influence on the M.U.S.C.L.E. community – except that it has made any and all M.U.S.C.L.E. information available to people. They get to use it or not. I’m in danger of repeating this post.
BTW, I know. The write-up says, “It will start on Friday evening.” Be patient.