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

The following comment was posted Saturday.

Scott :

…you damn those who (in you opinion) who List or sell a figure above your expectations. These figures are worth what buyers are willing to pay for them..not what you deem appropriate. Thanks, purple Mito

It made me laugh (in me opinion – get it?). Specifically, it made me smile and audibly snicker. Only the worst sellers complain when I talk about the price of M.U.S.C.L.E. items.

To be clear, I don’t care if people disagree with me. Any die-hard M.U.S.C.L.E. collector should have their own opinion regarding prices. And collectors have been concerned about this site’s influence on prices since this site started in 2009. Even 11 years later some people are still worried.

I wish I had that much power. I would endlessly abuse it.

Unfortunately, I don’t have that power. I have talked about prices in editorials, when I called out bullshit behavior, or tried to crawl into the minds of the confounding sellers with eBay Entrepreneur Exchange.

Guess what resulted in all of that writing? Nothing. Because this is a website talking about little rubber toys from almost 40 years ago. This website is just a fun place for me to talk about M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. And do you know why my opinion is worth listening to?

It’s not the digging I’ve done It’s not my collection or my guide. It’s because I’m not trying to sell anything and I don’t need your figures.

Oh, sure. I experimented with The School Store and had a ‘special’ Auction Watch #100, but this website was never about selling M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. Only a fucking idiot would think selling M.U.S.C.L.E. figures, especially single figures, is a good idea – especially when the prices are outrageous.

“You’re just a cheapskate.”
“Times have changed.”

Those things could be true. It doesn’t change my opinion, because my opinion is based on trends and data not a singular exception. Shitty sellers see that single, high-priced exception, and want that to be true for them too. They set-up the M.U.S.C.L.E. Ruse and wait.

And usually complain. Check out the company Scott is keeping.

Let’s start with Auction Watch #128. Guess who complained about me saying the price was ridiculous? Rick, the seller. He didn’t stop with the comments from AW #128. He emailed me too.

Another seller that complained about my opinion was newhobby905 make-an-offer ohsooffices_1. She first showed up in mid-2010, but the coming out party was August 14th, 2015. Wow.

At first, she didn’t want to participate with this website. But after her name change and mentioning UofM in her auction description the conversation picked up and eventually became eBay Entrepreneur Exchange #2.

Sadly, she needed more of a safe space. Thankfully after, at least, three years, five months, and one day (1,250 days) ohsooffices_1 (yes, she changed her name a third time) sold her Dark Blue #231.

The other person. Well, we’ve talked about Alex in the past and he doesn’t need too much coverage today. We’ll talk more about him later this week.

I love talking about M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. I hope it is interesting to read my opinions when I see interesting, discussable eBay listings. I hope it is so interesting that other M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors want to share their opinions too.

But if any seller posts something as ridiculous as this listing, then be prepared to have a spotlight shone on the stupidity. Damn.