The previous AW made me feel a little better. The Salmon #85 sold for $172.13, which was a little higher than I expected – but not quite outrageous, like Red #139. And the $695 lot didn’t sell. That seller was also able to make me laugh. The lot is currently 16% off (I think eBay sales might be the most ridiculous seller tool ever introduced), bringing the price down to $583.80. Funny guy.
But I have to confess, the $338 was made me feel bad for the bidders – especially the winner. They purchased a huge headache if the figures aren’t in there. Even worse, if the figures are in there, then they paid $338 for a beat-up, open ring. That buyer goes from a sympathetic character in the story to the pitiful character that is the cruel comic relief.
As I look at the current state of M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting, I wouldn’t even be in the story. I believe in the ebb and flow of M.U.S.C.L.E. prices, but I can’t remember a time when the uninteresting stayed so high for so long. If I “re-discovered” my M.U.S.C.L.E. figures today, then I wouldn’t be in the hobby. I would have sold them and moved on.
If you’ve ever considered selling your M.U.S.C.L.E. figures, then do it now. You may never see higher prices and more impatient, impulsive buyers – and I don’t understand it at all. God knows I’ve tried.
The behavior of M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors has always been fascinating to me (probably because I’m a psychologist). My earliest public musing might have been “Is MUSCLE a Guaranteed Burnout Hobby?” in 2003. Dr. Soups talked at length about it and felt it was important to touch on in the original M.U.S.C.L.E. Figure Guide in 2010.
I kept earnestly thinking and writing about it in 2011, 2015, and 2016. The current situation has me more confused than ever.M.U.S.C.L.E. Figure Guide Peer Review :
The value of any figure is ultimately driven by some combination of: Impatience, Funding, Desire, Competitiveness, and Ignorance. Each potential buyer will have different levels of each factor.
I saw this listing, 1980s Vintage M.U.S.C.L.E. MEN Figures Toy Muscle Mattel, Green Claw ++, and I just don’t understand.
Sure, it’s a 10-pack. Sure, it has a #153. But, so what?
The #153 figure lost its luster for me years ago. To me, it’s the Macarena of the M.U.S.C.L.E. world. The last recorded 10-pack with a #153 went unsold at $244. And that, at least, had Canadian packaging. It would actually look different next to other 10-packs.
“But I’ll know.”
“I just love the nostalgia.”
Ok, but why would you pay $405? I’m not asking in an accusatory manner. I’m still flat out looking for an answer.
In the past I would have eviscerated the seller of the two figures below.
The first auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Figure #60 Mito, has a $24 opening bid and $32 BIN. Fuck it. Go for it. Logic is out the window.
Nobody cares that the last Quik #60 sold for $26 or that a Class A Salmon sold for $10. Nobody.
The second auction, **CUSTOM** M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Figure #60 Mito, should be even more outrageous. But, again, fuck it. Go for it.
Nobody cares what custom figures normally sell for. Nobody cares the quality you can get by spending $20 or $21.41 or (equal to the opening bid and less than the BIN) $30. Nobody cares that $34 is fucking absurd when all of these figuresall of these figures sold for less money.
That’s why I expect the third auction, Rampage Toys Nama Niku Kinnikuman Kinkeshi Gyodome Bowl Muscle Men Figure Rare, to easily sell. The figure was nowhere near that cost originally. But, again, who will care?
I, unsuccessfully, joked about casting old custom figures. But if I was an artist that created some of the older masterpieces, then I would be breaking out the molds – or creating new molds. The M.U.S.C.L.E. market, for whatever reason(s), is hotter than ever. Your figures would sell at prices and quantities we’ve never seen.
Or maybe I’ll finally learn to cast. Maybe I’ll poorly “customize” figures with globbed paint and/or sharpie. I know I could nail the second part. Shipping would still be the final, insurmountable hurdle.
#1 by Scott on May 28, 2020 - 6:58 pm
A psychologist…Hmmm. Now I can truly say “look at the big brain on Chad!” (without any sarcasm or malice intended) I have often wondered who would take time to compile so much info on m.u.s.c.l.e. and have so much interest and insight into this group of toys…now I know. I make and fit eyeglasses to make people see better, but I myself still don’t see what the hell is going on with EBay prices. I will close with a simple and well deserved, Thank you Chad..really enjoy this website.
#2 by Andrew Papesh on May 29, 2020 - 4:17 pm
It’s funny to read this article. I was the bidder that put the Salmon #85 up to $172. I didn’t win, but sometimes on ebay you have to proxy bid to win. Someone proxied higher than me, but that was my limit that day. Winning is fun and I think sometimes it’s the only reason I like to collect things. Collecting M.u.s.c.l.e.s. is probably an unworthy past time in some respects, but in six months my collection had gone from about 12 originals from my childhood to 966 presently, with more coming. I just won a #92 dark blue Class A a couple of days ago for about $15 American. Sometimes your the windshield, sometimes your the bug.
-Andy
#3 by Chad Perry on May 29, 2020 - 4:58 pm
Holy cow! So much to respond to.
Yes, that’s how eBay works.
I have to give you credit. This is the first time I have ever heard this statement.
I can’t relate to it at all. By your logic, this garbage bag for car is an exciting collectible. Or maybe this exciting auction for hangers?
That is probably true for most collections. Why do you think that about M.U.S.C.L.E. figures?
That’s cool.
But, without an ounce of condensation, I would ask, “Why?”
I’m sure I’ve said it somewhere, but I started after a Master Set before it had a name. We were trying to learn what existed. At some point we figured it out. Then there was a “finish line.” Racing towards it never made anything better. With literally a handful of figures to go, there’s still no urgency.
Why did I keep going? Mainly to finish the guide. Stopping now would be like quitting a marathon. But it’s a quixote task I wouldn’t wish on another soul – especially these days.
With all due respect, it’s a really shitty analogy.
But, at this point, I don’t have the energy to talk Class A prices.