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

I know some people read the last Stir Up Saturday because I can see the traffic, and more importantly, I saw the votes. It left me very confused.

I have always said, “I’ve always felt that I was screaming into an empty abyss.”

And jokingly added, “Maybe, past where the abyss ends, there are collectors kneeling, chanting, and waiting for whatever I scream next.”

I thought the overwhelming results of the poll would either be “God-Like Control and Influence” or “Zero Influence.” And both results being either a joke or an intended-insult. That wasn’t the case.

How could ‘Some,’ ‘Moderate,’ and ‘Very’ make up the majority of the responses?

How could ‘Very’ be the top vote-getter?

I am asking a 100% genuine question, “What the hell do I influence?”

There is no snark with this question. There is no sarcasm. There is no agenda. I am literally confused.

If the question had been, “Do I have a loud voice in the M.U.S.C.L.E. community?” Then I could understand people saying, “Yes, you have a loud voice.” I am the only M.U.S.C.L.E. website in the world trying to do daily posts. That could be a loud voice in our tiny, tiny polluted pond.

But actually influencing people? How? Where is the evidence?

“Dummy, your Class system fucked up prices!”

There was always something to blame for fucking up prices. Pure, early-days-of-collecting ignorance. The MUSCLE Database. Soupie’s CIA. And people that would suggest $15 for a Flesh #195 (right, Brian DeMars?).

The Class system is just the most recent.

What else could I possibly influence?

I tried to think of my most consistent collecting opinions. Here they are:

• Start M.U.S.C.L.E. Listings at $0.99
  • Well, that certainly hasn’t ever taken hold. Oh, sure – occasionally we see it. But random chance is probably equally responsible.
• Don’t Overpay for M.U.S.C.L.E. Stuff
  • Again, it doesn’t seem like M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors want to buy-in here either. I have always suggested that M.U.S.C.L.E. figures are worth a buck – at most. Have you seen eBay? I certainly didn’t influence any of those assholes. What about private sales? I see Color figures given an extra price bump routinely. Why? Because it is Purple? I could go on and on. M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors seem to love overpaying. I like to suggest patience, but people will still pay $2 for a Flesh figure (right, Brian DeMars?)
• Class A Doesn’t Equal Rare
  • I don’t have the energy to rehash this concept.
• The M.U.S.C.L.E. Community is Tiny
  • I think I recognized almost every name of the people that bought the French-Canadian 4-Packs. The M.U.S.C.L.E. community has always had its passer-throughs – it always will. But the people that stick around, YOU can probably name them. And that brings me to my next point.
• No Secrets / Total Transparency
  • I don’t know why M.U.S.C.L.E. attracts so many scammers and liars. Maybe the percentage seems higher because we’re so small. Or maybe it seems like more people because we learn of the bullshit so quickly. Being honest has always been easy for me because I don’t need anything from M.U.S.C.L.E collectors. Plus, I was never trying to scam my way into a deal. There’s no relationship juggling in the pursuit of stuff. But I see plenty of collectors doing it – some work really, really hard at it. That’s why people don’t like when I talk about messy situations. It blows-up their juggle. Scammers always have an excuse; always have a defense. And do you know why the, “Well, he’s always been cool to me” defense has always been so popular? The juggle. Some collectors put their collection before decency. Buying, selling, trading stuff is more important than warning others. I disagree. Most people don’t. This is probably the one I care the most about, and I certainly haven’t influenced others.
• eBay Sucks
  • Ok, many people agree with this. It’s basically reality these days. But I think the extra M.U.S.C.L.E. collector behavior is bullshit. Just let listings run their course. “Warning” a seller is a dick move in my book. Trying to end the auction early is a dick move in my book. But collectors still do it. Why? Seriously reflect on it for a moment.
    • What was your conclusion? I’ll share mine. People are selfish. Take the eBay “coach.” Do you really care about some random eBay stranger selling their junk? You don’t. The motivation is the prevention of someone else getting something – especially if you wanted it. But sometimes just to be a dick. Sometimes both. It’s the same with the offline deal trying to end the auction early. You selfishly want to insure you get the item. Collectors love to throw out a cliché like, “It’s a dog eat dog world.” Sure, if you choose to make it that way. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. It’s a tiny community. Our choices can make a difference.
• Sellers Are Assholes
  • Admittedly, that’s a pretty broad statement. But it’s the rule. There are only exceptions to the rule (e.g., lint-speed). Has the threat of Asshole of the Week deterred any seller? No. What about a fact-based explanation of a terrible price? No (specifically the Green #168). Hell, Brian DeMars tried to sell a Flesh #195 for $15 to another collector. Sellers are assholes. There are only exceptions.

But none of these things have changed. I am left with infinite examples to talk about daily. So what am I influencing?

If this silly website influences anything, then I want it to be collectors being smarter. A collector can’t be taken advantage of if they are informed. If they know what looks “wrong” or seems odd, then they can protect themselves. Or not. It becomes their choice.

I can never influence the people that would take advantage of others. I can only hope to help reduce the number of people that can be taken advantage of by predatory sellers.

So again, I’ll ask a 100% genuine question, “What the hell do I influence?”