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

Many, many times I’ve talked about how M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting is a tiny pond. I don’t know why people seem resistant to that idea. Here’s some further evidence: DuckDuckGo.

For some reason, I’m no tech expert, I can see IP Addresses that visit the site. Over the years I could broadly surmise who was coming to the site. I can also see where people are coming from (e.g., Facebook, Google, LRG, etc.). DuckDuckGo is now the official search engine of people that don’t want to admit they read the website.

Obviously, I can’t definitively prove everyone – nor do I want to do it. But it does make me smile when some of my biggest detractors swing by the site. Always good to see you guys.

Speaking of old friends, have you guys noticed that the M.U.S.C.L.E. Preservation Society has reappeared?

I hope I’m not spilling too much gossip, but the site is coming back too. When I spoke to Darrin it sounds like it’s going to be a retro-haven. I’m very excited to see it.

More exciting is that he agreed to be interviewed. I think M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors will enjoy hearing his story. It’s one of the few M.U.S.C.L.E. stories that runs from the beginning of the M.U.S.C.L.E. community to today. If it turns out anywhere close to what I’m envisioning, then I think I might try to make it an ongoing feature. I have some ideas, but who else would be interesting to hear about?

What’s going on with eBay?
– People still keyword spam?
– Even if this came with $20 worth of Simple Green; this lot isn’t worth it.
– Do you still scan for Non-Posters?
– This made me audibly scoff.
– Will this sell? My gut, sadly, says, “yep.”
– Love this figure, but hate this color.
– Hecks again? Are we stuck in the Matrix?
– When you see “Rare” you know it sucks.
– When you see “Rare” you know it sucks. #2
– What. The. Fuck.

As I said in the last Epilogue, this feature has properly turned into “$0.99 Dreams.” I can’t believe how few $0.99 listings we’re seeing.
– Thankfully this guy has 14 figures starting at $0.99.
– I was conflicted, but desperate for hope.

Ok, the $9.99 lot of two figures says it sold. I can’t believe that. Somebody paid $5 per-figure for those two figures. No way.

I know the listing says, “Sold.” I still can’t believe it.

Maybe it isn’t really sold because there isn’t any feedback. Maybe it just got taken down. I cannot fathom a human person spending $10 on those two figures.

This listing was laughed at in another Epilogue, but maybe it needs to join the competition. This stupid thing is never selling. How could it ever be differentiated from a regular #77?

Probably makes sense to add this guy too. I don’t have much to add.

Current Auction Link: (4) Vtg 80s YSNT MUSCLE MEN Rubber POCKET Action Figures Toys Weeks Unsold: At least 9 Price: $17.50

Current Auction Link: 80’s M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Kinnikuman Flesh Color 2 figures Weeks Unsold: At least 22 Price: $9.99 Sold?

Current Auction Link: 1986 Mattel M.u.s.c.l.e. Hard Knockin’ Rockin’ Ring Wrestling Arena Playset Game Weeks Unsold: At least 9 Price: $199.99

The last Epilogue crowned the $38 figure the winner. It wasn’t even close. The first two combatants didn’t even receive a single vote.

I don’t want to get too far in front of myself, but based on the most recent winner and the combatants below I wonder if I should stop single-figure listings. There are so many shockingly awful single-figure listings. Breaking through the sea of terribleness is getting more and more difficult – and more disheartening.

Let’s see who ends up winning this week. And who I find after the upcoming Battle of Champions.

Back to this Asshole of the Week match-up. The AOTW #1 is one of the previously mentioned single-figure listings. What makes this one special? It’s not just the terrible $14.95 BIN for an, at absolute most, $1 figure. It is the fact that the figure has been scalped – his mohawk is gone. Apologists might suggest the seller didn’t know. I find that very hard to believe. They had to do enough research to properly identify the figure as the #20 figure. Maybe she thought it was the uber-expensive hairless version?

The AOTW #2 easily entered the competition with a $20 BIN for another essentially worthless figure. Apologists might say, “But it’s a Class B figure.” Nobody, rightly, cares about that fact. But it does raise the question, “Did they settle on $20 because it’s Class B (the seller doesn’t mention it) or because they are clueless?” Either reason further supports their entry.

Staying on the single-figure trend with the AOTW #3. I’m sure some collectors roll their eyes when I repeat, “Rare is a dead giveaway to a terrible listing.” Well, I’ll stop saying it when it stops being true. This seller has a Flesh #49 with “Rare” in the auction title. Oh, and it has a $29.95 BIN for a $0.50 figure. Seeing something this stupid is rare indeed.

As I was looking through eBay it seemed like single-figure listings were going to take over this week. The AOTW #4 screamed, “Don’t forget about me!” This seller has a lot of 31 Flesh figures with a $169.99 BIN. But I also think it serves as an example of how overpaying truly poisons the hobby. The per-figure price of this lot is a deplorable $5.48 per figure. But compared to the other AOTWs, it’s a better price. Stupid sellers will use eBay’s terrible suggestions. eBay gets those terrible prices from terrible sale prices. Stupid collectors are willing to pay terrible prices for $0.50 figures. It’s a perfectly terrible circle. Gross.

Cast your vote (below) and crown the next AOTW Fatal-Four Way winner. Here are the four contestants:

AOTW #1 Scalped #20 Figure with $14.95 BIN

AOTW #2 Purple #66 with $20 BIN

vs.

AOTW #3 $29.95 BIN for the ‘Rare’ Flesh #49

AOTW #4 31 Flesh figures with $169.99 BIN

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

There used to be a long write-up about the first and second ULTIMATE AOTW Battle of the Champions Winners. The 3rd winner has a tiny backstory, which made me think we don’t need the full saga anymore.