The $1,400 lot did not sell and is still listed unchanged. The only surprises are that the seller hasn’t better pictures and the price hasn’t gone down (yet).
The first lot also didn’t sell, and has been relisted with a $2.99 starting bid. I’ll never understand these types of sellers. Never.
This week there is one listing that I found interesting, and three listings I feel responsible to document for collectors. Let’s start with the listing I found interesting.
The first listing, Vintage 1983 Select Toys MUSCLEMANIA Mini Rubber Wrestler Figures Muscle Men, is a lot of MUSCLEMANIA figures with a $40 BIN and free shipping.
On the plus side the lot looks to be the nicer Firm figures. The Light Blue figures aren’t too dirty. There is also a Translucent Green #4.
Even as a huge MUSCLEMANIA fan, I don’t think the price is worth it. These are all incredibly common items for the dozen people that collect MUSCLEMANIA. The only buyer for this lot is the one that needs the Translucent Green #4 for their collection. That person might bite the bullet.
We’ll see.
The remaining listings were too noteworthy to ignore, but I can’t say they actually excite me. These feel like listings I’ll appreciate having documented in the future.
The second listing, Mattel M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Figures 4 Pack Sealed with Claw #153, will have #153 fans interested – especially since it started at $0.99 (thank you eBay seller named evelogic).
For context, the last documented Dark Blue #153 sold for $21.50. The last documented 4-Pack (with a Class C #153) sold for $144.50.
The condition of the $144.50 4-pack was MUCH better. Logic would suggest the damage to this 4-pack would lower the final price from $144.50. Much like SC fans, #153 fans have never been burdened with using logic. Because of that, it seems possible (if not probable) that the final price could be higher than $144.50.
Even though my opinion of #153 has turned pretty negative, I know there are plenty of #153 fans. But do you know what I can’t remember seeing? A #153 fan trying to collect every #153 in 4-packs. Are you out there? I’d be interested in seeing that collection because I can’t remember ever seeing it.
The third listing, Ultra Rare Mattel Kinnikuman Figure #153 Purple Claw M.U.S.C.L.E. Muscle Men, will be over when this posts. That’s fine. Anybody that cares about it already knew it was listed and started at $0.99 (thank you konigfische, who was also mentioned in the last Epilogue).
What is there left for me to say about Purple #153? Nothing.
But it will be interesting to see the final price. I was way off the last time I guessed. This time I think it will be less than $425, because $425 was quite a price crash.
Finally we have a listing that will also show up in AOTW. The fourth listing, 1985 M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Battlin Belt Factory Sealed Case (12) Rare AFA WWF Mattel, is comically stupid.
Does $11,998 include free shipping? Of course not.
But that’s not even the stupidest part. The $11,999 BIN is beyond unbelievable when you give it one second of thought.
Purchasing this lot of “uncirculated” belts would mean each belt is valued at $999.83. Even if it was 12 absolutely perfect window-box belts, they aren’t worth over $900.
The last documented window-box, admittedly beat-up, sold for $102.50. The last, really beautiful, documented window-box sold for $107.50. And well-graded AFA belts seem unable to sell for anywhere close to $300.
This listing would probably be a better fit for “Forever Unsold,” because this is never selling at that price – especially if it isn’t the more desirable window-box.
#1 by Brandon Roseberg on March 3, 2021 - 10:26 pm
Is the purple claw the rarest muscle figure out there? Seems very expensive compared to all of the other colored figs.
#2 by Beligerant1 on March 3, 2021 - 11:29 pm
Haha, you evil bastard, some poor schmuck out there had never considered collecting all the colors of #153 in a 4-pack, and now he will be consumed by the task. I had a purple #153 4-pack in my possession once, traded it to Arforbes for a couple figs, mostly a loose purple #003.
#3 by Chad Perry on March 4, 2021 - 5:57 pm
@Brandon – If only there was a website that dug into all of the details of M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. It could have tags, specific to figures, that could let you look up previous auctions. Or maybe it could have a search bar. I hope somebody creates that someday. Someday.
@Beligerant1 – Haha, that’s a funny thought. And even funnier if it turns out to be true. (Also a little sad if it turned out true.)