Auction Watch #39 had an example of a collector identifying a popular figure, Satan Cross, and offering the seller a Buy-It-Now scenario to snatch up the figure. Eschewing the morality of that situation, Auction Watch #40 showcases an opportunity for all M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors to have a great Buy-It-Now opportunity plus an interesting Color figure auction.
The first auction, Vintage M.U.S.C.L.E. Mega-Match Game 62 Muscle Men Lot, features an incomplete board game and 62 figures – including a set of 10 game board figures. The board game, Flesh figures, and Color figures all appear to be acceptable and ultimately not very interesting. However the 10 board game figures appear to be the original set and in great shape.
These figures are not necessarily rare, but perfectionistic collectors will appreciate the opportunity to purchase the entire set with seemingly matching coloring. When sets of board game figures are put together from separate games and separate sellers the coloring of the Purple and Green figures can differ slightly. This is rarely noticeable, but often an important issue for picky collectors.
With a $0.48 per figure price (excluding the incomplete board game) using the Buy-It-Now option it would be a nice opportunity for a collector to purchase this lot for $29.99. However, the Buy-It-Now price could also be removed with a $16.99 opening bid – which is very likely to happen. The final price of this auction will be $24.50.
1st Auction - Auction Screen Shot
1st Auction - Auction Picture
The second auction, M.U.S.C.L.E. Men Figures (10 of them) L@@K, features are rather unassuming lot of 10 M.U.S.C.L.E. figures. First glance suggests two Flesh figures and 8 Purple figures. And the auction description states:
M.U.S.C.L.E. MEN Figures
in beautiful condition. Picture is actual
ones in this auction.
A second glance makes the auction, a little bit more interesting. Three of the Purple figures (#30, #34, and #136) are Class B figures. The two figures in the center of the picture are either Flesh or Salmon figures #124 and #149. If they are Flesh, then there is absolutely nothing noteworthy about them. If they are Salmon, then two more Class B figures suddenly appear.
Class B figures do not tend to draw much extra attention, unless they are incredibly popular sculpts (i.e., #153). These Class B figures would likely only be interesting to collectors attempt to complete a full Color set of M.U.S.C.L.E. figures or “prospecting” collectors that believe they can re-sell the figures to desperate and/or unsuspecting collectors.
The final price of this auction will be $13.50.
2nd Auction - Auction Screen Shot
2nd Auction - Auction Picture
Follow-Up: It looks like the Buy-It-Now price for the first auction was too attractive for a M.U.S.C.L.E. collector to pass up. The final price was $29.99, which is $5.49 more than predicted.
1st Auction - Final Auction Screen
While the first auction may have been too attractive for a M.U.S.C.L.E. collector to pass up, the second auction clearly did not attract any attention. The final price was only $1.75, which is $11.75 less than predicted and only $0.18 per figure.
2nd Auction - Final Auction Screen
