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M.U.S.C.L.E. Prices On the Rise?


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#1 Guest_tarmogoyf_*

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 08:18 AM

Hello all,

 

It has been traditional public knowledge for years now that the status quo for M.U.S.C.L.E. pricing has been $0.50 for Fleshies and $0.75 for color figures when buying lots on Ebay.  I've noticed that the prices seem to be getting considerably higher on Ebay over the past two or three months.  It seems like most lots of good condition figures are closing at much closer to or above $1 per figure.

 

I'm a set collector so I buy a lot of lots and end up relotting much of what I can't use and I've noticed that almost every lot that I've sold in the past three months has gone higher than $1 per figure, regardless of whether it is all flesh, all color, or mixed.  

 

I've only been a serious M.U.S.C.L.E. collector for about three and a half years but this is the longest period of sustained high prices on Ebay lots that I've seen to date.  

 

So, my question to some of the longer standing community members is:  Is this just something that happens from time to time or has the price to acquire figures actually gone up?

 

Another thing that I've noticed is that every BIN price on an eBay lot tends to put figures at around $1.5 to $2 each.  Four figures for $8, eight figures for $15 etc.  Ebay is also chock full of $3-$4 BIN prices for individual figures.  I get that these high price BIN auctions tend to not sell quickly and some don't seem to ever sell, but perhaps that has effected the perception of what the prices are in some way.

 

Also, have noticed a trend where a lot of auctions basically start the figures at close to or at $1 per figure.  For instance, a lot of 12 figures with an opening bid of $9.99 and $3 shipping or something.

 

It also seems like there haven't been as many new M.U.S.C.L.E. auctions going up lately.  I don't know if other fans / collectors have noticed that as well but perhaps that could be a reason for the rise in lot prices per figure.  That would also make sense:  more collectors fighting / bidding on less lots is just basic supply and demand.

 

The last little nugget I wanted to throw out there is has the collecting community for M.U.S.C.L.E. grown considerably over the past 6 months?  I've only been on the boards here for a couple of years so I don't really know how the trends play out like some of the adepts do, but maybe that is part of the equation as well.  One little factoid that could be spun to support this idea that the M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting hobby has been picking up steam is that I've noticed pretty uniformly that Flesh lots now seem to command a premium price over color or mixed lots.  The first major achievement is M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting has always been a flesh set, so perhaps it is a large number of new collectors all bidding on figures for flesh sets?

 

Just wanted to share that observation and see what some of the other serious M.U.S.C.L.E. heads have to say about what has been going on with lot prices latley.  

 

Cheers, Brian.

 

 


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#2 bigburty

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 08:52 AM

From an Englishman's point of view, I tend to see flesh lots sell for more than mixed colour lots, but I'm focussing on eBay UK, which obviously distort things somewhat. As there are less MUSCLE collectors over here, lots tend to go for a premium at times due to a small number of people wanting what comes up over here, rather than having to pay shipping fees from America or Canada. For me personally, I completed my 236 flesh set by buying on here rather than eBay, but it's still one of my eBay saved searches and I'm shocked at the MUSCLE lots that sell sometimes and the final price they achieve.
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#3 plasticfiend

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 09:17 AM

Only commenting on the increases on flesh prices...

I remember when I was little not liking the colors as much. And I've heard that I am in the minority on this... But I felt like they were a rehash and what I really wanted were more figures! New designs!

When I first joined the board, and started learning about what average prices went for (I had no idea in the beginning and instead was starry-eyed at some of the crazy prices I was seeing on Ebay) I learned that on average 50-75 cent for flesh and $1 on color (with exceptions in each category of course).

I have noticed them climbing in prices as well... And it just makes me wonder if people felt like me when they were younger, and perhaps for pure nostalgia reasons they are trying to complete that flesh set.

OR it is simply MUCH less daunting to complete a flesh set than a master color set. So people are tackling that one first, perhaps?

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#4 Guest_tarmogoyf_*

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 09:35 AM

@PF :  That is a really good point!  If people approach MUSCLE collecting from a completist point of view and assume that a Master Color Set is impossible, whereas a Flesh set is very reasonable perhaps that would have an impact.  Why bother collecting color figures when finding all of the rare A figures is basically impossible?  I know a lot of people who "collect" tend to have a very completist attitude and ambition about what they collect -- so, collecting something that is almost 100% to never be 100% complete is kind of unappealing.

 

I also agree that when people think of MUSCLE figures the first thing that comes to mind is a bunch of Flesh figures and not the color ones.  So maybe they just have a lot more appeal to nostagia collectors?  


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#5 jkaris

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 09:53 AM

It's a cycle. It happens every time you get a new batch of collectors every 3-4 years. Although with the way the dollar has declined in the last decade, I won't be surprised if $1 per is the new low at some point.

As far as flesh sets going for more than mixed color sets, that has generally been the case. People want a flesh set and if they can get it in one fell swoop, they will pay a premium.
Not so much for color sets. Color figures get crazy when you get to Class A's though due to supply/demand and people finishing their trek towards a master set and being willing to pay through the nose for their last handful of figures.

But yeah, it's a cycle with this line. If you dig a bit deeper there are a ton of threads on this subject over the last 10+ years here.
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#6 plasticfiend

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 10:40 AM

 

I also agree that when people think of MUSCLE figures the first thing that comes to mind is a bunch of Flesh figures and not the color ones.  So maybe they just have a lot more appeal to nostagia collectors?  

 

 

Perhaps!!

 

I do know it's a lot less fun for me to look at lots on Ebay right now... because they are getting past my point of what I'm willing to pay.  And I'm not buying much of anything right now either way, but it is still fun to look.

 

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#7 TheRiddler

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 10:55 AM

It's a cycle. It happens every time you get a new batch of collectors every 3-4 years. Although with the way the dollar has declined in the last decade, I won't be surprised if $1 per is the new low at some point.

As far as flesh sets going for more than mixed color sets, that has generally been the case. People want a flesh set and if they can get it in one fell swoop, they will pay a premium.
Not so much for color sets. Color figures get crazy when you get to Class A's though due to supply/demand and people finishing their trek towards a master set and being willing to pay through the nose for their last handful of figures.

But yeah, it's a cycle with this line. If you dig a bit deeper there are a ton of threads on this subject over the last 10+ years here.

BINGO!!


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#8 Phaedrus

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 02:25 PM

It's a depressing trend for me, a new collector :( I hear these phenomenal stories about swap-meets and private trades. People getting flesh figures for a quarter each, and it's certainly infuriating. When I'm seeing them at about .60 cents on the lower end. 


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#9 TheRiddler

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 02:34 PM

It's a depressing trend for me, a new collector :( I hear these phenomenal stories about swap-meets and private trades. People getting flesh figures for a quarter each, and it's certainly infuriating. When I'm seeing them at about .60 cents on the lower end. 

The key is patience....you can still find figures for as little as .25 each in lots......i have put together almost full flesh sets minus SC for under 80 bucks...and honestly if you buy cheap lots and do some trading/selling, you could probably finish a set for next to nothing..


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#10 retroworldkorea

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Posted 29 May 2015 - 04:16 PM

This is something that happens in all pop culture related collecting. I remember even in Korea being able to pick up a Korean version SNES or NES version games for under 5 bucks. Now, they are $20 at the cheapest. If we are talking about the rare carts, then like triple that. 

BUT, with a rise in prices means a rise in the amount of stuff being sold. So things may be slightly more expensive, but there are tons more auctions and people trying to sell stuff, which means the chances of figures you need popping up goes up. 

Again, in Korea, the scene for collecting old toys is not so big. So prices, depending on the franchise, are pretty cheap, but there are also very very few places to look for stuff. 

 


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#11 SubwayRats

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Posted 30 May 2015 - 07:17 AM

The prices on eBay have always been a flux in my opinion. I think the best way to go for all collectors new/old is hunting in the communities on the net, garage sales, swap meets, conventions, etc... Maybe I'm stubborn but I agree with what had been said earlier in this thread; patience is key. Finding muscles on the cheap and fair priced will always be found. Flesh seems to always be more popular in my region with the colored sometimes cheaper or less sought after. Any time I've seen guys sell their colors for way more at their tables tend to lower prices next time around cause no one looks twice at them. Of course this doesn't reflect the rare ones. I've seen bootlegs in higher demand for some reason around me recently. Ah the ebb and flow of muscle collecting
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#12 harkback

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 12:01 PM

This is all interesting stuff to hear - as someone who just recently returned to collecting.  Like baloon SPECIALIST! I always liked the flesh ones as a kid, and find myself returning to complete that set first. 

 

I was going to part with my multicoloured figures, but maybe I'll hold onto them until I've finished the first set.  This might become addictive!


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#13 jkaris

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Posted 25 June 2015 - 03:20 PM

I was going to part with my multicoloured figures, but maybe I'll hold onto them until I've finished the first set.  This might become addictive!

You're from Canada so chances are some of your colored figures are worth a bit. You definitely want to hold onto them for a while.
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#14 iwao

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 10:25 AM

You're from Canada so chances are some of your colored figures are worth a bit. You definitely want to hold onto them for a while.

 

Except for this guy in light blue

muscle-figure-023-flesh.jpg

 

He can send that to me if he has it.


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#15 harkback

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Posted 26 June 2015 - 05:07 PM

Except for this guy in light blue

muscle-figure-023-flesh.jpg

 

He can send that to me if he has it.

Well....since I have six of them, I *guess* I could part with one.  Maybe. 

 

Seriously, though, for some reason that guy (in flesh) was always one of my favourites. 


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#16 TinyRubberRobot

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 06:38 AM

I'm new to the forums and to collecting M.u.s.c.l.e so this might be obvious to everyone but there are some figures on eBay for over $1k,is that a real thing?
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#17 Strontium Dog

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 07:09 AM

Probably, but the seller is a known scam artist and troll, so take it with a pinch of salt.


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#18 TinyPink

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 08:12 AM

Probably, but the seller is a known scam artist and troll, so take it with a pinch of salt.

 

I actually prefer my troll fricasseed, and with several pinches of salt.

 

Yeah, not sure about the $1000 Muscle, but as the old adage goes, "There's a sucker born every minute".   Maybe every second, since the advent of the internet.    I've got a bunch of spares, got anything to trade?


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#19 Sixthwizard

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 08:48 AM

Purple Claws have sold for around $200 all the way over $1000- Just depends on whose pockets are deeper most of the time.  

Flesh Super Rares have sold for around $1000- some even way more.


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#20 Guest_tarmogoyf_*

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 09:26 AM

Wizard is right:  The one on eBay is way over priced.  I would expect most of the time 153P would sell for somewhere in the $300-$600 range.  That particular seller's claw has been on eBay at that price with no bites for several months now.  Nobody is going to buy it or his other A Class figures for those ridiculous prices.

 

I've had a lot of interest lately from new M.U.S.C.L.E. collectors wanting to trade for flesh figures.  A lot of what I was reading before is that Color figures tend to be more valuable than Flesh figures (typically $.50 for Flesh and $0.75 for Color).  I think it is now more or less reversed and that the Flesh figures tend to be a little bit more valuable (and certainly more popular) than the color ones.  Excluding, of course Color Class A figures.  Maybe that is what skewed the average price before?  Random auctions that went for more money but was inflated because of a Class A figure or two in the bunch.  From what I've observed I would for sure assume a lot of 25 random Flesh figures would end with a higher price than 25 random C class color figures.

 

Another thing that I've noticed is that there are a lot less new auctions going up on eBay now than there were say a year ago.  And, it also seems as though a much higher percentage of MUSCLE items start with an opening bid / BIN at +$1 per figure than ever.   Though I may get 500 results when I search for MUSCLES, honestly 95% of my results are "unbuyable" because they are either garbage figures, lots with outrageous starting prices (22 figures BIN $35.99 + $5.50 shipping) or just an absolute slew of individual common figures marked for between $3-5 each shipped.


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#21 Neverwhere

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 11:24 AM

As a new collector, I'm laughing at many of these ebay auctions. I'd like to know how these people think they're going to sell a common figure for $5. I saw one in which the seller was selling 5 common ones for $5.99 and there was paint or marker all over them. Comical.
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#22 Sixthwizard

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 11:57 AM

Have you seen the seller selling pink crack?


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#23 Strontium Dog

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Posted 07 July 2015 - 12:13 PM

Wizard is right:  The one on eBay is way over priced.  I would expect most of the time 153P would sell for somewhere in the $300-$600 range.  That particular seller's claw has been on eBay at that price with no bites for several months now.  Nobody is going to buy it or his other A Class figures for those ridiculous prices.

 

I don't think that particular seller has any intention of selling those figures. It's just his way of flaunting his collection now that he's been banned from every minifigure forum on Earth.


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#24 plasticfiend

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 09:14 AM

I don't think that particular seller has any intention of selling those figures. It's just his way of flaunting his collection now that he's been banned from every minifigure forum on Earth.


Actually if you look at the sold items... I think the Pink Crack guy has sold 6 or 7 of those common flesh auctions.

PF
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#25 Sixthwizard

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Posted 08 July 2015 - 10:38 AM

Maybe to his friends that are high too!  haha....


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