UPDATE: Sold for US$55.
Yesterday I posted a sample of a Kenner ALIEN toy almost complete condition and listed on eBay at a decent price. Today, we head in an opposite direction and investigate a near derelict figure for which too much is being asked. Let’s take a look at this broken down fellow, the vendor is asking US$125.00 but is open to offers.
This particular sample of the Kenner toy is missing many of its parts, so an assessment will be quick. Let’s take a closer look. Present for sale here is the head, tail, both torso halves and both legs plus the screws in its back. Both legs appear to be in good condition, unbroken and free of buckles. That’s a good thing. The tail is attached to the torso and is complete for its entire length including the end tip which is sometimes broken off. That’s welcome news, too. The Quad dorsal appendages are all straight and properly aligned. Nice as that means no internal damage to the part is present. So far so good. Now let’s check out the remaining 3 parts.
Starting with the head, it’s obviously in a poor state. It’s not only missing the dome and tongue pieces but the jaw is permanently in the open position. This could be caused by one of several problems ranging from missing springs in trigger system to any form of damage along the jaw activation chain. This piece is in seriously poor condition. Also damaged is the rear torso half. As the crest in the figure’s back is missing, the characteristic damage to the edges of the slot are observable on this piece. Attempting to return a replacement crest to this location will result in it forever falling out (unless fixed in place by other means). The front torso appears to be OK. As this is one of the most sturdy pieces of the toy and located at its center, it’s generally the most common piece in good condition. The only unknowns regarding the torso halves are the presence or breakage of 4 small pins inside each of the shoulders that keep the arms from collapsing into the torso when held in place.
Substantially incomplete figures like this one usually sell for between US$50-US$100. Asking US$125 is definitely outside the range this item would normally be listed for. If you want some of the parts for rebuilding/restoration of another figure, then the tail, legs, and various torso parts are in reasonably good shape. They frequently sell individually on eBay for varying prices ranging from US$10-$20 per piece. Sometimes a little more depending on the piece. The head is near useless unless the damage can be identified and repaired – that’s too much of an unknown here to value it accordingly but the general condition of the head other than that is not good. It’s probably worth about US$20. The set of 4 screws might pull US$10, if you’re lucky. So, stripped down and sold as individual parts would gain the seller around US$125 but in this derelict condition and as an assembled whole with half its parts missing, the figure’s value is not quite there.
As to what would make this figure worth this? For US$125, I’d expect both arms to be present – either attached or otherwise loose – and included in the listing.
-Windebieste.
