Can anyone explain this to me?

[WuhersStall]

Saw this auction and couldn't figure out why it went so high. Seems almost double what past sales have brought. With 4 different bidders over GBP500 it seems legit, too.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAR-WARS-VINTAGE-FIGURE-BLUE-SNAGGLETOOTH-1978-HK-AFA-U85-not-UKG-/171904227978?hash=item28064a5a8a&nma=true&si=IipF1PpS3uTyJsn28UUK1IHPc6E%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

[Jez]

Two things, the first one being the winning bidder and those who bid it up are dicks.
This is a U graded figure.
Secondly i've seen plenty of AFA 70 and 75s, a couple of 80s but never a flawless 85. Hence the bidders.
The reason it is in such a great condition is because it has been ripped from its baggie to be entombed in acrylic.
A pathetic and depressing facet of our hobby.
Sad sad sad

 

[sparkysx]

Why not just grade it in the baggie?

 

[WuhersStall]

Secondly i've seen plenty of AFA 70 and 75s, a couple of 80s but never a flawless 85. Hence the bidders.

There is an old listing still viewable on ebay for an AFA 85 Blue Snag. It was listed at $699 but ended to a best offer.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Kenner-Star-Wars-Sears-Exclusive-Blue-Snaggletooth-AFA-85-HK-/111692207923?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1a015fd733&nma=true&si=IipF1PpS3uTyJsn28UUK1IHPc6E%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

So are U-graded figures in more demand than Loose? I would imagine it's much tougher to find a Loose AFA 85 than a U-85? The Loose had to survive naked in the elements all these years.

Not surprisingly, another AFA 85 just got listed 5 hours or so ago so we'll see if this is a trend or a one-time deal.

Arthur