UPDATE: Sold for US$300 (2 bids)
Let’s take a look at another Kenner ALIEN toy for sale on eBay. This one is nearly complete and is just missing its dome. Aside from this issue of incompleteness, it’s a decent looking figure. Bidding starts at US$300. Or you can Buy now for US$390.
There’s nothing particularly outstanding about this US edition of the toy. All the parts are present minus the dome. The right arm can hold an elevated pose – that’s a good thing and uncommon on these old toys. It may even be considered suspicious. The left arm appears to be very loose as we can see a gap between the ball and socket joint making the black cavity of the interior of the figure beyond visible. It’s either a symptom of a loose neoprene anchor or a repair that hasn’t been 100% successful. Either way, it can be fixed.
The tail is good with its blunt tip in place, the figure stands straight without support and all the mouth pieces are present. While the vendor documenta looseness of the uppermost dorsal appendage, at least it’s there. There’s a lot to like about this item despite a thin layer of dust and minor head scuffs. Is it worth the starting bid price of US$300?
If this figure was clean, complete and the dome was present, maybe that would be the case; but with this prominent and critical body part absent, a more appropriate starting price would be US$150 – or less. Figures in similar condition to this sell for US$100 and upwards. The presence of the crest on the back will push up its worth – but it certainly doesn’t add US$200 to the value of the figure. Will it sell for US$300? Again, it depends on how badly someone wants it. It does look to be in an OK condition – just missing the dome.
Anyway, here’s the seller’s description for the listing, “Alien movie (1978) action figure that is slightly over 18 inches in height. The only piece missing is the smoked clear plastic headpiece. One back, center spine piece is loose but will hold in place if doll is not moved. Action figure by Kenner. Condition is Used. See close up photo of 1979 molded into jaw trigger for authenticity. White part on head still glows in the dark.” Like many things listed on eBay, details are a little dicy.
-Windebieste.
