Buy-buy Michael Jackson
In death, there is retail life.
Michael Jackson was an icon, so, somewhere along the way, there will be those who will want to capitalize on his passing.
Drifting through eBay's pages, one sees that many who seem to be bowing their heads in respect may actually be stooping to fairly venal lows.
Take the staggering swiftness of enterprising seller JanisK56, who put a lovely item of memorabilia up for sale Thursday, just before it was confirmed by TMZ that Jackson was no more.
This seller offered, as a one-day special, a 2003 People magazine cover featuring the singer.
(Credit:
CC Asim Bijarani)
Did the cover feature a triumphant world tour? Or perhaps a family reunion? Not quite. The headline is "Did he do it?" and it features an eight-page analysis of child molestation allegations.
"Will Others Come Forward?" asks the cover. Which is what I was wondering when considering who else would want to sell such mindlessly inappropriate memorabilia to people who might be fans. At the time of writing, the leading bid for this cover is $11.50. Which might strike some as $12 too much.
If that doesn't make you feel a touch queasy, several sellers are attempting to capitalize on pristine editions of yesterday's New York Times. Some, like AFlowerandagun, even add lines to remind you why you should spend cash to buy this paper.
"This is a historic day," declares AFlowerandagun's subhead. But is it really so historic and moving a day that you can't help but try to make $15.50 (the leading bid as I write) on a copy of a newspaper?
Then there's Erickdigger, a seller who is offering a "Michael Jackson life mask." Yes, not a death mask, a life mask.
The seller explains: "This started with an actual life cast mask of Michael Jackson. Then it has been sculpturaly (sic) enhanced by me Erick Erickson.The Hair, ears and eyebrows have been added to create a very lifelike display." And he concludes: "It's like having Jacko right there with you."
The price for Jacko's life mask is $44.99.
I fully understand that many people around the world are moved by Jackson's death. But to write a line like "It's like having Jacko there with you" seems tantalizingly insensitive.
Then again, how might fans feel about the "Michael Jackson Poseable Doll"? This seller, Deathcall47 (really) is offering a Jackson doll from the 1980s still in its box. Deathcall47 leaves a note, so that you can be clear what he is feeling.
"1984 MICHAEL JACKSON POSEABLE DOLL A MUST HAVE FOR ANY JACKSON FAN. SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT HIS DEATH. THIS IS A VERY HOT ITEM FOR ANY FAN," he begins. And he concludes with: "YOU WONT BE SORRY WHO KNOW'S (sic) WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE WORTH."
The leading bid at the time of writing is $250. I wonder if it's a fan or a mere capitalist.
Jackson's death is extremely sad. But isn't there also something a little sad about people who hear about his death and think they can make a few random bucks from it, regardless of what it is they have to sell? All the sellers I have mentioned put the items up for sale either Thursday or Friday.
Of course, one shouldn't be surprised. But one can only hope that fans, in their grief, will distinguish between the valuable, the sincere, the opportunistic and the utterly callous.
It would be interesting to hear what fans might think of the eBay seller named cadzdaman.
He is offering the domain name MJ-IS-DEAD.com.
At least his message is very straightforward: "Domain name to inform those of Michael's tragic death, or can be resold for a profit."
Indeed. The leading bid as of Friday 12:52 p.m. PDT was $0.99.
Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing. He brings an irreverent, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic voice to the tech world. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. 
My apologies. The People magazine is from 2003. I have made the correction. Thank you for pointing this out.
Chris
It is true, there are really sad people on this world who try to make profit out of everything.
This also shows that the world is about money, only about money.
If those people even had a little bit of respect for Michael Jackson then they could have at least waited a bit longer, before trying to make a profit.
We in the Netherlands have this saying:
"De een zijn dood is een ander zijn brood." If you literally translate this it means: "One's dead is somebody else his bread".
It means something like that some people have advantage of somebody else his disadvantage.
To bad in this case you can almost mean it literally.
i doubt it had much, if anything, to do with market capitalization....
Actually, I'm surprised that they've already got hour long specials about him!
So what if it's predictable. DId you really think a celebrity like Michael Jackson could die and the world not take notice? The response is no less predictable then the flood of people who come out to either bash or praise any given situation. You're fitting right in with the rest of the predictable behaviour.
Moms...your kids are safer now that he is dead. Good riddance.
I just would like to take the time out to pay my respects to a musical genius who has inspired us with his amazing gift of song and dance. I have been a major fan of the King of Pop since I was a child. Memorizing his lyrics and dance moves and performing them at church concerts when I was younger. Michael's dedication to his craft redefined music and the music video art form, influenced many of today's popular performers. Whether its Usher, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Celine Dion, Rihanna and so many others. I remember a description of Michael when I was young as a man with planetary effects. In some way, Michael was a part of our lives and losing him I am sure for many is devastating as losing a loved one. Although I may not have gotten the chance to meet him in person, I feel like I have met him threw his many songs and performances. I asked my brother once, suppose Michael died, what would happen? My brother replied, "it would be a sad day around the world". That day has unfortunately arrived, but let us cherish the gift he gave us, music.
http://www.captunes.com/top-rated/top-100-albums-today
http://www.captunes.com/top-rated/top-100-music-videos-today
So what the heck does everybody cry about?
And I AM interested in finding out what the big deal is.
Several articles and threads? Actually, only two.
i ALREADY OWN MICHAELJACKSONISDEADS.COM IN FACT IF YOUR DO A SEARCH you will find out i bought this domain name 4 years ago..I told all my friends he wouldnt live 5 more years. ive had over 200 emails since he died, some offers to buy it, others congratulating me on a great idea and forsight, and still others hated me and made death threats but the top offer is 18000. im holding till friday at 8 pm for the top offer then it is sold
- by kamoako1 July 1, 2009 7:35 AM PDT
- Too many people are sick in the head - and you thought Michael Jackson was the only wierd one.
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