Michael Jackson domain sells for $10million on eBay

[KenStrong]

Somebody's been holding on to InMemoryOfMichaelJackson.com -- and they wasted no time in putting it on eBay today:

IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL JACKSON .COM DOMAIN NAME DOT COM - eBay (item 180373715649 end time Jun-25-09 17:12:33 PDT)

It doesn't say when the auction started, but I think Jackson's death was announced around 3PM Pacific time -- the auction ended about 2 hours later when someone used the Buy It Now for $9,999,999.

(I wonder if it's a publicity stunt by someone -- because there are a bunch of other Michael Jackson domains on sale also, and none of them are selling for anything remotely close to 10 mil. Most of them don't have any bids at the moment.)

[rgenterprise]

Clearly it's a joke. No one's going to give him anything. What a shame profiting from someones death...The human race is so disgusting.

[Glenn Leader]

Originally Posted by rgenterprise

Clearly it's a joke. No one's going to give him anything. What a shame profiting from someones death...The human race is so disgusting.

Please don't tar us all with the same brush.

I remember when football (soccer) hooliganism was writhe in England.
When our national team was playing another national team, our so called
fans started to riot when the opposing team scored. A commentator
said he was ashamed to be British (not English you notice), I was (and
still am) proud to be British, and even prouder to be English, BUT I was
ashamed that those rioting idiots were English.

Glenn

[TLTheLiberator]

Any confirmation on the sale?

The mad rush is on to cash in.


TL

[Harry Behrens]

Oh my god... I can't believe that's real. Has to be a joke bid. The bidder is completely unfounded as well... no history no feedback etc...

[Uncle Dimitry]

Originally Posted by rgenterprise

The human race is so disgusting.

are you from Mars?

[Uncle Dimitry]

Originally Posted by hmbehrens

Oh my god... I can't believe that's real. Has to be a joke bid. The bidder is completely unfounded as well... no history no feedback etc...

looks like somebody just made a bid to close the thing off. Nobody is going to pay for it

[derekwong28]

The sale was a joke and the bid was a bigger joke. I am absolutely sure this won't go through.

[MikeAmbrosio]

Similar auctions happened after other "tragedies" and deaths.

People do that with no intention of buying just to get rid of the auction.

[ideasuniversity]

What if it was real?

[braver55b]

I'm just appalled that people are coming out of the woodwork to try to capitalize on Michael's Death.

I believe that that is just the tip of the iceberg. What's next T-shirts, shoes etc? this is just disgusting. I guess they need to strike while the iron is hot.

[talfighel]

It's is sad to hear of Michael's death. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Tal

[derekwong28]

Originally Posted by ideasuniversity

What if it was real?

Seller seems to accept PayPal only, oh really come on!

I am really sick all this junk, I have seen inmemoryof911.com listed for around the same price, perhaps by the same seller.

Look at the seller's last sale

23 Great DVD Movies Lot N/R Fast Shipping good shape!!! - eBay (item 180361836707 end time May-29-09 11:57:07 PDT)

It just doesn't look like the stuff that a mult-million domainer would be interested in selliing.

By the way, "Michael Jackson" is also trademarked.

[Revolves]

Obviously its a no sale. I do not understand why people people try registering such domains in the first place.
A plane crashes or a child is missing the next thing you know people have already registered those names and put them on sale. The lack of ethics and ignorance of domain laws is evident.

[Wakunahum]

My guess is that they are trying to get these news outlets to "bite" and report the domain being sold for 10 million without checking the facts therefore getting free publicity to make money off the free traffic this will create.

Again this is just said off the top of my head so I am very open to being wrong.

[IM Headlines]

It won't sell for $10 Mil... or at least it's highly unlikely. But, he can definitely find a crazy MJ fan & sell it to him for some good money....

[David.M]

That's what you call an Entrepreneur.

[Fruit&Veg]

Impossible. No media company would buy it, The ebay page only has 506 views.

But...unless the Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz the king of Saudi Arabia was a big fan.

[TLTheLiberator]

Originally Posted by braver55b

I'm just appalled that people are coming out of the woodwork to try to capitalize on Michael's Death.

I believe that that is just the tip of the iceberg. What's next T-shirts, shoes etc? this is just disgusting. I guess they need to strike while the iron is hot.

My daughter told me that she saw people on TV in t-shirts last night - already.

TL

[GeorgR.]

BULL***** Most pathetic domain name.

[warpri]

I have no words (Have but unable to write here) to acquaint these kinds of people, if it's a joke also

[Gregg Cleland]

I'm wondering what %age of the righteous responders above would say no if someone told then they could make $10m by buying a domain and sticking it on eBay.

0% I suspect.

[Josh Gould]

It's re-listed: IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL JACKSON .COM DOMAIN NAME DOT COM - eBay (item 180373952112 end time Jun-29-09 07:10:46 PDT)

The first buyer of the auction was unable to produce the funds. I have been absolutely flooded with email, and offers for this name. Never thought this would happen over a domain name.

Just so it's clear Ebay considers bidding or "buy it now" a binding contract.

I also have the right to take down the auction early, like I said emails and the demand on this domain is beyond my wildest expectations.

A Paypal Payment must be received within 24 hours.

[Tel]

Its a sad fact of life that bad news sells and the worse the news, the better it sells. This is not because people like to sell bad news, its because the consumer thrives on it.

It sucks, but it is what it is.

[TheFounding]

A domain such as that would take years to even make $10,000,000. So why buy it for that much? Clearly not happening.

[rapidscc]

I'm sad at what's happening..

But as a marketer..If I were asked how to handle that domain..here's what I could possibly do.

After Michael is buried..I would try to contact all of those who have an authority over the MJ estate...I would then ask if it is possible to build a memorial page for MJ. Materials will be composed of his memorabilia..from child to adulthood.

I would then contact label owners or maybe just amazon to supply products for the page. (Aside from music it may even include shirts, caps etc.)

Then I would ask partners if it's alright to donate 25% to a charity that MJ is supporting while still alive.

oMar

[Kay King]

My guess is that they are trying to get these news outlets to "bite" and report the domain being sold for 10 million without checking the facts therefore getting free publicity to make money off the free traffic this will create.

Looks like it worked if you read the title of this thread. Of course the whole thing is a sham but I'm sure twitter will be abuzz. This will be reported as "fact" again and again by people who "heard it".

For those who think it might be true, wait a few days and look at completed domain sales on ebay....

The domain was registered Thursday and I'm sure by late Friday domain registrars had done a brisk business in MJ names.

kay

[Tel]

I'm surprised no one's jumped in with a conspiracy theory type explanation for all this...

How about this for size:

MJ not really dead but holed up in Brazil with a bunch of other dead but not really dead stars (Elvis, Bob Marley, George Harrison and Robert Maxwell are having a barbecue while Lord Lucan rides around on Shergar...) and he's buying up domain names with his name in to make a killing. He wouldn't have to worry about trademark infringement...

[tschlotter]

Originally Posted by Tel

I'm surprised no one's jumped in with a conspiracy theory type explanation for all this...

How about this for size:

MJ not really dead but holed up in Brazil with a bunch of other dead but not really dead stars (Elvis, Bob Marley, George Harrison and Robert Maxwell are having a barbecue while Lord Lucan rides around on Shergar...) and he's buying up domain names with his name in to make a killing. He wouldn't have to worry about trademark infringement...

Exactly - Jim Morrison is probably hanging out with them too - I've always thought he was still out there somewhere!!

[Tel]

Originally Posted by tschlotter

Exactly - Jim Morrison is probably hanging out with them too - I've always thought he was still out there somewhere!!

Ha! Probably driving Luciano Pavarotti and David Carradine crazy with his poems!

[Chaz Foxx]

Wow that's ridiculously smart, I although I'm wandering why even start the bid at one 1mil, Anyways as entertaining as this gets time to get back to work. And in my eyes this is not Sad this is life the man had a good life, and accomplished more in his 50 years of living than most will ever.

[moneymaker154]

let him rest in peace

[Charles Montgomery]

I'll play Devil's Advocate here.

Michael Jackson made his money from the general public. If it wasnt for us buying his stuff, he would never have been Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson is a brand. No different from GMC or GE. Since he himself is a brand, there is no reason people shouldnt make money off that brand.

Think of the brands in the past that have went under. People still make money from them.

So many people want to become famous today. Just look at the rash of "reality tv " shows out there. One of the downsides to fame is, your life is open to the public. And if you become a brand, people will make money off of you - while you are living and when you are dead. The Michael Jackson brand is no different than the Heinz brand of catsup.

[knucks2]

Obviously a pile of crap. But interesting on how fast things hit the internet and it goes viral. Don't worry there will be more to come.

[Imran Naseem]

Originally Posted by Charles Montgomery

I'll play Devil's Advocate here.

Michael Jackson made his money from the general public. If it wasnt for us buying his stuff, he would never have been Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson is a brand. No different from GMC or GE. Since he himself is a brand, there is no reason people shouldnt make money off that brand.

Think of the brands in the past that have went under. People still make money from them.

So many people want to become famous today. Just look at the rash of "reality tv " shows out there. One of the downsides to fame is, your life is open to the public. And if you become a brand, people will make money off of you - while you are living and when you are dead. The Michael Jackson brand is no different than the Heinz brand of catsup.

He made his own brand.

His product i.e. the music was unique and was great.
The media built his brand.

The people made his brand, true..but only because of the influence of the media, and his product and his unique style.

All added together

[Jagged]

eBay canceled it...no longer listed....

Originally Posted by David.M

That's what you call an Entrepreneur.

The real Entrepreneur is the 12 yr old kid selling .50 bottled water to the mass of MJ worshipers for $5.00 a wack...

[scottty64]

ya gotta wonder sometimes what people are thinking when they do stuff like that..glad ebay cancelled the listing

[Tony X]

I can't believe so many people are looking at this as "people are making money off of Michael Jackson's death". They're making money off of his legend.

Look in your city's (regions) obituary. Find the first name and try to register the domain name for it. How much do you think it's worth?

Practically no one is searching for those people. They're searching for people who are famous.

There's nothing wrong with making money off someone like Michael Jackson or Farrah Fawcett. We're marketers. Entrepreneurs.

I agree that there's a 'right way' and a 'wrong way' to make money off of this situation.

But dang yall, it seems like when someone takes advantage of a situation, everyone gets their panties in a bunch.

The same was true for the swine flu...

[Craig.Michaels]

"When I die hopefully someone will register a domain for me"
- Craig Michaels

[Pete Egeler]

Head on over to eBay and pick up a new Michael Jackson domain!

Prices range anywhere from a few thousand dollars for MJ related sites, to as much as $10-Million bucks!

Some folks are just plain dreamers! Michael Jackson, great deals on Web Domains Services, Desktop Laptop Accessories on eBay!

Pete

[Pete Egeler]

You missed it by a few Million, Ken. It "reportedly" sold for $1-Million Buy-It-Now.

But, there are still plenty available at $1-$10-million of you want to snatch one up!

Pete

Originally Posted by KenStrong

Somebody's been holding on to InMemoryOfMichaelJackson.com -- and they wasted no time in putting it on eBay today:

IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL JACKSON .COM DOMAIN NAME DOT COM - eBay (item 180373715649 end time Jun-25-09 17:12:33 PDT)

It doesn't say when the auction started, but I think Jackson's death was announced around 3PM Pacific time -- the auction ended about 2 hours later when someone used the Buy It Now for $9,999,999.

(I wonder if it's a publicity stunt by someone -- because there are a bunch of other Michael Jackson domains on sale also, and none of them are selling for anything remotely close to 10 mil. Most of them don't have any bids at the moment.)

[hunty]

No matter what tradegy occurs you will always get the bloodsuckers coming out to feed in their hordes.
But fairplay to the kid selling water.
Truly an up and coming Entrepreneur,and Future Warrior Forum Member!!!!

[Don Schenk]

Originally Posted by rgenterprise

Clearly it's a joke. No one's going to give him anything. What a shame profiting from someones death...The human race is so disgusting.

Wait a minute. I am part of the human race, and I am not disgusting. Are you part of the human race? Are you not disgusting too?

:-Don

[Tom Brite]

All this domain selling from his death got me kinda interested.

So i did some research and the old saying of 'not following the crowd' is more than true in this sense.

Basicly there are 3 groups selling MJ related domains.

The Dreamers -> Listing them at buy it now or best offer and with 4+ figures

The Followers -> Buying domains similar to the dreamers but listing them at $1 to $10 auction style

The True Business People -> Listing Domains unlike the two above... these are ones saying MJ's death is fake... and are getting over $200!

http://cgi.ebay.com/MICHAEL-JACKSONS-FAKE-DEATH-COM-WEBSITE-DOMAIN-NAME_W0QQitemZ380134013603QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item5881c0baa3&_trksid=p3286.c0 .m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1205|240 %3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

Thought it was an interesting observation!

Tom Brite

[hunty]

Originally Posted by funky_budha

Can we just all lol about this?

As you wish....LOL

[The Article Master]

I was lol from moment I saw the first post. 10 Million dollars? How would you even go about making the payment securely?

[JamesPenn]

I'll probably get slated for this, but why is this so unethical?

Who is it harming?

A few days ago the only thing on TV was "In Memory Of Michael Jackson" type programmes. The TV channels did this so that they would get higher ratings and therefore be able to charge more for advertising, and therefore MAKE MORE MONEY.

Is that not what business is about? Latching on to hot topics and monetizing them?

There are obviously exceptions and some marketers do cross the line, but in this instance I don't see how this is harming anyone.

James

[Lee McKenna]

Its a joke no one would pay that even for michaeljackson.com
I think its a shame people would try and profit from his death. Ive seen internet marketers on youtube putting videos up saying R.I.P Michael Jackson BUT STILL putting there URL in just trying to get traffic. It will not be targeted so I dont know why they bother.

[patricialin]

Lol! if inmemoryofmichaeljackson.com goes for close to 10 million.. then won't michaeljackson.com or .net be going for tens/hundreds of millions of dollars then? maybe I should consider getting michaeljackson.name.

[Pete Egeler]

I'm betting that chances of the "miners" getting millions for their domains is slim & none, and Slim just left town!

Pete