Memphis Woman Pays $1200 for 'Thriller'

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Since his death, Michael Jackson memorabilia has been flying off the shelves and flooding the online market. Just this week, a Memphis woman paid big bucks for a single copy of the Michael Jackson album "Thriller" on Ebay.

Margaret Klein says, "What really shocked me is the amount of people that came to look at the auction, more than 18,000 visitors and that was more shocking than the money."

Margaret Klein's husband bought the album for $9.99 in 1982 and never opened it. The Illinois couple put it on Ebay the day Jackson died. A Memphis woman won the bid, paying $1,200 for the album.

Dan O'Brien, the general manager of Spin Street Music, has been monitoring online sales of Jackson related memorabilia.

"There's a lot of emotion in buying," O'Brien says. "2 weeks ago you could have got it for $200 but that's what I've seen on Ebay, things increased 200% to $300, just like that."

FOX13 tracked down the woman who bought the album but she didn't want to talk about the purchase. But the Better Business Bureau sent out a warning and others agree some Jackson memorabilia bought online are more sentimental than anything else.

Before Jackson's death there were around 300 Jackson-related items on Ebay, but by the morning following his death there were almost 20,000, including a Cheeto which supposedly predicted the death of the pop star.

The BBB issued a consumer alert Thursday saying that right now, Jackson-related collectibles are selling at a premium and most will not increase in value.

They also warn mass-produced commemorative items, like t-shirts and special edition magazines are not likely to appreciate since the value of collectibles is dependent on how rare an item is.

But an unopened "Thriller" album may prove to be different.

O'Brien says, "I couldn't say the lady could turn $1,200 to $2,400 in the next couple years but she could, possibly."

The Kleins say they didn't want to get rid of their Jackson memorabilia, but they fell on hard times.

Still, they say they'll always love the 'Man in the Mirror' and his moonwalk.

Klein says, "we're still fans, will always be fans."

We checked on Ebay Friday night and there were a couple of other "Thriller" albums listed. One un-opened album is currently at $300. Bidding ends Saturday.