Unfortunately in a free market economy, when money is at stake, scruples are the first thing to go right out the window. It has been scarcely a day since the Michael Jackson memorial event, and sellers are already hawking their memorial items on eBay. The organizers of the memorial had previously been cracking down on attempts to hawk tickets to the event, but now that the memorial is over, the floodgates appear to have opened.

Prices range from a few bucks for a photocopies of the memorial program to $20,000 to exercise the "buy it now" option for the entire authentic package, including wristband and tickets. I wonder how the fellow who sold a date with his girlfriend to the memorial for $8,000 feels about that.

Since eBay's shortest allowed interval for conventional online auctions is 24 hours, many of the first auctions are just starting to close at the time of the writing of this article, with the highest successful sale so far closing at $5,000. However, for the most devoted Jackson fans unwilling to part with their memorabilia, there may be no price to be placed on the experience of being a part of this event.

Images:

1. Closeup of the highest price demanded for MJ memorial items.

2. The $20,000 buy-it-now auction on eBay.

3. A cheaper option for photocopies of the memorial program.

4. The highest bid as of 1PM on July 8th is $710...

Related MJ iReports:

• Attending the Michael Jackson Memorial - Introduction

• Willy Wonka moment getting Jackson memorial tickets at Dodger Stadium

• Forest Lawn Drive closed to traffic for MJ funeral

• Getting to the MJ memorial at Staples Center

• We love you Michael

• The Staples Center opens to MJ fans

• What $1.4 million in taxpayer-funded security looks like in L.A.