Taylor Swift fans slam merchandise costs

Fans of Taylor Swift are finding it tough to shake off the cost-of-living crisis after their pop idol dropped her new range of souvenirs.

Swifties are finding it tough to shake off the cost-of-living crisis after their pop idol dropped her 1989 (Taylor’s Version) merchandise range on her official store on the weekend.

Fans flooded social media over the weekend bemoaning the cost of the souvenirs.

As the pop phenomenon enters her Billions Era, a Seagull Crewneck cost a whopping $139.89 and had sold out within 24 hours.

Taylor Swift performs during her Eras Tour at Sofi stadium in Inglewood, California. Picture: AFP

Other hoodies, crewnecks and pink sweatpants in the Australian store cost $114.89 while T-shirts ranged from $79.89 to $59.89.

The most expensive item in the 1989 (Taylor’s Version) merch range was a blanket costing $164.89 while a corduroy tote bag was for sale for $69.89.

Fans flooded social media over the weekend bemoaning the cost of the souvenirs.

its so silly how swifties are finally realizing that taylor swifts merch is soooo overpriced and how all merch is overpriced. you can honestly make the merch cheaper yourself.

— kaitlyn (@kaitlyn_xe) October 7, 2023

Taylor swift i love you but these merch prices are actually insane :(

— esceii (@esceii) October 6, 2023

Taylor swift my love we gotta talk about these merch prices 😭

— tina narvaez jr (@TinaNarvaezJr) October 6, 2023

i LOVE taylor swift with every single vein of my body.
but what is up with the pricing of her merch ????? that’s pure exploitation

(im an econ minor and i know exactly what’s up with the pricing of her merch 😭😭😭)

— bibi in her getaway car (@ursogorrrgeous) October 7, 2023

Most of the items on sale also include a “digital album”, while a vinyl copy of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is selling for $69.89 and a cassette edition for $33.89.

A committed Australian Swifty lucky enough to score a ticket to one of her seven Eras Tour concerts next February has made a considerable investment in Taylor Inc over the past few months.

The average price of her non-VIP tickets was estimated to be $213, a premium Lux ticket to see her Eras Tour concert film is $44, the Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) released in July has 3LP coloured vinyl versions available for $80 and 1989 (Taylor’s Version) will be released on October 27.

And there’s more merch to come at the cinema for the Eras Tour concert film screenings including limited edition popcorn boxes.

TAYLOR’S WEAPON TO CRUSH BARBIE BONANZA

Swift’s Eras Tour film could rival Barbie at the cinema box office with a whopping $150 million in global ticket pre-sales more than a week before its screen debut.

American film distributor AMC reports Swifties have set a new record for a concert film, with the Eras Tour movie booked to screen in 8500 cinemas in 100 countries from October 13.

The 165-minutes film of the highlights of the massive live production, which will arrive in Australian stadiums next February, is also projected to generate between $157 million and $196 million in the US alone on its opening weekend.

Fan demand for tickets to the Margot Robbie cinema smash Barbie generated pre-sales worth more than $117 million in the US alone according to studio distributor Warner.

Barbie’s box office takings breached $1.5 billion globally after 17 days of release.

Swift’s Eras Tours film will break box office records for music movies. Picture: AFP.

AMC Entertainment, who have negotiated with movie houses around the world for the Eras Tour film, said it took less than 24 hours for the concert movie to “shatter AMC’s U.S. record for the highest ticket-sales revenue during a single day in AMC’s 103-year history.”

In Australia, the Hoyts Group reported more than $300,000 worth of tickets had been snapped up at Hoyts cinemas alone in just 12 hours which tripled the first-day pre-sales for Avatar: The Way of Water last year.

Local cinema operators are calling Swift’s Eras Tour film a “mini-Barbie”, and while it may not eclipse the Greta Gerwig-directed box office phenomenon for total takings, it will break records for a concert.

Could Swift be the next Margot Robbie in terms of Hollywood power? Picture: Supplied.

And Swift will bank a huge percentage of its takings as the film, captured over at three shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, was produced by her own Taylor Swift Productions.

Justin Bieber has held the record for the highest grossing concert film since 2011 with Never Say Never generating more than $155 million at the box office.

At No. 2 is the 2008 film Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert generating $111 million in worldwide ticket sales.

One Direction’s This Is Us movie took more than $107 million at the global box office in 2013.

As of this week, the Eras Tour film is scheduled to run on 15 dates from October 13 to November 4 in Australia with multiple screenings each day from Thursdays to Sundays.