Beyoncé called out for selling an 'empty box' for eye-watering price
Beyoncé has come under fire for the staggering price tag of her latest merchandise drop, with shocked fans dubbing it ‘absurd’.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of her second album B’Day, which was also her 45th birthday, on Friday (4 September), the pop superstar treated her fans to a brand new collection of exclusive collectible items.
Among them was a wooden crate, meant for storing vinyls, which is retailing on the singer’s official website for a whopping £712 ($962.32).
The item’s description explains that it’s a limited edition ‘collector’s box’ is one of only 500 in the world.
Advert
It’s ‘inspired by the beauty of traditional beekeeper crates’ and ‘designed to house and display your Beyoncé vinyl collection’.
The description continues: “Handcrafted from solid pine wood, finished with beeswax oil, lined in deep green velvet, and fitted with a faux gator-skin leather carrying strap with gold hardware, each box features custom engraved details and is exclusively numbered 1/500, making this an essential piece of art for the hive.”
However, despite their love for Queen Bey, fans have been left staggered by the eye-watering price, with many pointing out that for that cost, it should at least include a few vinyls thrown in there too.
One astounded X user penned: “Beyoncé is charging $950 for an empty wooden crate,” in a social media post that’s racked up more than a million views.
While a second demanded: “Should’ve came with a vinyl of each album for that price AT LEAST.”
A third wrote: “And the beyhive gone pay they $1k for it too, talm bout collectibles. But gas is $5 a gallon and she charging $900 for a wooden box is absurd!!”
A fourth agreed: “If it came with the whole discography for that price PERIOD but NO VINYL?!?!”
And a fifth outraged fan chimed in with: “If this is real she is really losing the plot no shade… a wooden box with absolutely nothing inside… for 950?
“Mam, the material to make this is not even over 100 bucks. People are not stupid my god. With a whole discography vinyls? Yeah price would slightly justify.”
Meanwhile, a sixth added: “I thought it had albums inside when I realised it was empty. This was so out of touch and ridiculous of her. I cant support that. Thats just taking advantage of people.”
However, someone else defended the singer, pointing out: “It’s called memorabilia which will be worth waaaaaaay more when she’s no longer here. Especially since only 500 were made. Only 500 people in the world will have those.”
A second agreed: “This is for the hardcore fans who have the deluxe edition of every album on vinyl already.”
Also in the new collection is a B’Day limited edition, deluxe version, anniversary vinyl for £113 ($152.73), and a zip hoodie for the same price.
There is a cheaper £32 vinyl if you don’t mind it not being the limited-edition, deluxe version, as well as a variety of different bundles, CDs, and even a B’Day candle, also for £32 ($43.25).
Tyla has reached out to a representative for Beyoncé for comment.
Topics: Beyonce, Celebrity, Entertainment, Music, Money, Social Media
Madison Burgess