Price war over 7th book
Muggles spend £1,425 to recreate Harry Potter
Saturday, 21 Jul 2007 00:01
With the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series now in the shops, parents are counting the cost of their muggle children's fandom.
A devotion to Harry Potter can cost as much as £1,425, new research finds, with the seven books, five films and assorted extras quickly mounting up.
A full set of books costs £174, assuming parents have backed up a well-thumbed hard hardback copy with a second paperback edition.
Kitting out a muggle to pass muster for Hogwart's Academy can cost £113, with any self-respecting fan demanding a wand, robe, tie, glasses, pyjamas and broomstick.
Parents spend a further £68 transforming a bedroom into a Harry Potter shrine and the official games and toys add an additional £372 to the bill.
A family visit to the cinema will cost Harry Potter fans £189, plus a further £44 for the first four DVDs.
Martin Milliner of Liverpool Victoria, which conducted the research, said: "Harry Potter has proved hugely popular with children and adults alike, and as a result a fantastic franchise has built up around him.
"The real question is whether families can resist the hype or if pester power will see the total cost of being a fan spiral even higher this summer."
Parents can save some money, however, if they take advantage of the price war breaking out over the seventh Harry Potter book,
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.
Asda has promised to sell the book for as little as £5, while most retailers are offering it far below the recommended retail price of £17.99.