PS5 And Xbox Series X Scalpers Are Charging A Big Premium

erek

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"While Ebay's unsold listings show people still asking up to $10,000 for the new consoles, the sold listings show most people aren't willing to pay too much more than $1000 for the resold consoles. The fact that people are paying scalpers' inflated prices shows how much demand there is for the next-gen consoles.

It appears Amazon isn't currently allowing third-party sellers to list PS5s for sale, likely to cut down on the kind of price-gouging that's taking place on Ebay. If you want to try your hand at getting a next-gen console without paying an inflated price for it, check out our PS5 buying guide or Xbox Series X and S guide."


https://www.gamespot.com/articles/p...pers-are-charging-a-big-premium/1100-6484472/
 
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I'm surprised people are surprised. It's almost a tradition now. A console launches. Scalpers scalp. News agencies report it. Six months later everyone can get the console in the store.

Maybe video game companies should try to launch in May or June instead of holiday season.
 
I'm surprised people are surprised. It's almost a tradition now. A console launches. Scalpers scalp. News agencies report it. Six months later everyone can get the console in the store.

Maybe video game companies should try to launch in May or June instead of holiday season.
Has it always been this bad? I never really followed launches that closely before, but it seems like this year has been especially terrible.
 
I'm surprised people are surprised. It's almost a tradition now. A console launches. Scalpers scalp. News agencies report it. Six months later everyone can get the console in the store.

Maybe video game companies should try to launch in May or June instead of holiday season.
Holiday season launch have been so good to them.

Or, why I'm happy I got a PS5 at official pricing with no bundles. How impatient do you have to be that you're willing to pay thousands just to avoid waiting a few weeks?
There is a bit of that, but I imagine there is also some divorce being in serious gift battle fighting for children love around Christmas going on as well.
 
Its true.. I sold my spare PS5 for $1099. 950-1100 seems to be the sweet spot.. The Xbox is only going for about 850ish... so definitely more demands the PS5.
 
What I want to know is the ones that sold for 1k how much of that was taken by ebay for their fees?
 
scalping has gotten so bad its crazy lol. One of my buddies messaged me on facebook for recommendations how he can set up a computer as a bot just to buy electronics online lol. I was like i don't know and never done that before. I am sure I could do it if I really wanted to but I ain't got time for that shit. I mean if I went broke tomorrow and had to sell it sure, I would love the profit but I am not going to buy it just to sell it though.

He sold his seriex x for 800. It was on facebook lol. Someone bought it.
 
Has it always been this bad? I never really followed launches that closely before, but it seems like this year has been especially terrible.

Yeah...kinda. What made the difference was that you could physically reserve a machine at a local store. Going back to the 32/64 bit days you would have a long window to reserve a system. There was a limited number on launch day, but it was also partially distributed based on number of reservations or so I was told. I remember having no trouble getting a reservation for Dreamcast, PS2, or GameCube.

But that was the last console gen that didn't have much visible scalping. eBay was on the rise.

It was around the Xbox 360 / PS3 time that you had a larger push for scalpers. People were reserving systems online or through multiple people. The consoles were hard to get. Same with the Wii. You would see them on eBay for $1000 or more. I remember some poor guy paid that much for just a box for a PS3.

Gaming has just become more and more popular since that time. Now with bots and the total lack of in-person reservations, as well as stores not knowing when and how many they will be shipped, it's just a free-for-all crapshoot.
 
thank you. Yeah seems to be a decent profit then, I just dont think i could do that. The risk of not selling something and me being out time and money just isnt worth it.
The demand is so incredibly high that these consoles are a sure thing. If you can get one, you can almost double your money. That's why it's exploding out of control. if I had the money and skills (bot programming or whatever) to buy 50 for myself to scalp, I'd do it too. And if anyone got angry with me about it, I'd tell them to pound sand and tell Sony/MS and the retailers to put even the tiniest bit of effort into creating a system that can cut most scalpers out of the picture.

But that's a moot point... I only have enough to buy one, and that's for me because I actually want it. ;)
 
The demand is so incredibly high that these consoles are a sure thing. If you can get one, you can almost double your money. That's why it's exploding out of control.
but you obviously you are not taking my luck into account. I could match all numbers on a lottery ticket and still lose.
 
but you obviously you are not taking my luck into account. I could match all numbers on a lottery ticket and still lose.
I think that fear logic work for says 5950 or 3900's, but for console you can probably still have a nice amount for them and not lose that much even if you sell them christmas 2021, they will not drop in price anytime soon.
 
I'm up $1500 from the 5 xbox consoles i sold last week. Usually make $1000-2000 every console launch
I’m glad I have a real job. Time equals money for me. Not to mention the effort. But for someone who’s time is worth it to them to scalp, congrats.
 
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Has it always been this bad? I never really followed launches that closely before, but it seems like this year has been especially terrible.
I don't think it was this bad before. I think I preordered a PS4 from the Sony store and it was a painless process. I wasn't intending to buy one right away anyways, but I'm definitely just going to wait. lol
 
I'm up $1500 from the 5 xbox consoles i sold last week. Usually make $1000-2000 every console launch

Sounds like you name fits you.
I hate people like you I have been ignoring the Facebook marketplace along with Craigslist because of the scalpers.
I also hate the people who use the "Free" section for their make offer listings and the title usually says "NOT FREE Make offer" last I heard if you want money it is not free.

I can see the "old" days when you had to wait in line in the hot/cold & rain/snow for an item you actually did work so it is fair to ask a $50-$75 markup however a pre-order (or internet order) is no work on the scalpers part so they have no right to command the $500 (or more as I am seeing now) markup.
 
Sorry, but people are stupid. Why pay these inflated prices? All so you can brag about OMG! i got a new console!!! I am so special! look at me!

Well, look at everyone else who waited and saved $500...
 
I've helped a pair of friends buy 3 systems each, although they're actually giving them to their families for Christmas. Lame ;)
 
Has it always been this bad? I never really followed launches that closely before, but it seems like this year has been especially terrible.
Yes.

PS4 getting scalpers on ebay

https://www.nbcnews.com/technolog/e...rate-turn-sold-out-gaming-consoles-2D11603680

Nintendo Wii Scalpers on Ebay

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2007/12/exclusive-retail-chain-scalping-wii-allotment-on-ebay/

PS2 scaplers ask for $1000 on Ebay

https://buffalonews.com/news/playst...cle_0dbf15a5-9b20-5cd8-8c06-d663b24d0206.html



You used to have to "know somebody" to get first-dibs at stock or be the retailer themselves, but bots have made this an Everyman game. But this shit has been happening for two decades.

If your Console release lacks demand, then there is no run on stock by scalpers. One example would be the PS3.

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2006/12/6406/

But, if you are in-demand, scalpers won't give-iup while there is still money to be made. I had to wait 2 years after launch to find a Wii at my local store at MSRP.
 
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Scalpers scalp because people pay them. Stop paying them. Stop buying from anyone other than a legit seller at MSRP or below. I won't buy a new console from anyone other than an authorized retailer. Warranty, etc. would be legit. I don't trust others that may have swapped consoles, etc.. Used? Fine. New? No way.
 
Sorry, but people are stupid. Why pay these inflated prices? All so you can brag about OMG! i got a new console!!! I am so special! look at me!

Well, look at everyone else who waited and saved $500...

Look up FOMO and how it effects people. It has nothing to do with intelligence or anything like that, simply human nature and something we can’t change. The people buying are still at fault, of course, but it’s not as simple as them being stupid. Or, rather, all of us are “stupid” in some way and fall for this kind of thing from time to time.
 
Scalpers scalp because people pay them. Stop paying them. Stop buying from anyone other than a legit seller at MSRP or below.
Sadly the FOMO disease isn't curable until the age of 35+ even then, there are sporadic outbreaks.
 
How impatient do you have to be that you're willing to pay thousands just to avoid waiting a few weeks?
How many parents do you think wouldn't bat an eye at dropping an extra $500 to make sure their kids get *the* best Christmas present?
 
Sorry, but people are stupid. Why pay these inflated prices? All so you can brag about OMG! i got a new console!!! I am so special! look at me!

Well, look at everyone else who waited and saved $500...

I got my Xbox 360 in 2008 for $299 or $399 (Don't remember sorry) I got the 2008 holiday bundle
I got the original Xbox One in 2015 the Xbox One S came out like a month latter I was beyond pissed but that is the nature of the electronics game.
I will wait until the second revision (or 3rd etc) of the Xbox Series X (I can't live without my disc based media)


I've helped a pair of friends buy 3 systems each, although they're actually giving them to their families for Christmas. Lame ;)

Not lame the way it should have been done for your own personal use and not for making a profit of of it

Understatement of the year.

Yes I thought the new decade would be nice but 2020 turned into a shit fest of a year between the riots & the COVID thing that I am getting sick not from the COVID itself but from about hearing everyday & every minute/hour.
 
Yes I thought the new decade would be nice but 2020 turned into a shit fest of a year between the riots & the COVID thing that I am getting sick not from the COVID itself but from about hearing everyday & every minute/hour.
Not me, I remember watching the China virus emerge back in late November of 2019, I knew it would be a pandemic and a shit year. My advice, turn off the news & stop using social media (if you do). Its done wonders for me.

On topic though...Are their even any games worth getting on these new consoles that you can't get on the last generation that would justify the price? I haven't seen any.
 
You have to be kidding me. There are some seriously impatient fools out there with money to burn.

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