Resellers have been a real problem at the PS5 launch this time around, and their problem is growing ever larger. Shops seem helpless, as one particularly blatant example shows.
A reseller group on Discord consisting of 12 men was able to according to own statements Apparently, 3.500 PS5 consoles were pre-ordered, and some are now appearing on eBay at inflated prices. This is due to an organized effort to acquire as many PS5 consoles as possible. The profit from this is likely to be in the millions.
In a statement, the group claims to have secured nearly 2.500 PS5 consoles, plus another 1.000 or so from the initial pre-order phase. They assert that they knew exactly where to go before the pre-orders were even announced. Apparently, they used bots that systematically scanned and accessed the stores before regular users even had a chance.
The group has been around for a while and charges extra for access to this service. This is intended to make it easier for members to pre-order sought-after products. Apparently, there are also internal competitions to see who can generate the most profit from their resales.
It all started months ago, initially focusing on sneakers, but then more and more hard-to-find products were added. The group is fine with this and wants to continue operating their business model in this way.
PS5 boxes are being auctioned on eBay.
Meanwhile, a brazen trend is emerging on eBay, where PS5 boxes are being auctioned for $600 and more. This is often only apparent from the description, although this tactic isn't entirely new. In such cases, the auction should be reported immediately, as this violates eBay's terms and conditions.
If you've already fallen victim to this scam, you can usually claim the offer was mislabeled and withdraw from the contract. The auction title must clearly state that it's only for the box and not the console itself.
When the PS5 pre-order again The situation is currently completely unclear. Retailers expect supply shortages to continue into next year.
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