Scalping of ninth generation consoles
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All of this just works. ― Todd Howard |
This article needs cleanup to meet our rules and guidelines. You can help by editing it. The following reason has been specified: Because of the Xbox Series X having enough stocks (including USA), this is only referred prior of the 2022. Due to heavily focused on the PlayStation 5 console, the scalping continues on the PS5 despite the price inflation increase. |
The PlayStation 5 is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment as a successor of the PlayStation 4. It boasts a solid-state drive customized for high-speed data, improvements in storage performance, an AMD GPU capable of 4K resolution display at up to 120 frames per second, backward compatibility with many PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR games, and so much more. This console was well-received at launch with praise for its DualSense controller's improved haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Despite all this, it did had some scalpers roaming around while the PS5 was about to hit the market. The same thing also occurred with the Xbox Series X, but to a lesser extent.
Overview
The console itself was in a limited supply upon launch. This lead to scalpers going after the console and attempted to sell it for thousands of dollars. The scalpers are so widespread that it can cause the software sales for the consoles to struggle. These scalpers use tactics to acquire something that would sell like hotcakes put it up for sale for double, triple, or even quadruple the original price. This overall makes the consumer pay the exuberant price. Trying to put this console in your cart at launch can lead to an issue of the item in your cart disappearing before checking out all thanks to these scalpers. To make things worse, however, the scalpers use the bots not only to get the console but to also put it online for a bigger price as mentioned before. You should never buy from scalpers as they are there to make the consumer feel bad. It's used as a scam to get those who wanted a PlayStation 5 at launch and these types of scammers can easily be found on online websites such as eBay. There are even some stories involving the scalper getting a stolen console from unknown sources and gamers who did purchase from them only for them to find out in horror that Sony has banned that console from accessing the PSN Store due to it being reported stolen.
Aftermath
During the days when the scalpers were at bay just to get their hands on the PlayStation 5, UK MPs called for action against them. Another thing is that a PS5 Scalper group reveals that the scalpers are hunting down the console for attention and they actually did hunt down the Xbox Series X as well. Believe it or not, even a player pranked a scalper for selling a PlayStation 5.
And to make matters worse, an incident in the United Kingdom happened, where thieves stole PS5s from delivery trucks, making Amazon deal with various “missing” deliveries of PS5 consoles across the UK, as the packages have been long delayed or marked delivered when they haven’t been, plus the customers have reported everything from air fryers to cat food in shipments which were supposed to contain a new console, forcing Amazon to improve security at their warehouses and monitor drivers more closely. It doesn't help that even an Amazon driver stole one, causing the company to fire the driver.
Reaction
Both PlayStation and Xbox gamers are united in their frustration with scalpers scrounging up both consoles on many online retailers and charging ridiculous prices. Some gamers went as far as to boycott the ninth generation of consoles and stick with their eighth-gen consoles until the scalping came to an end.
As of August 30th, 2022, there are enough stocks for the Xbox Series X & S consoles for players to buy (worldwide such as Best Buy, Amazon (invitation only), Walmart, GameStop, Target and Costco).[1]
However, the PlayStation stock units retain shafted (worse in internationally in Europe, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Australia, Mexico, and Canada) and forced to look at restocks on the stores players wanted from (USA is not affected for $400 on Digital; $500 on Disc).[2]
See also
External Links
- Why you shouldn't buy a PS5 from a scalper online - Screen Rant
- The true price of a PlayStation 5 - The Verge
- PS5 software sales could be struggling because of scalpers - Gamespot
- Player goes viral after pranking scalper selling PlayStation 5 for $1200 - Dexerto
- PS5 scalper group member reportedly reveals that the group's claims are exaggerated for attention - PlayStation LifeStyle
- UK Politicians call for action against PS5 and Xbox Series scalpers - Video Games Chronicle
- UK gangs stole PS5s from delivery trucks - Sportskeeda
- Amazon driver fired for stealing PS5 - Screenrant