One Day In. eBay PS3 Pre-Order Sales Blight Gamers
An issue set to sting early adopters again
Whether you think those picking up launch hardware are simple capitalists or opportunistic scum, the market in early-release gaming hardware is alive and well. One day after PlayStation 3 pre-orders went on open release at one major US chain, the allocation is depleted and eBay is alive with offers of day one hardware.
SPOnG's US office contacted over 40 GameStop and Electronics Boutique stores throughout the country. There were none available as of lunchtime yesterday. And it would appear a great deal will end up on eBay, with gamers looking to play next-generation games taking a back seat to those looking to turn a quick profit.
At time of press, pre-orders with receipt evidence are commonplace on auction sites, with bids already hitting the $1,000 mark. One listing we were impressed with included the offer of a hand-delivered PlayStation 3 on launch day to a US airport of your choice.
The price? A speculative at best $10,000.
Many other auctions are cropping up at the time of going to press. One of the latest tells the sorry story of of how the allocation was divided. "I waited in line at gamestop this morning (10/06/2006) and i am the number one person on the pre-sale list which means i am guranteeda [sic] PS3 on november 17th 2006. I have 4 pre-orders in and I am guranteed ALL of them that day." Great. This character's skinny bitten fingers are pictures to the right of this text. We've also included a picture of a hammer so you can imagine smashing in his greedy and worryingly clean digits.
So, buying up launch hardware in order to turn a profit... Acceptable practice or opportunistic evil? Let us know your thoughts below.
SPOnG's US office contacted over 40 GameStop and Electronics Boutique stores throughout the country. There were none available as of lunchtime yesterday. And it would appear a great deal will end up on eBay, with gamers looking to play next-generation games taking a back seat to those looking to turn a quick profit.
At time of press, pre-orders with receipt evidence are commonplace on auction sites, with bids already hitting the $1,000 mark. One listing we were impressed with included the offer of a hand-delivered PlayStation 3 on launch day to a US airport of your choice.
I have 1 unit reserved for the day it comes out with Gamestop. I am the second person on the list so I will get it the morning it comes out no questions. If you buy this item I will fly out the morning it comes out to the nearest airport you like and deliver your new Playstation 3!! This auction includes the PS3 my ticket round trip to your desired destination in United States only. Since I will be flying out I will require a $500 deposit within 72 hours of auction ending. Check my feedback and see that I am seriouse. My last auction ended for 30,000 and have positive feedback! Upon deposit of $500 I will send you a copy of my itenirary that I will by flying out to your location so you can be assured that I will be delivering the unit.
The price? A speculative at best $10,000.
Many other auctions are cropping up at the time of going to press. One of the latest tells the sorry story of of how the allocation was divided. "I waited in line at gamestop this morning (10/06/2006) and i am the number one person on the pre-sale list which means i am guranteeda [sic] PS3 on november 17th 2006. I have 4 pre-orders in and I am guranteed ALL of them that day." Great. This character's skinny bitten fingers are pictures to the right of this text. We've also included a picture of a hammer so you can imagine smashing in his greedy and worryingly clean digits.
So, buying up launch hardware in order to turn a profit... Acceptable practice or opportunistic evil? Let us know your thoughts below.
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
Dreadknux 11 Oct 2006 09:14
1/9
Isn't it a little bit horrific that this guy managed to get a hold of FOUR pre-orders in the first place? The whole pre-order system seems corrupt enough to encourage this kind of behaviour.
realvictory 11 Oct 2006 10:52
2/9
What's all the fuss about? Just buy a Wii, an XBox 360 or a PS2 instead - or all three, for that price!
In fact,you could probably get an HDTV to go with it too, or a new sofa!
In fact,you could probably get an HDTV to go with it too, or a new sofa!
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king skins 11 Oct 2006 11:23
3/9
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
Isn't it a little bit horrific that this guy managed to get a hold of FOUR pre-orders in the first place? The whole pre-order system seems corrupt enough to encourage this kind of behaviour.
Not really that hard though is it? Just go to four different shops.
Unless Sony setup a unified pre-order system then you are never going to stop this.
YenRug 11 Oct 2006 12:53
4/9
Such a shame, the auction's been pulled.
vault 13 12 Oct 2006 04:09
5/9
$10,000 /= (does not equal) not standing outside for a few hours on preorder day!
I would love to condemn said people, but I myself as well as you all have (most likely) certainly milked the system or whatever slang you want to use. Taken advantage of special sales, haggled with salesmen for better deals on products, made money off the less saavy. I've been guilty of it. I don't think it's fair to get mad at a schemer making money just because it intrudes on our favorite hobby. Scheming is what the country was based upon.
Okay somebody please kick the soapbox from which I stand.
I would love to condemn said people, but I myself as well as you all have (most likely) certainly milked the system or whatever slang you want to use. Taken advantage of special sales, haggled with salesmen for better deals on products, made money off the less saavy. I've been guilty of it. I don't think it's fair to get mad at a schemer making money just because it intrudes on our favorite hobby. Scheming is what the country was based upon.
Okay somebody please kick the soapbox from which I stand.
Dreadknux 12 Oct 2006 07:17
6/9
vault 13 wrote:
Taken advantage of special sales, haggled with salesmen for better deals on products, made money off the less saavy.
Haggling with salesmen for better deals isn't quite the same as hoarding items of limited quantity and charging extortionate prices to dupe desperate gamers that should - by rights - have their preorder already set. I wouldn't know, but I'm assuming most people's idea of 'making money off the less savvy' doesn't come quite as close to this either. :P
Not that I'm a disgruntled pre-orderer or anything. Wii all the way. But I don't suppose Sony would have put in place a unified system, considering all the buzz its generated for its PS3 (despite its backwards marketing). That would have been far too sensible. Now you're going to get consumers pissed at Sony/Gamestop/Whoever because they aren't able to obtain one.
PreciousRoi 12 Oct 2006 11:48
7/9
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
...hoarding items of limited quantity and charging extortionate prices...
Sounds like a successful buisness plan to me...
tyrion 12 Oct 2006 12:07
8/9
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
But I don't suppose Sony would have put in place a unified system, considering all the buzz its generated for its PS3 (despite its backwards marketing). That would have been far too sensible.
The unified system that SCEE put in place for the PS2 launch worked quite well. However, there is less chance of eBaying and exporting in Europe since we always get the bloody things last!
vault 13 13 Oct 2006 03:13
9/9
tyrion wrote:
The unified system that SCEE put in place for the PS2 launch worked quite well. However, there is less chance of eBaying and exporting in Europe since we always get the bloody things last!
Except for the fact that Sony halved their numbers around September/October and we (Electronics Boutique) have to phone half the list of preorders and tell them they weren't getting them the launch day. That may have been partly EBs fault for jumping on presales early, but then who could blame them when everyone else was doing it early too.