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[3liteDragon]

A popular reseller site claims it’s now sold over 130,000 PS5 consoles | VGC

StockX says its US users sold the disc console for an average of $573…

www.videogameschronicle.com

StockX says its US users sold the disc console for an average of $573.

More than 130,000 PlayStation 5 consoles have now been resold on popular online marketplace StockX in the US, according to its internal data. StockX is an auction site launched in 2016, originally focused on sneakers but later expanding to electronics following the launch of next-gen consoles last November. In 2019, the company was valued at over $1 billion. According to the company, it’s now sold around 83,000 PlayStation 5 disc version consoles in the US, and around 55,000 digital edition machines, with an average sale price of $573 (disc) and $531 (digital). StockX previously claimed that around 60,000 PS5s were sold via its site in its launch month.

If accurate, StockX’s US console sales represent 1.66% of the 7.8 million PlayStation 5 consoles Sony says it has sold as of March 31, 2021.

However, the actual number of consoles resold is likely far higher. According to a launch analysis of auction site eBay, over 60,000 PlayStation 5 consoles had been sold on that platform in just its first month on sale.Like other games consoles and popular consumer electronics items, PlayStation 5 supplies have struggled to meet demand during pandemic social restrictions. Sony has reportedly told analysts that it expects PlayStation 5 consoles to be in short supply until next year, as the global shortage of hardware components hampers many industries including video games hardware.

According to Taiwanese business website DigiTimes, one way the corporation could cope with the demand is via a redesign of the PS5 hardware. With next-gen consoles still widely sold out globally, and most restocks selling out in minutes, re-seller groups have faced criticism for their role in exacerbating the shortages. In the UK, the government’s minister for digital and culture, Caroline Dinenage, confirmed in February that officials were even discussing a proposed bill that would make console scalping illegal.

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer said in November that he believed current console pre-order models were outdated and should be improved. In a bid to make the pre-order process less frustrating, Spencer said Microsoft had discussed giving customers the chance to put a deposit down and reserve a console with a guaranteed delivery date.

“We’ve had real discussions internally about, should I be able to reserve my slot? I’ll put some money down, I know my machine’s getting built January 20th, and I’ll get it on February 1st,” he said. “We have customers that would do that today.”

Id Software co-founder John Carmack has suggested that console and GPU manufacturers auction off their own products, in an effort to cut out scalpers.

 

[West Texas CEO]

People will do whatever they can in order to make a profit, regardless of how scrupulous it is. Whether it's something people need or want, as long as supply is limited there's people who will try to take everything and bleed every penny out of people.

I remember reading early on in the pandemic some guy hoarded tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff like hand sanitizer and disinfectant to try and sell for a massive mark up. He ended up having to "donate" it all as the courts were going to seize everything anyway and charge him for price gouging during an emergency or whatever it was.

I don't understand how this keeps happening and how websites/Sony allow this sort of behavior to continue. If they really cared about their consumers they'd implement some better counter-measures or some type of "waitlist", but the sad reality is that Sony and the websites are probably happy to see their stock continually and instantly deplete. "We're making money so screw the consumer" is probably why nothing has been done about this even though it's been ongoing for a little over 6 months.

 

[brian0057]

People will do whatever they can in order to make a profit, regardless of how scrupulous it is. Whether it's something people need or want, as long as supply is limited there's people who will try to take everything and bleed every penny out of people.

I remember reading early on in the pandemic some guy hoarded tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff like hand sanitizer and disinfectant to try and sell for a massive mark up. He ended up having to "donate" it all as the courts were going to seize everything anyway and charge him for price gouging during an emergency or whatever it was.

I don't understand how this keeps happening and how websites/Sony allow this sort of behavior to continue. If they really cared about their consumers they'd implement some better counter-measures or some type of "waitlist", but the sad reality is that Sony and the websites are probably happy to see their stock continually and instantly deplete. "We're making money so screw the consumer" is probably why nothing has been done about this even though it's been ongoing for a little over 6 months.

The best countermeassure is to allow companies and distributors to raise prices when there's a shortage. But they can't because that's illegal in over 30 states.
If scalpers had to compete with the manufacturer, the former will lose for the simple reason that the latter is the one making the product..
All in the name of "fairness" or because "it just feels wrong".

 

[trikster40]

I’m just shocked at how desperate people are for something that is truly unnecessary. The average is nearly double the original cost to buy a PS5. You’re that desperate for one that you basically pay for two? BTGO isn’t near as nice as BOGO.

 

[akaFullmetal]

 

[KungFucius]

People will do whatever they can in order to make a profit, regardless of how scrupulous it is. Whether it's something people need or want, as long as supply is limited there's people who will try to take everything and bleed every penny out of people.

I remember reading early on in the pandemic some guy hoarded tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff like hand sanitizer and disinfectant to try and sell for a massive mark up. He ended up having to "donate" it all as the courts were going to seize everything anyway and charge him for price gouging during an emergency or whatever it was.

I don't understand how this keeps happening and how websites/Sony allow this sort of behavior to continue. If they really cared about their consumers they'd implement some better counter-measures or some type of "waitlist", but the sad reality is that Sony and the websites are probably happy to see their stock continually and instantly deplete. "We're making money so screw the consumer" is probably why nothing has been done about this even though it's been ongoing for a little over 6 months.

This sort of behavior! FFS its just people flipping a very small % of the stock of an in demand item for a tiny profit to people who are willing to pay to avoid failing over and over again. It is not wrong or immoral and companies cannot control people. They are not screwing customers by allowing some customers to freely resell the product they acquired. This is less than 10% of what Sony can ship in a month sold over 6 months. It is not the reason you can't buy them, it is just a small scale shifting of consoles that maybe a few more people hammering F5 could have got that now went to people who gave up.

Demand >> Supply and chip constraints are the real problem and that is not really in anyone's control. So there is no villain to cry about, except maybe Covid.

 

[Rat Rage]

 

[lh032]

in other words, Sony still earn profits in the end LOL!!

 

[Freeman76]

Retailers could stop this if they cared enough, but they dont, so it will always be an issue. Wouldnt be hard to run a ticket system, a captcha code, application process etc etc, plenty of ways to combat scalper scripts. The fact is, retailers are getting paid, manufacturers are getting paid, so why would they care...

 

[Neff]

cunts

 

[ethomaz]

I estimate overall around 800k consoles were sold via scalpers.
Around 10% the shipment.

 

[prinz_valium]

I estimate overall around 800k consoles were sold via scalpers.
Around 10% the shipment.

Way more.

The third biggest marketplace in the US resold 4% of total US sales.

Add Ebay and Craigslist and your have between 15 and 20%

 

[Enjay]

Retailers could stop this if they cared enough, but they dont, so it will always be an issue. Wouldnt be hard to run a ticket system, a captcha code, application process etc etc, plenty of ways to combat scalper scripts. The fact is, retailers are getting paid, manufacturers are getting paid, so why would they care...

This. The only ones that will get burned in the end are people who actually paid for a ps5 when the whole catalog ends up crossgen and we get an even more obnoxious 60fps fanbase.

 

[John Wick]

It's a shame and Sony and it's partners should be doing more to stop these scalpers.
But then again I've still got my Nvidia GTX970 in my PC even though I've bought an upgrade card twice but always sold them before even installing into my PC. The profit was just too good

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Avg price only $573 for disc version? Scalpers making hardly anything.

 

[prinz_valium]

Avg price only $573 for disc version? Scalpers making hardly anything.

$130 (32% profit) on the digital edition
$70 (15% profit) on the disc version


Here in Europe you generally make more on the disk version

 

[supernova8]

I think Phil Spencer has a good idea in setting up a deposit system where you put a certain amount and get "in line" virtually. I suppose it wouldn't necessarily stop scalpers completely but:

(1) scalpers looking to make a quick buck will have to wait and therefore might be discouraged from even bothering
(2) it could give customer service/accounts an opportunity to spend a bit more time screening transactions (duplicate payment information, clearly made up names etc) so that they can catch would-be scalpers and just not let them buy a console at all
(3) I think a decent proportion of people who bought from scalpers did so because right now it feels like this inability to buy at retail will go on forever. It's the uncertainty that gets some people. I personally would be happier knowing my console will be ready in six months, just put my money down for it. They could implement a system where they give you 24 hours notice before deducting the outstanding amount, if you don't want it you can cancel and get your deposit back and the next person in line moves up one space.

Probably has its flaws but as many rightly point out, it takes two to tango. Dissuading people from buying from scalpers (by giving them a firm delivery date even if it's not immediate) is practically the same as dissuading scalpers.

 

[Jonny Rizzo]

Avg price only $573 for disc version? Scalpers making hardly anything.

Add an extra $200+ on that number, no one is selling a new PS5 barely above retail price these days.

 

[Mistershine.]

It's a toy, not a dialysis machine, you'll live without it. While it might suck to not have one it's not the end of the world, and if it is then you need to reevaluate your life.

 

[Stuart360]

To be fair, $73 extra isnt really a big jump. I dont blame people paying that bit extra in this case.

 

[Potato Chip PRO]

Folks, please have patience and don't buy WAY ABOVE RETAIL PRICE! I can understand if it's 50-80 bucks more but being 200 above and paying it just fuels the scalping problem in the future. It's your money but we all getting screwed at the same time.

 

[zcaa0g]

It's a toy, not a dialysis machine, you'll live without it. While it might suck to not have one it's not the end of the world, and if it is then you need to reevaluate your life.

Scalpers need to reevaluate their life. If they are that desperate for money, they have failed at life.

 

[Blond]

I’m just shocked at how desperate people are for something that is truly unnecessary. The average is nearly double the original cost to buy a PS5. You’re that desperate for one that you basically pay for two? BTGO isn’t near as nice as BOGO.

Stimmy Checks. My local game store has been buying stock and reselling them on OfferUp for 850 this whole time.

 

[Stuart360]

Scalpers need to reevaluate their life. If they are that desperate for money, they have failed at life.

Cant stand scalpers, but they are the ones making the money here.
Its like the cringy Hot Tub streamers on Twitch, cant stand then and think its pathetic, but who is worse, the hot tub streamer, or the simps giving them huge amounts of money and allowing them to do it?.

 

[ArtemisClydeFrog]

My local game store has been buying stock and reselling them on OfferUp for 850 this whole time.

That's toxic af. People need to stop paying scalpers, the systems aren't that hard to get if you put even a small amount of work in.

 

[Mistershine.]

Scalpers need to reevaluate their life. If they are that desperate for money, they have failed at life.

Indeed, nothing says failure like a big ol' pile o' cash.

 

[Blond]

That's toxic af. People need to stop paying scalpers, the systems aren't that hard to get if you put even a small amount of work in.

Facts, I’ve gotten 8 and resold them to friend’s at cost + 20 bucks.

 

[Putonahappyface]

I’m just shocked at how desperate people are for something that is truly unnecessary. The average is nearly double the original cost to buy a PS5. You’re that desperate for one that you basically pay for two? BTGO isn’t near as nice as BOGO.

Yep people can go bat shit crazy over the latest electronic toy. When I was younger I was the same, now older and slightly wiser I give less of a shit. I'd have happily waited for a ps5 to come back in to stock rather than pay two or three times the price to a scalper.

 

[trikster40]

Stimmy Checks. My local game store has been buying stock and reselling them on OfferUp for 850 this whole time.

Now that’s the scummiest move I’ve ever heard. Using their status as a game store with the privilege to buy direct, then screwing over their own customers to make an extra buck. Hope they lose every customer they have.

 

[mxbison]

I'd understand if people were so desperate because they can't wait to play all these insane next-gen games, but...

 

[reinking]

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer said in November that he believed current console pre-order models were outdated and should be improved. In a bid to make the pre-order process less frustrating, Spencer said Microsoft had discussed giving customers the chance to put a deposit down and reserve a console with a guaranteed delivery date.

“We’ve had real discussions internally about, should I be able to reserve my slot? I’ll put some money down, I know my machine’s getting built January 20th, and I’ll get it on February 1st,” he said. “We have customers that would do that today.”