Scalpers Are Struggling To Resell the PlayStation 5 Pro Because It's in Stock at Most Retailers 28
Scalpers attempting to profit from Sony's new PlayStation 5 Pro are struggling to sell units above retail price, as widespread availability dampens resale prospects. The $699 console, launched this week with enhanced graphics capabilities, remains in stock at major retailers across the United States and Europe. eBay listings show PS5 Pro units selling below the manufacturer's suggested retail price, with some auctions starting at $640.
While isolated listings reach $2,300, most hover near retail value. UK scalpers face similar challenges, offering units at or below the $900 retail price. Even in Sony's home market of Japan, where availability is tighter, resellers on Mercari barely break even after platform fees and shipping costs. The situation marks a sharp contrast to the original PS5's 2020 launch, when widespread shortages led to significant markups. Only the console's external disc drive, priced at $79.99, commands premiums up to $130 on secondary markets.
While isolated listings reach $2,300, most hover near retail value. UK scalpers face similar challenges, offering units at or below the $900 retail price. Even in Sony's home market of Japan, where availability is tighter, resellers on Mercari barely break even after platform fees and shipping costs. The situation marks a sharp contrast to the original PS5's 2020 launch, when widespread shortages led to significant markups. Only the console's external disc drive, priced at $79.99, commands premiums up to $130 on secondary markets.
Obligatory ... (Score:5, Funny)
... HA-ha [tenor.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Scalpers are scum (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
It's easier to get a quick buck if you go hunting in the forest during buck hunting season.
RIP Above-MSRP (Score:2)
Ah, nothing says fiscal recovery quite like a market unable to push consumer crapware above MSRP.
Wait until Black Friday hardly represents its fiscal namesake by December, and they start cutting prices further just in time for Christmas despera, er I mean season.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
I think you're reading into this way too much when the more simple explanation is that the PS5 Pro is perceived as a poor value and that there aren't enough customers who want to buy one at the $700 MSRP much less at a price above that. Had it been priced at $500 or had more demand among consumers, then you could expect to see people paying the scalpers markup. Trying to tie this to some larger point about financial recovery comes off as misguided to me.
Its hardly misguided or even unexpected when this kind of new-console-release scalping crap has literally turned into tradition.
Yes. We can tie it to the bigger picture of fiscal conservatism. Otherwise explain why this aftermarket console re-sell tradition is quite dead. Along with the above-MSRP car market. Hell yes it needed to die. Not everything needs to be hawked, sold, re-sold, and scalped as some kind of “limited” availability no matter what COVID supply chains taught Greed.
Re: (Score:2)
Otherwise explain why this aftermarket console re-sell tradition is quite dead.
A supply and demand surplus
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Why would I need a PS5 Pro? I already have a PS5, and PS5 Pro barely adds anything.
PS5 Pro actually takes something away, namely a built-in optical drive. So a user pays more up front for the console, and then another 80 bucks after the fact if he or she needs a drive. So I'm with the folks who think the Pro is rather pointless.
We're gonna need a smaller violin... (Score:5, Funny)
We're gonna need IBM scientists to fashion a tiny violin out of Zenon atoms.
Re: (Score:2)
No, we don't have to feel sorry at all.
For now... Re:We're gonna need a smaller violin... (Score:1)
... this artistic rendering [reddit.com] and this working-but-not-microscopic micronium [gizmodo.com] will have to do for now.
Re: (Score:3)
"fashion a tiny violin out of Zenon atoms."
There is an element called Xenon but since its a noble gas, you're not going to make anything out of it.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Oh no. (Score:2)
Oh no.
fuck humans (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
BTC sellers are eating well right now. Unlike console scalpers.
Good. (Score:3)
This is what it's going to take for scalper dipshits to stop hoarding launch supply and jacking up prices - actually having sufficient quantity of product available at launch rather than artificial scarcity.
I hope they all lose shitloads of money on their blind speculation and think twice next time.
Re: (Score:2)
This is what it's going to take for scalper dipshits to stop hoarding launch supply and jacking up prices - actually having sufficient quantity of product available at launch rather than artificial scarcity.
I hope they all lose shitloads of money on their blind speculation and think twice next time.
I'd wager that it's more a case of the PS5 Pro not selling. The demand for an overpriced minor update to a console just isn't there.
Re: (Score:2)
More like an overpriced minor update to a console that just isn't selling too well anymore - PS4 sales are still robust and most people have trouble justifying a PS5 - there aren't many PS5 exclusives and most don't provide tremendous update value.
A lot of people are sticking with the PS4 - they were hoping the PS5 Pro would push PS5 prices down so they can go out and buy a PS5
Re: (Score:2)
I hope they all lose shitloads of money on their blind speculation and think twice next time.
They won't. They will return the consoles to the retailers they ordered from before the return window closes.
FTW (Score:3)
disk drives for the FTW, o wait