Home Gaming Friday Debate – Are PS5 scalpers the worst?

Friday Debate – Are PS5 scalpers the worst?

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PS5-scalpers

This weekend, a bunch of you are going to have a good time. You’ve got your shiny new PS5 console, a library of games to port over to it, and maybe some new ones as well! Chances are that you were one of the lucky few who got Sony’s new console, which due to supply constraint problems, was only available in very limited stock.

Websites sold out within minutes when the PS5 went up for sale, and the second wave of consoles available to us were snatched up quicker than when the Flash realised that his Speed Force fart wasn’t a dry one. If you got one, well done! If you didn’t, sorry bud. More stock will be available soon, but it’s likely that you’ll have to wait until 2021 if you want a PS5.

There are alternatives though, as you can probably snap up one of those consoles from a private seller. Maybe that seller has buyer’s remorse, maybe something has happened where they need to raise some quick cash. Or maybe the dude on the Facebook marketplace managed to buy up all the stock that he could so that he could turn a quick profit.

Now granted, this isn’t illegal. There’s nothing stopping you from buying something and selling it an inflated price to some poor mark who has more cash than common sense. At the same time, scalpers are seen as the worst of the worst during a next-gen console launch. Some of them have grown increasingly sophisticated in buying all the stock of an item when its available, using bots and software to load their carts up and haul ass to the nearest checkout.

It ruins an experience that only comes once every few years, leaving other gamers empty-handed, and I’ve seen a LOT of this with the PS5. Just take a gander at eBay for example, where you can see people selling a new PS5 for double, triple or even five times the recommended retail price. There has been some karmic justice though, with police in Canada reporting that some of these reprobates have been robbed when attempting to offload their goods, but there is a better way to curtail this bad behavior: Don’t buy consoles at an exorbitant price.

PS5-scalpers1

I know that the technolust is there, but you can resist it. You can wait out the storm and grab a PS5 with a full warranty from a retail outlet when more stock arrives. Or better yet, a waiting game will likely result in these shallow resellers having to lower their own price to under the RRP when fresh stock arrives and they realise they have a mounting credit card debt to pay.

That’s just me though, and maybe I’m wearing my loudest socialist hat today and hating on late-stage capitalism a little too much. What do you think though? Are PS5 scalpers truly the worst?

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Critical Hit as an organisation.

Last Updated: November 20, 2020

36 Comments

  1. I don’t want to snitch or anything, but before I managed to secure my PS5, And boy am I conflicted, I have the corrupt database issue, I phoned Games4U. I spoke to one of their people and he told me that they didn’t have stock ( Obviously ) but he could refer me onto a person who would be willing to sell me a unit for a few extra grand. Considering that they are one of Sony’s official retailers for Pre-orders, I wonder how Sony would feel about that. Naturally, I told him no.

    Reply

  2. Jac7

    November 20, 2020 at 10:45

    For me it’s a two-way street – If you can make a buck, then good on you. If you’re willing to fork out that money, then good on you too. The people I really hate are those who buy something that is in limited supply only to smash it for shits, giggles and views. They deserve to burn in hell.

    Reply

    • Mandalorian Jim

      November 22, 2020 at 17:54

      There’s clearly a market for it, so I really can’t blame Billy Bob trying to sell a R11 000 console for R50 000 or R250 000. CriticalHit should rather focus on the weird individuals who would actually buy items at those ridiculous prices, when all it takes is being an adult, having some sense of self control and waiting a few weeks or months.

      Do you really need to be the first one to have a console? Is the motive purely to have a one up over your friends? And if that’s the case? Are you really the kind of friend that people should be friends with?

      Or are you just an enthusiast or a fan, and you have way too much cash on your hands? If that’s the case, maybe invest in local art. A decent R5000 work of art generally appreciates in value fairly nicely if the artist becomes well known.

      Reply

  3. Original Heretic

    November 20, 2020 at 11:20

    Fuckers! Burn ’em! On low heat!
    Make it slllllooooooow.

    Reply

  4. Mark Treloar

    November 20, 2020 at 11:21

    This is the kind of article I detest. You haven’t offered a balanced article based on trends for both consoles and the scalpers involved but rather decided to single one out. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/0d352f12ab8cfc87eb4f35ce4ddd9688b0460fbf687584832923506d43463224.jpg .

    Reply

    • RinceThis

      November 20, 2020 at 11:41

      You need to set your standards of what to detest way, way lower.

      Reply

      • Mark Treloar

        November 20, 2020 at 11:47

        No its clickbait and lazy

        Reply

        • Chris

          November 20, 2020 at 12:12

          The title said Ps5 scalpers and not console scalpers. So I don’t see the clickbait. You chose to click on the link knowing it was focused on Ps5.

          Reply

        • RinceThis

          November 20, 2020 at 12:34

          It literally says PS5 in the title. That isn’t click bait.

          Reply

    • The D

      November 20, 2020 at 11:55

      Xbox Series X stock, while still in short supply, is still more readily available when compared to the PS5. Sony’s new console has just released and is thus the more relevant topic to discuss right now.

      But if it helps, I do agree that scalpers on both console sides are terrible.

      Reply

      • Mark Treloar

        November 20, 2020 at 14:03

        Sure but it would have been better if you presented that is a more balanced article

        Reply

        • The D

          November 20, 2020 at 14:04

          Like I said, the XSX isn’t the topic of discussion here, the PS5 is. With it having sold out within literal minutes when the wave 2 stock was made available, it’s a more pressing topic to discuss.

          Reply

    • SagatatiaRZA

      November 20, 2020 at 15:14

      Mark, did you know you don’t have to be here? Like legit you do nothing but complain. Stop stomping on the vibes, the rest of us love it here. Maybe submit articles if you have ideas.

      Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      November 20, 2020 at 21:24

      This is not an article, it’s a debate… How many PS5’s did you steal from kids?

      Reply

      • Mark Treloar

        November 20, 2020 at 21:25

        No consoles from anyone

        Reply

    • Mandalorian Jim

      November 22, 2020 at 17:53

      Imagine being that guy who buys an xbox series X for nearly a quarter million rand. I want to be the guy who knows that guy, just so that I can laugh at him.

      Reply

  5. RinceThis

    November 20, 2020 at 11:41

    I saw a writer from another site who posted that he had made $50 off a few that he had ‘arranged’ for his mates… His excuse was that he had go to the trouble of arranging for the things… Basically he ordered a bunch, managed to get a few, and then made a small profit off it. Is that as bad as scalping? I don’t think so. But it sure as hell isn’t cool for the people who ACTAULLY tried to buy a console.

    Reply

    • justlikemo

      November 20, 2020 at 11:47

      Everything within reason, that’s honesty and that’s his right.

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        November 20, 2020 at 12:39

        The issue I have is that he admitted that his mates didn’t even try and buy one. I understand why you would attempt to buy one from multiple sites, it gives you a greater chance of then acquiring one. But then cancel the extras, don’t make $50 bucks off your mates because of your ‘admin’ (clicking BUY is a BS reason to charge anyone $50 more)

        Reply

        • Skyblue

          November 20, 2020 at 14:04

          Especially your mates. You don’t charge your friends for doing them a solid.

          Reply

          • disgusting1

            November 21, 2020 at 23:29

            Depends on the friend, hehe.

  6. justlikemo

    November 20, 2020 at 11:55

    Everything wiithin a means, religion depicts that, you allowed to add a markup for what you deem is fair, certainly not 3 and 4 times the price.

    Reply

  7. Insomnia is fun

    November 20, 2020 at 12:19

    All scalpers are the worst, it should be illegal.

    Reply

  8. BurninZ

    November 20, 2020 at 12:34

    I don’t understand how buying large quantities of music concert, sport events and other similar practices to resale a product at exorbitant prices is illegal but this is not. Does not seem right. But like you say, sense should prevail and wait a month and get yours at the standard price. My problem is that sensible people will wait and people who are not, will find a way to get the extra money to buy it. So it is essentially people who are susceptible to irrational behavior (or just wealthy…. cause it is not cheap at the original price) that will fork out this amount of extra money instead of waiting a few weeks. I don’t like the practice of scalping at all…just my 2c

    Reply

    • SagatatiaRZA

      November 20, 2020 at 15:32

      It worries me that people do find the money and do exactly this. I am ridiculously irresponsible with my money and a very impulsive buyer and I don’t even considering buying from a scalper. So I cant imagine what these people are like with their budgets in general. Scary stuff.

      Reply

      • crimsonhead

        November 22, 2020 at 14:50

        Lol are you me?? This perspective is EXACTLY mine. I’m very blessed that I have a good paying job and I blow my money on all kinds of dumb stuff (single, no kids, one $3k condo mortgage payment) but I just can’t get myself to pay a scalper.like, morally, I just can’t do it

        Reply

  9. MechMachine

    November 20, 2020 at 12:49

    In a word……Yes.

    Reply

  10. MechMachine

    November 20, 2020 at 12:57

    I don’t want to snitch or anything, but before I managed to secure my PS5, And boy am I conflicted, I have the corrupt database issue, I phoned Games4U. I spoke to one of their people and he told me that they didn’t have stock ( Obviously ) but he could refer me onto a person who would be willing to sell me a unit for a few extra grand. Considering that they are one of Sony’s official retailers for Pre-orders, I wonder how Sony would feel about that. Naturally, I told him no.

    Reply

  11. SagatatiaRZA

    November 20, 2020 at 15:14

    Ruining other people’s fun for profit. Yes, I deeply detest them. Third pre-order chance I couldn’t grab one and it took 6 seconds to sell out today. 2 hours later local private sellers pop up all over the place. Genuinely a completely kak thing to do. If I couldn’t get one because some kids got one for Christmas I wouldn’t mind one bit, but instead some fat poephol with an army of bots is buying them up so he can afford to buy more puppies to sacrifice.

    Reply

  12. Mike M

    November 20, 2020 at 21:54

    Seeing a seller on eBay with “37 sold” with a $1500 price tag makes me want to puke all over my marble bag. I saw a bundle that sold for $2500, and when I came to, I realized there are some retarded ass people in this country.

    Reply

  13. Naturism is the way

    November 21, 2020 at 12:02

    Click this link to sign the petition:
    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/561356/sponsors/new?token=6aGCmHMNkKU-UUwp5qBt

    My petition:

    Bring in legislation to tackle “scalpers

    Reply

  14. MechMachine

    November 21, 2020 at 20:36

    @Darryn_Bonthuys:disqus I have since discovered that with the PS5 there is a home function which acts suspiciously like a close app function. I was using this to close whatever game/app I was using. What I didn’t realize was it just minimized or suspended that active game/app. You need to actually close the game. or app you are using. Since doing this, it seems I haven’t had any database issues. Whether this is a solution or not, I don’t know. I haven’t had that much time with the console since I got it. I’ve been busy at work. If you run into it, check it out.

    Reply

  15. disgusting1

    November 21, 2020 at 23:29

    I have an employee/friend that got his PS5 for 800 dollars. I haven’t been able to get mine, but it’s not like I can’t play new games. I finished Watch Dogs Legion on PS4, and am playing Sackboy adventures with my kids on it as well.
    Will I buy a PS5? No, I’m getting 2.one for myself, and the less expensive digital edition for my kids.
    When? Whenever. If I happen to be at a target, Best buy or whatever and they have stock, I’ll get it then.
    If I offend someone, we’ll, you take things however you want, but buying from scalpers is silly, to say the least, not to mention the fact that falling for those rip-offs only help to make them richer and yourself poorer.

    Reply

  16. Romesh Saha

    November 23, 2020 at 08:03

    There are retarded-a$$ consumers who will buy these for $1000 and that’s why scalpers scalp.

    Reply

  17. Macc Mosley

    November 23, 2020 at 21:52

    Ive seen people post pics of 30 or 40 PS5s that they’re scalping,thats bull-Ish If your buying 30 PS5s u dont need money,your just being a greedy scumbag,I refuse to pay a dime over retail,especially from some rich prick whos just trying to get over on people.

    Reply

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