Tag: scalpers

  • Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Order on eBay: Prices Rising Before Release

    Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Order on eBay: Prices Rising Before Release

    Key Takeaways

    1. Nintendo has implemented rules to prevent scalpers from reselling the Switch 2, requiring a year-long Nintendo Switch Online subscription for purchases on their website.
    2. In the UK, pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 are being sold at inflated prices on eBay, exceeding the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP).
    3. Retail sales for the Switch 2 are ongoing in the UK, while U.S. sales are delayed due to new tariffs, creating complications for buyers.
    4. eBay listings for the Switch 2 must comply with specific guidelines, including a promise to ship within 40 business days, raising concerns about the authenticity of many listings.
    5. Many eBay listings have been removed for rule violations, but compliance may improve as the official release date of June 5th approaches.

    Nintendo has introduced rules to stop scalpers from reselling the Switch 2. To buy one, gamers need to have had a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for at least a year, along with other requirements. However, these rules only apply to purchases made through Nintendo’s own website. Meanwhile, buyers in the UK and other areas are already reserving consoles from retailers, and eBay sellers are making a profit. Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 are selling for much more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP).

    High Prices on eBay

    Some of the top sales on eBay UK include the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle. For instance, one bundle sold for over 600 British pounds, which is around 773 US dollars. With an MSRP of £429.99 and $499.99, these sales don’t represent record-breaking profits for scalpers on new consoles. Still, with criticism about Nintendo’s pricing, it’s clear that some buyers are willing to pay a premium.

    Retailer Sales and Complications in the US

    Various UK retailers like Argos and Amazon have started their sales or sent out invitations. In contrast, the situation for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in the United States is more complex. Following news of new tariffs under Trump, the company has delayed sales there. This might mean that eBay could be the only option for sellers who manage to get their hands on the console.

    It’s still uncertain whether any of the eBay transactions will go through without getting canceled. Per the guidelines on eBay UK, “Presale listings must promise that the item will be shipped within 40 business days after purchase.” Sellers must also make it clear that they are listing a Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order that will be shipped within that time frame. This policy is also valid for eBay in the US and Australia. Given that the console is set to officially launch on June 5th, many of these sales don’t seem to be genuine. However, the “40 business days” requirement could push the shipping date closer to the launch.

    Missing Listings and Future Sales

    A lot of the eBay listings have recently disappeared due to rule violations. Nonetheless, as the release date for the Switch 2 nears, it should become easier for sellers to comply with eBay’s requirements.

    Source:
    Link

    Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Order on eBay: Prices Rising Before Release
    Tags: , ,
  • GeForce RTX 5070 Ti AIB Card Bought for $1000 Before Launch

    GeForce RTX 5070 Ti AIB Card Bought for $1000 Before Launch

    Key Takeaways

    1. A buyer obtained the Asus Prime RTX 5070 Ti OC GPU before its official launch, highlighting retailers’ disregard for embargo dates.
    2. The RTX 5070 Ti was purchased for approximately $1250-$1350, significantly above its MSRP, but is currently not very useful due to the lack of available drivers.
    3. Similar incidents have occurred with retailers like Proshop, which sold RTX 5090 GPUs to scalper bots without canceling the orders.
    4. Anticipated supply for the RTX 5070 Ti is expected to be tight, leading to potential scalper issues and high prices for consumers.
    5. The RTX 5070 Ti is projected to offer a 16-18% performance increase over its predecessor, raising questions about its value compared to upcoming AMD cards.

    According to a recent post on Reddit, a buyer managed to get their hands on the upcoming Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti gaming GPU before its official launch. The specific model, Asus Prime RTX 5070 Ti OC, was purchased by the original poster (OP) for a price significantly higher than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), though the exact price details were not disclosed. With the RTX 5070 Ti scheduled to launch on February 20th, this situation demonstrates once again that many retailers seem to disregard embargo dates.

    Similar Incidents

    A comparable situation occurred with European retailer Proshop, which sold nearly all of its RTX 5090 GPUs to a scalper bot that completed the transaction before the embargo ended, and Proshop didn’t even attempt to cancel the orders. The Redditor acquired the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti two days before its official release, although some might contend that the card isn’t very useful to the buyer at this point since drivers aren’t available yet. From additional comments made by the OP, it seems the card was purchased for around $1250-$1350 after taxes.

    Future Implications

    For those planning to buy a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti on the 20th, they can probably expect the same situation witnessed last month with the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 launches. Rumors suggest that the supply of the RTX 5070 Ti will be just as tight as that of its more expensive counterparts, putting gamers at the mercy of scalpers and pre-order lines. With several RTX 5070 Ti listings already appearing at prices over $800, those waiting to buy may need to dip into their savings for a taste of mid-range Blackwell.

    Performance Expectations

    Based on the information we have so far, the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti is expected to show a 16-18% increase in raw gaming performance compared to its predecessor. Whether this improvement justifies the high pricing remains uncertain, especially with AMD preparing to launch its more reasonably priced RDNA 4-based RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT cards early next month.

    Source:
    Link

    Tags: , ,
  • UK Retailer Warns of Four-Month Delay for RTX 5090 and 5080

    UK Retailer Warns of Four-Month Delay for RTX 5090 and 5080

    Scoring an Nvidia RTX 5090 or RTX 5080 right now feels like trying to catch a ghost in a silicon wasteland. The reasons? The usual suspects: limited stock, huge demand, and scalpers. We shared an update about the situation in Europe, and a recent note from a well-known UK retailer presents a similarly bleak picture. It looks like those eagerly awaiting a new RTX 5090 GPU might have to hang on for as much as four months.

    Stock Updates

    Overclockers UK, in a recent statement, disclosed that they have completely run out of the Nvidia RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 – not shocking at all – and have paused pre-orders for now. Furthermore, the retailer mentioned that the RTX 5090 is anticipated to be available again sometime in the next 3 to 16 weeks, while the RTX 5080 should be back on shelves within 2 to 6 weeks. Basically, anyone in the UK hoping for a new GeForce RTX 50 GPU may need to exercise patience for several months.

    Scalper Advantage

    Given that the Nvidia RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 have been selling for thousands of dollars, it’s clear that scalpers are making huge profits from the shortages. The RTX 5090 has received mostly favorable reviews, even if its improvements over the previous generation are somewhat slight. However, the RTX 5080’s performance upgrade compared to the RTX 4080 Super was not that impressive. Yet, this lack of a significant boost doesn’t seem to dampen the excitement surrounding the cards, as evidenced by the stock issues and Overclockers’ assertion of “incredibly high demand.”

    Conclusion

    Overclockers UK, highlighted by Wccftech, continues to show the struggle consumers face in obtaining these coveted GPUs.

    Source:
    Link

    UK Retailer Warns of Four-Month Delay for RTX 5090 and 5080

     

    Tags: , ,
  • RTX 5090 at $2,799 and RTX 5080 at $1,899: Price Leak

    RTX 5090 at $2,799 and RTX 5080 at $1,899: Price Leak

    Just recently, the official pricing for the new Blackwell series graphics cards from Nvidia was revealed. The author noted that the flagship RTX 5090’s price was “pretty fair,” while the other models were “priced reasonably”:

    High Expectations for the RTX 5090

    It was no secret that the GeForce RTX 5090 would come with a hefty price tag, given its impressive specifications, including 32 GB of GDDR7 VRAM and 21,760 CUDA cores. The listed price for the RTX 5080 appears to be acceptable. However, gamers looking to get the highly modified Asus ROG Astral OC version should prepare to spend an additional $900, bringing the total to $1,899.99—this amount is before any scalpers get involved. Gigabyte also has a pricier version of the RTX 5080, called the Windforce SFF, which is reportedly priced at $1,369.99.

    Price Surprises for Custom Boards

    The custom RTX 5090 models are also facing some surprising pricing strategies. A list shared on Reddit and NeoGAF seems to stem from a mistake by B&H Photo and PC PartPicker. For instance, MSI’s Ventus 3X OC variant is being offered for $200 more than Nvidia’s suggested price. The premiums quickly escalate, with some models costing over $400, $500, and even $800 more than Nvidia’s official retail price, with the previously mentioned Asus card at the forefront:

    RTX 5090

    – Asus ROG Astral OC: $2,799.99
    – Asus TUF Gaming: $2,449.99
    – MSI Suprim Liquid SOC: $2,499.99
    – MSI Suprim SOC: $2,399.99
    – MSI Vanguard SOC Launch Edition: $2,379.99
    – MSI Vanguard SOC: $2,379.99
    – MSI Gaming Trio OC: $2,349.99
    – MSI Ventus 3X OC: $2,199.99

    RTX 5080

    – Asus ROG Astral OC: $1,899.99
    – Asus TUF Gaming OC: $1,699.99
    – Asus Prime OC: $1,499.99
    – Asus Prime: $1,399.99
    – Gigabyte Windforce SFF: $1,369.99
    – Gigabyte Gaming OC: $1,199.99

    – MSI Suprim Liquid SOC: $1,299.99
    – MSI Suprim SOC: $1,249.99
    – MSI Vanguard SOC: $1,229.99
    – MSI Gaming Trio OC: $1,199.99
    – MSI Gaming Trio OC (White): $1,199.99
    – MSI Inspire 3X OC (Gold): $1,169.99
    – MSI Ventus 3X OC Plus: $1,139.99

    Scalpers Will Likely Dominate the Market

    Considering that only a limited number of units are expected to be available at launch, it’s clear what’s likely to happen: Scalpers will grab all the stock and attempt to sell them at ridiculous prices on eBay. For those looking for a more affordable option, maybe check out something from the Lovelace series: the Asus Dual GeForce RTX 4070 is currently being sold for $569.99 on Amazon.

    Source:
    Link

    Tags: , ,
  • PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition Faces High Scalper Prices

    PS5 Pro 30th Anniversary Edition Faces High Scalper Prices

    The pre-sale event for the PlayStation 5 Pro and the exclusive 30th Anniversary Edition began at 10 a.m. on September 26, 2024, but it seems to have caused a lot of frustration among fans. Many eager buyers rushed to Sony’s PlayStation Direct site to grab one of the initial consoles. Unfortunately, the high demand quickly resulted in overloaded servers and extensive waiting times. Shortly after, both the PS5 Pro and the anniversary edition sold out completely.

    Scalpers Take Advantage

    While numerous genuine fans walked away empty-handed, some scalpers managed to purchase the limited 30th Anniversary Edition of the PS5 Pro. These individuals aim to profit from the artificial scarcity by reselling the consoles at inflated prices. Reports suggest that scalpers are targeting profits in the high four-digit range for the 30th Anniversary Edition. Originally priced at $999 by Sony, this special edition was already appearing on eBay with outrageous listings reaching up to $35,000. Although the average price at that time hovered around $3,000, some listings went as high as $5,000.

    Standard PS5 Pro Pricing

    The regular version of the PS5 Pro is also being resold at higher prices, but the markup from its original price of $699 remains in the triple-digit range. Current listings on eBay for this console were approximately $1,000 at the time of the research.

    Upcoming Opportunities

    For those still hoping to secure a 30th Anniversary Edition, there is a silver lining: the pre-sale for the PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition in the anniversary design will commence on October 10. Fans will have another chance to acquire a PS5 in the nostalgic gray design without succumbing to the scalpers’ inflated prices.

    Image 1
    Image 1
    Tags: , ,