It takes an especially selfish kind of person to buy hundreds or thousands of PS5 units and resell them at a marginally higher price. But we live in a free market, right? Sure, if scalpers manufactured the PS5, then they could sell it at whatever price they wanted. Unfortunately, these groups continue to operate despite the severe backlash expressed by the gaming community.
The next-gen hardware will come back in stock eventually; it's just a matter of time. In reality, there aren't even that many games to play on PS5 just yet. While fans wait another couple of months (or however long it takes for the console to restock), take a look at how the community has made fun of scalpers with their emotional support memes.
10 Don't Buy From Scalpers
PlayStation fans might not exactly know how scalpers operate. Basically, they set up a bulk amount of bots that are ready to purchase the PS5 as soon as it goes on sale. These bots purchase countless units much faster than a person could get through via online purchases. The scalpers then sell the PS5s for a considerably higher price to make a profit.
Do not give into the pressure to buy from them. If fans are going to spend more than the regular PS5's asking price, save that money for a VR headset or invest it in a dope gaming rig. Stay strong!
9 Don't Refresh The Page
If you tried to pre-order a PS5, you might have had trouble with seeing it in your cart. That's a huge issue since no one can finalize a purchase unless the site knows what a person wants to buy the item. Should people plan to order a console online for a first or subsequent time, make sure you do not refresh your browser.
This prevents you from essentially losing your place in line if many people are looking to pre-order the console at the same time. Instead, open a new browser page (possibly on another device) and go through the process again.
8 Cries In Ironic
Unfortunate, but... deserved? Robbery of any kind should never be condoned and this meme is an actual comment relating to this news story. So, it's not just a joke -- someone was indeed robbed. Nonetheless, a part of the gaming community felt karma had done its job here.
One must admit that it certainly feels like poetic irony. Imagine if you tried to, covertly, make a profit by exploiting the rules of a market system. Then, someone decides to do the same but to a higher degree of rule-breaking. Moral of the story: if you deal bad cards to people, nobody is going to cry for you when you are dealt worse ones.
7 There's A Scalper In My Boot
It only takes one person who has a bad idea for a given phenomenon to spread virally. In the same way, scalpers are not only widespread in the US, but also in the rest of the world. Just like you couldn't successfully pre-order a PS5, fellow console fans had the same exact problem in Europe or Asia.
It's sad to think that this is the case for most people who worked hard to save money for a new console. Moreover, this is a time when distractions are much needed and small pleasures can mean so much.
6 The Hero We Need
One clear element emerges from this ordeal with scalpers: there needs to be a system to prevent someone to profit off of bulk resales when it comes to new console releases. Such rules already exist for some products, so it's only natural they be implemented to protect gamers' interests, as well. Why not also apply this to art prints, vinyl records, and more, too?
Some action has been taken to prevent scalpers from continuing to operate, but the caveats are many and the loopholes multifold. If anyone looks for a PS5 on sale, they can still find scalpers easily.
5 Where Is The Precious?
Those who tried to unsuccessfully pre-order the PS5 undoubtedly wanted to experience the console backward-compatibility at some point. Some games greatly benefit from running on a PS5 and what better way to play your favorite multiplayer games than to do it on next-gen?
During the lockdown, to prevent large gatherings of people, Sony mandated that the PS5 be sold exclusively online during launch day. This enabled, and greatly facilitated, scalpers to purchase high amounts of consoles using bots. Hopefully, next time the console goes online, Sony will take some accountability with measures in place to prevent this event from happening again.
4 Simple Math
Browsing memes sometimes results in finding the most hilarious silly pictures ever seen. There have been enough PlayStation consoles to easily add them up for extra comedic effect. No one can do that with Xbox ones though since it's hard enough to remember what they are actually called.
Sony keeps it nice and simple with an elegant and ever-increasing numerical order. In this vein, some fans theory crafted their own ways to outwit scalpers. Wouldn't it be great if these people mistakenly purchased bulk quantities of old PS2 and PS3 units?
3 Who Is Actually Buying These?
A quick search for PS5 consoles on sale will return less than ideal results. Scalpers aren't simply reselling for a couple of bucks more; some charge even more than double the original console price. That brings it up to $1,000 USD.
No console is worth more than $1000. People could buy so many games with the money they save by buying the PS5 at its asking price (which is still not that cheap). Do yourself a favor if you plan to spend that amount of money and buy yourself some good parts for a gaming PC.
2 Stonks Traders & Scalpers Are Two Peas
Thankfully, there are plenty of upcoming games yet to release on PS5 which means there is no need to fret just yet. There are limits to a reasonable asking price -- even for scalpers. It's still pretty funny to think about one of them going, "Oh yeah, people will buy this right,? High demand means instant sales."
The more time passes, the less that statement becomes true. Scalpers can only invest so much money in consoles if they sell none. Just be patient and wait; fans will get their own PS5 and this scalper nonsense will soon be a memory to joke about.
1 Resist The Urge!
At the end of the day, we all wish we could play the new Demon's Souls. However, even a game that good is not worth spending so much money for a console. Stick with those trusted retailers, keep up with their websites, and you will get a PS5 for the right price. After all, that desperation you feel isn't created by accident; its manipulation of both the market and your consumer impulses.
Scalpers prey on this feeling of frustration that slowly builds up the longer people wait. However, your wallet will suffer from purchasing something simply not worth the money you pay for it. Considering there are more units coming, it would be a fool's game to be impatient and rush to play a handful of next-gen games.