eBay scalper gets scalped -- capitalism, indeed
by Nick Doerr 
{ Nov 7th 2006 at 5:30PM }
Supply and demand, eh? Seems demand was overestimated for this Canadian who popped his PS3 preorder up on eBay. Maybe it was because he ordered two games with the system as well, maybe it was just bad luck, but the guy spent over CA $900 and got back only CA $735 -- about $651 US dollars (a deal anyone would kill for... a 60GB PS3 and two games!). Let's not even mention the console got a measly two bids before the end. What does this say? Well, if anyone is putting their receipt on eBay, be forewarned -- people don't want more than the console itself, apparently. Either that, or thanks to the information highway that is the internet, people are actually hesitant to bid on the things thanks to all the crazy issues going around. What do you guys think caused this? Was it bad luck? The extra games a turn off? Canada? Shipping costs? Give us your opinion. Also, props to the winner of the bid. You are very special.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
polar @ Nov 7th 2006 5:38PM
The guy pulled it. Must have gotten booted from ebay or something.
The seller is not a registered user anymore.
Mike Berglund @ Nov 7th 2006 6:00PM
Prolly, peoplw weren't looking for a ps3 yet, come December that same auction would be through the roof.
anonymous coward @ Nov 7th 2006 6:17PM
Geez, hasn't the guy heard of a reserve price, or a starting bid at or above his cost?
This isn't rocket science.
Caramella Bongo ... how are you today? @ Nov 7th 2006 6:21PM
Whats up with your commenting system. No emails, and the comments show up a day later in bunches???
Jones @ Nov 7th 2006 6:48PM
Could have been sold from a hacked account, but the account seemed to be active as recently as a month ago. Wonder if s/he just saw the horror of losing money on that valuable PS3, and decided it was better just to terminate the eBay account and try to back out of the contract.
Wonder if that works, for that matter.
nitefire @ Nov 7th 2006 8:21PM
I'm pretty tired of capitilism's anti-Sony stance.
Chronos_777 @ Nov 7th 2006 8:49PM
It does say Not a registered user, but it says Winning Bid. I sounds kind of weird. According to another listing on Ebay, it seems that Zellers is requiring full payment and the purchase of two games for a pre-order. That would be why they are on there. I found another similar listing with the two games going for $1,525. This one is also including the games, so There probably was a problem with this one and like #1 said it got pulled.
Ninegauger @ Nov 7th 2006 10:23PM
Can't you set a reserve?
Spector @ Nov 8th 2006 2:15AM
Well the wrong numbers and such are kind of a warning that it could be fake so that's most likely why people didn't bid on it. It screams untrustworthy.
Mankosuki @ Nov 8th 2006 4:58AM
Scalping previous systems was possible because they didn't originally cost half a grand or more. How much are people expecting to get out of these anyway? Even $700 for the system alone would be a hard sell to make.
ndoerr @ Nov 8th 2006 8:30AM
@ Caramella Bongo ... how are you today? -- About the comment system... I'm not sure when it started getting all wonky, but it's not working for me, either. They come up in bunches because apparently I have to activate them manually (usually I get emailed your confirmations also). It's weird. I think it has to do with our main server getting moved and, uh, I guess they kind of forgot to reconnect the PS3Fanboy wires? I'll ask the higher-ups later today.
bill @ Nov 9th 2006 7:29AM
It didn't sell for that price, are you guys serious? I know you guys would like to think it did, but it got pulled early because of eBay rules. This thing isn't going for any less than $1500 come Nov. 17th. We all know it. Face it. It's not the sellers fault, it's the morons who are willing to pay that price.
Why is everyone so against buying this thing and selling it for a huge profit? Don't give me that "it takes away from the poor kid who only has the $600 to buy it". Anyone who has any kind of money to blow on video games is lucky. There are kids who have real worries (where their next meal will come from, etc.), so please don't come at me with that pile of crap.
Think outside you bubbles.
GTester @ Nov 10th 2006 8:16PM
This guy just seems to have jumped in a little too early. The only way this thing would go crazy on eBay is if (err...when) it is sold out in stores and people go insane to get one.
Serves this guy right for losing money.
Chinomi @ Nov 15th 2006 4:26PM
I love how all of you guys seem to automatically think me and my sister are men. FYI, we're girls. Our auction DID NOT sell for that much, it sold for about $2000 in actuality.
The auction got pulled because of some unexpected technical difficulties with ebay. We emailed them and re-listed the item later on.
But you guys gave us a good laugh with your whole "reserve price" thing xD! An item like a PS3 doesn't need a reserve price.
I'm glad we had our 15 minutes of fame on the web =P