PS3 scalpers throw in the towel

by Ed Stasick { Dec 27th 2006 at 9:00PM }

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the once sky-high prices that the PS3 fetched on ebay are a thing of the past. While prices may not have hit rock-bottom, they've certainly been driven to a point where you have to wonder if it's worth all of the effort on the part of the scalper?

According to Ars Technica, "The demand for the system is still high, but few people seem willing to pay the large premiums the scalpers want. eBay prices have also normalized much quicker than many expected, with systems going for only a little over retail."

So what's a scalper to do? The article infers that most hopeful PS3 scalpers are resorting to returning their investment to the store where they bought it. And, if you were one of those guys who bought a PS3 on November 17 and held on to it hoping to score big with a last minute Christmas price surge, well, then you're are probably a bit past the standard 30-day return policy. And your credit card bill is due next week. Your own medicine doesn't taste so good, does it?

[Via Ars Technica]

Tags: ps3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Cage @ Dec 27th 2006 9:11PM

According to Ars Technica, "The demand for the system is still high, but few people seem willing to pay the large premiums the scalpers want."

Here I am about to write a paper for Economics and then this statement gets thrown at me...

Jason @ Dec 27th 2006 9:46PM

Ed, did you get a PS3?

Tanya @ Dec 27th 2006 10:00PM

This is so true. I'm about to get a PS3 from someone at my job who bought one with the grand hopes of getting thousands for it but he can't even sell it on ebay now so he's willing to sell it to me at retail^_^ Patcience is most certainly a virtue :)

Scott Krueger @ Dec 27th 2006 10:27PM

This Happened due to 2 Reasons.
1) There were Too Many "Scalpers" with the Same Stupid Idea. Which is Great because hopefully when the Next Gen Rolls around maybe some of us gamers can get a System.
2) There were a lot of People Bidding on Systems with Fake EBay IDs, by this I mean they Created a New ID with the Purpose of Ruining a few peoples Day.

I think these Scalpers are getting what they Deserve. I hope they get Finance Charges, I hope they can't Return the System, I hope they Had 20 of them and Have to sell their House and Live on the Street in a House made out of PS3 Cardboard Boxes.

Let the Gamers Buy the Systems.

jasonb @ Dec 27th 2006 10:41PM

Awesome. People are finally figuring out what a hunk of shit the ps3 is and are starting to rationalize.

My local best buy was stocked up with over 20 of em 2 days before xmas and people walked right past it. Funny though, the wii was sold out and there was a line in front of the 360 to play it.

wa wa waaaaaaaa

truth @ Dec 28th 2006 12:37AM

So all the people willing to pay $2000 for a ps3 are gone. Now are are down to the people willing to pay $600 for a ps3. I give it about 1 month until we are down to "nobody" left willing to pay $600 for a ps3.

Embassy @ Dec 28th 2006 7:02AM

I REALLY dont get the big deal about the PS3's price, maybe its because im from the UK and we are used to higher retail prices but $600 or £306, would not be considered high over here, I think the people that are moaning about the price are either kids who cant afford something in that region or are just plain poor.

KilgoreTrout XL @ Dec 28th 2006 9:40AM

Music to my ears.

If anyone's interested, Slate had an interesting opinion/article about the 360 launch from last year. The basic premise is that MS should have increased the price of the console themselves to curb the demand, and not middlemen.

Quoted: "

If you had put that theory to me last year I might have believed it, but after all the hot air over gasoline prices this fall, no longer. It's now obvious that you can get just as much publicity by raising prices as you can by selling out at low prices. But raising prices makes money, and creating lines of frustrated customers who can't get the product doesn't."

I probably don't agree, but it was a pretty good read:

http://www.slate.com/id/2132071/

"The Great Xbox Shortage of 2005; Why you can't buy the one present you really need."
By Tim Harford
Posted Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at 6:09 PM ET

metalcore @ Dec 28th 2006 10:30AM

well here in mexico the ps3 in blockbuster & gamerush and other few "nice & high class" stores costs around $13459 mexican pesos (about $1240 usd) this seems to be the official price in mexico thats sad but ive already got abou $1100 usd for mine

Sonic @ Dec 30th 2006 1:29PM

They could buy a Wii.

anon @ Dec 28th 2006 11:45AM

"The article infers that most hopeful PS3 scalpers are resorting to returning their investment to the store where they bought it."

It might imply; it didn't infer. You inferred.

Ed @ Dec 28th 2006 12:12PM

Infer is correct. It means to conclude, inclusive of hinting and implying. Unless the dictionary is lying to me again. Damn dictionaries... what do they know?!

brett @ Dec 28th 2006 3:17PM

I don't get all the venom at the so-called "scalpers". What's the difference between them and some guy in Hong Kong who sells camera batteries? Both buy low and sell high. Those who buy those PS3s on eBay have no other way of getting them, or they would. It's called capitalism, people. I know it's a hard concept to wrap your mind around, but give it a try sometime. It's what our society is based on.

And Ed, really. Take some fucking English lessons.

Dave @ Dec 28th 2006 5:11PM

The PS3 is a bust. There are not good games out for it and it is way to expensive. Plus the hardware itself is that of a giant paper weight. Who cares about HD gaming. We want fun games that we never get sick of.

John @ Dec 28th 2006 6:10PM

I just saw this on ebay. $1477. Just a 60 gig, no games, accesories. just the ps3.

John @ Dec 28th 2006 6:11PM

Ooops forgot the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-PlayStation-3-60GB-NIB-Receipt-PS3-60-Premium_W0QQitemZ120069116076QQihZ002QQcategoryZ62054QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cage @ Dec 28th 2006 8:50PM

Uh...John...its bought by a no name with ZERO transactions. People are supposed to believe that? Fact is (and what I was trying to state in my first response) that there is LESS demand here in the U.S. at least than the other 2 new consoles. The fact that the PS3 cannot be sold for a large price means people NO LONGER WANT IT. Not some grand plan of PS3 wishers to hold out to lower the price. THIS IS NOT THE HOUSING MARKET.

Figboy @ Dec 29th 2006 12:48AM

yeah, because the fact that Sony has been sending weekly shipments of PS3's to retailers since launch has nothing to do with the fact that the hardcore Sony fans that want a PS3 aren't willing to pay a premium for something that they will be able to purchase in the store with a little patience. *rolls eyes*

trust me, the PS3 will do fine once supplies are available for those that want it.

for example, i live in Los Angeles. i haven't been able to find a PS3 *ANYWHERE* i've looked. so i'm waiting. sure, i could probably brighten some ebay users day and purchase a system off of him, but f**k'em. he's the reason i don't have my PS3 to begin with. i was actually going to use mine for *GAMES* and not to make a profit.

so, to brett, the reason why some of us real gamers are pissed at these ebay scalpers is simple; because of them, real gamers are deprived of a system that they want for the purpose it was created for, and we shouldn't have to pay one iota more than what is asked for it. i know it's hard for you to wrap your mind around, but it's called being a gamer, and supporting what we percieve as entertainment and worth our investments. it's what this industry is based on.

stop being snobby. if there was something you wanted more than anything, and some asshole who didn't even want it, bought the last one, then turned around and tried to sell it to you at a more than %50 mark-up, you'd be pissed too.

fanboyslasher @ Dec 29th 2006 1:08AM

im sick of all the broke people who cant afford a ps3. get a fucking job or collect some cans. beter yet if you dont want one shut the fuck up about it and play your gba. most people i know are willing to wait for one up to a year after release. i want one like crazy but patience is a virtue. even joystiq admitted the bluray player alone was worth the price.! i live in milwaukee and i cant find a 60 gig anywhere. saw a 20 gig at walmart but it was bought while i was there. fuck a scalper!

fanboyslasher @ Dec 29th 2006 1:16AM

im sick of all the broke people who cant afford a ps3. get a fucking
job or collect some cans. beter yet if you dont want one shut the
fuck up about it and play your gba. most people i know are willing to
wait for one up to a year after release. i want one like crazy but
patience is a virtue. even joystiq admitted the bluray player alone
was worth the price.! i live in milwaukee and i cant find a 60 gig
anywhere. saw a 20 gig at walmart but it was bought while i was
there. fuck a scalper!