Shortly after the pre-orders for the Switch 2 commenced in North America on April 24, 2023, several listings appeared on eBay for the new Nintendo console. Some listings are genuine, while others are fake, created to mislead bots and scalpers.
Pre-Order Chaos and Scalpers
The pre-order event was marked by significant technical difficulties, including website crashes and order cancellations. Amid the chaos, some users successfully reserved their consoles and quickly started offering them on eBay for inflated prices. For instance, many listings were found selling the Switch 2 for upwards of $700, despite its retail price of $450.
Market Response
As of 1:10 a.m. EST, just over an hour after pre-orders opened, approximately 30 different eBay listings for the Switch 2 were available. Scalpers often promise frequent updates and tracking information leading up to the console’s launch on June 5, 2023.
New Tactics by Sellers
Unusually, some sellers appear to be employing strategies aimed at complicating scalping efforts. This includes creating fake listings and accounts to create confusion and deter bots from easily identifying legitimate sales.
Advice for Buyers
Potential buyers are advised against purchasing overpriced pre-orders from eBay. Instead, it is more cost-effective to wait for the official release and buy directly from retail stores, which helps avoid supporting scalpers who exploit the market for profit making.