Next-generation inventory problems continue
A persistent headache for video game buyers remains the dire shortage of next-gen platforms PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X / S. The highly sought after consoles from both Sony and Microsoft continue to pop up at online retailers, but sell out in minutes, leaving customers inevitably become disappointed and frustrated.
Adding fury to the mix, however, is the addition of “scalpers”, individuals or groups who massively buy multiple consoles, before immediately offering them for resale, often at tremendously high prices. While scalping has been common in the retail industry for decades, modern technology has made it more difficult to combat this practice than ever before due to the creation of bot software that automatically runs the sales process.
Early this week, British retailer GAME took stock of its latest batch of PS5 consoles, which – of course – sold out twice as fast. Shortly after, a scalping company took to Twitter to claim it had successfully acquired more than 2,000 consoles from the sale through the use of its bot software. Other Twitter users also claimed to have bagged multiple PS5 units, most of them with a flammable, antagonistic stance that makes the claims harder to believe.
After a deluge of complaints was lobbied against GAME for this outcome, the retailer contacted VGC to assure its customers that the next-generation GAME order process remains blocked.
“There is still a high demand for PlayStation 5s and that demand far exceeds the current supply,” said a GAME spokesperson. “We have taken strong steps to ensure that our ‘1 per customer’ statement is enforced so that as many individual customers can successfully purchase as possible … All pre-orders are automatically checked and order updates – such as post cancellations. these checks – take place after a customer has received a valid order confirmation by email. Currently these orders are still pre-orders and as such no payments have been charged from customers yet. Payments begin as soon as our order checks are completed. “
As long as any item is in demand – from consoles to concert tickets, to limited edition clothing and even toys – scalping remains a frustrating part of the online sales process. Ultimately anyone who wants to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X / S shall get the chance to do that sooner or later. But the breathless rush to retailers seems to be continuing for the time being, if not all of them major console launches over the decades.
Death, taxes and your connection has expired.
Scalper bot firm claims it has landed 2000+ PS5 orders from GAME [VGC]
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