PS5 and Xbox Series X Scalpers Dominate Console Restocks
Scalpers use automated bots to buy up PS5 and Xbox Series X stock, leaving regular gamers empty-handed. This shortage pushes desperate buyers to pay extreme resale prices well into 2021.
Scalpers dominate the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X by using automated bots to buy up massive amounts of stock the moment it appears online. These opportunistic resellers scoop up the consoles faster than regular shoppers and then list them for extortionate prices, often exceeding $1,000 for a machine that normally costs $499.
The scale of this reselling operation is massive, with individual sellers and organized groups hoarding thousands of consoles. One reseller reportedly secures 200 PS5 units and generates over $40,000 in weekly sales, while groups like CrepChiefNotify openly boast about gathering 3,500 consoles to sell at massive markups.
Because console supplies remain extremely limited, frustrated gamers face a difficult wait that stretches well into 2021. To fight back, buyers track dedicated deal accounts on social media for instant restock alerts, though securing a console at retail price still requires incredible timing and persistence.