EBay limits PlayStation 3 sales

SAN JOSE, California (AP) -- People pining for the sleek PlayStation 3 gaming console might find shortages on eBay as well.

The unfettered online marketplace for such items as Elvis memorabilia and Ferraris is imposing restrictions on the PS3, which is expected to become one of the hottest holiday gifts when it hits stores Friday.

Only established eBay Inc. vendors -- those who have racked up comments from at least 50 previous customers and have positive ratings of at least 98 out of 100 points -- can list PS3s before Friday. Each vendor can only list only one PS3 per eBay account.

The listing must include a photo of the pre-order receipt, and the seller must guarantee shipment within 30 days from the date of purchase. Before Friday, PS3s can be listed on eBay only in auction formats -- not as "buy it now" items.

Potential buyers, trying to avoid long lines, rain checks and empty-handed sales clerks on Friday, have already bid up PS3s to $2,300. The suggested retail price is $500 for a basic PS3 with a 20-gigabyte drive and $600 for a version with 60 gigabytes, built-in wireless and a Blu-ray DVD player for high-definition video.

Sony Corp., which has already delayed the PS3 launch twice, expects to have 400,000 PS3s available for its U.S. launch. EBay listed 3,144 PS3s or related items by Wednesday morning.

The restrictions, part of eBay's standing policy for all "pre-sale" items, also apply to Nintendo Co.'s competing Wii console, which goes on sale Sunday. EBay had 2,354 listings for Wiis and related items.

Microsoft Corp. launched its Xbox 360 console last year.

"We've seen a history with highly anticipated game consoles in extremely short supply during their initial launch," eBay spokeswoman Catherine England said. "With the Xbox, we saw a high number of well-intentioned sellers unable to meet obligations due to restricted supply."

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"When I die, I want to be buried under the dancefloor"- Frankie Madgenta

yeah we know...

however once i buy it on friday...i can sell it without any restriction...since i will have the system

Anyone who resorts to measures like camping outside stores just so that they can buy a hot item that they can sell for profits gets a thumbs down.

People can say what they want about it being ok to make profit from stupid people who are willing to pay well over the retail price for a sold out commodity but it just goes to show what your personal attitude towards money is (probably the same as those scalpers outside the guvernment) and what shit you are willing to put yourself through to make some easy cash.

And theres nothing wrong with scamming people from their hard earned money, there are better and more subtle ways to do it. Get a real fucking job.

quote:

Originally posted by raveed Anyone who resorts to measures like camping outside stores just so that they can buy a hot item that they can sell for profits gets a thumbs down. People can say what they want about it being ok to make profit from stupid people who are willing to pay well over the retail price for a sold out commodity but it just goes to show what your personal attitude towards money is (probably the same as those scalpers outside the guvernment) and what shit you are willing to put yourself through to make some easy cash. And theres nothing wrong with scamming people from their hard earned money, there are better and more subtle ways to do it. Get a real fucking job.

hear hear!

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quote:

Originally posted by SuperJimbo You are not a unique and beautiful snowflake, no matter how many guestlists you put yourself on.

quote:

Originally posted by raveed Get a real fucking job.

find me a real job that'll pay over a grand for standing around for a while

So my buddy Nolan who I'm staying with down here in NC is good friends with his uncle-in-law, and we just came back from his place last night.

And he REALLY wants a fucking PlayStation3... but only for the fucking HD and BluRay and wireless capabiliities. That it plays games will only be an added benefit when his grandkids come over.

He wants fucking 2 of the 60 gig ones (he cant even imagine why anyone would be a 20 gig one for $100 less, lol)? Why two? I have no idea, just bc... why only buy 1 when u can buy 2. The mans house is a fucking technological heaven. One 107 inch wide screen projection TV in a "MOVIE THEATRE" room, complete w/ soundproofing, 7.1 DHS (? whatever its called) suroundsound, movie theatre style recliing seats... this room is fancy as ALL hell... 3 20" subs... fucking NUTS!

Gots a 79" flat pannel TV in the main room downstairs, a TV in teh kitch that u can see from the table mounted on the wall, a TV in EVERY SINGLE fucking room, all atleast 30 inches, flat... phone is every bloody room... the phones ever are crazy... and i wont even go into all the fucking large trucks Harleys and spot bikes this man and his wife have, plus all the other insane modern appliances like his microwave and dishwsher (which blow me away too)... this house simply needs to be seen to be believed.


But anyways, hes having an operation tonite, and therefore cant go wait in line, bc he WOULD otherwise.

He offered me and Nolan both $200+ American if we'd go wait in line to try to get a ticket at Wallmart of Bestbuy (whereever) to try and get one!

Wow!

That's intense, $1,200 + $400 merely to acquire some PS3s... I know what they selling for on ebay, but knowing someone that wants them that badly myself just surprises me

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TECHNO IS THE BEST NOISE ON EARTH.
Save Techno - Stop Minimal / Tech-House

First of all...its not scamming.

It's simple Supply and Demand, basic Grade 2 economics.

It's not like were forcing people to pay rediculous amount of money to by the PS3. These individuals are paying these prices on their own will as they value this commodity for more than its worth. Just because they have this money and are willing to spend it doesn't mean its scamming. Maybe if I tried to sell people an empty box containing the PS3, then yes, thats scamming (which some people do).

Second of all, I do have a real job (well part time job, I'm a full time student). I've always had a job and work all the time. During the summer I had two jobs, I worked full time during the week, and then on the weekends.
I just want more money. I have expensive tastes, and why not try and profit on something that does not require much effort, to earn more money.

Third of all, I'm going anymore. We were going to go early this morning, but my friend went by around midnight and there were already way to many people in line to be guaranteed a PS3. So yeah, i'm just going to try and get one online later.
I have my limits as well. We were just going to camp out for 12 hours...not 30 hours, thats just not worth it to me, especially in the rain.

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"I'm not stoned...I'm just Asian!"

quote:

Originally posted by exstasie First of all...its not scamming. It's simple Supply and Demand, basic Grade 2 economics. It's not like were forcing people to pay rediculous amount of money to by the PS3. These individuals are paying these prices on their own will as they value this commodity for more than its worth. Just because they have this money and are willing to spend it doesn't mean its scamming. Maybe if I tried to sell people an empty box containing the PS3, then yes, thats scamming (which some people do). Second of all, I do have a real job (well part time job, I'm a full time student). I've always had a job and work all the time. During the summer I had two jobs, I worked full time during the week, and then on the weekends. I just want more money. I have expensive tastes, and why not try and profit on something that does not require much effort, to earn more money.

Dont worry man, I agree with all your points too. Its easy fucking cash for not doing much, the situation exists, so profit if you can. there's nothing wrong or iffy or sketchy or unethical abuot it IMO.

All the more power to you to do it, and to all those ppl who are willing to pay too.

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TECHNO IS THE BEST NOISE ON EARTH.
Save Techno - Stop Minimal / Tech-House

Hahaha, did I almost call that or WHAT

This is so awesome.

Last edited by VERTiG0 on Nov-16-2006 at 15:34

quote:

Originally posted by raveed Anyone who resorts to measures like camping outside stores just so that they can buy a hot item that they can sell for profits gets a thumbs down. People can say what they want about it being ok to make profit from stupid people who are willing to pay well over the retail price for a sold out commodity but it just goes to show what your personal attitude towards money is (probably the same as those scalpers outside the guvernment) and what shit you are willing to put yourself through to make some easy cash. And theres nothing wrong with scamming people from their hard earned money, there are better and more subtle ways to do it. Get a real fucking job.

You may want to explain this a little better.

First, what exactly does it show about one's character, and based on what form of etiquette exactly?

With your own words you showed the relative stupidity of your post.

"stupid people who are willing to pay well over the retail price for a sold out commodity"

Where exactly is there a scam in this? Attitude towards money? Are people who do this breaking any kind of law?

You get scammed every day, you buy clothes that on average have a 500% markup (that is a fact btw), yet no one ever says anything, and we see posts like these. We live in a world where literally almost everything you buy has an enormous markup over the actual cost it took to produce and sell any given item. Why don't you go complaining about that.

There is a basic bartering law running along the lines of "supply and demand". People are not breaking any laws. They are going on a legitimate exchange site, where goods and services are sold. You don't really give much credit to those wiling to spend the money. Some people just want it, its as plain and simple as that. They're not braindead automatons with bulging wallets screaming in a zombie-like state "take my money". They freely and of their own will enter into a purchasing agreement because they want the item, and are willing to pay whatever its worth to them.

Further, you go on to sarcastically (or not) say that there are more subtle ways of scamming people....?

Your post is completely nonsensical. I don't usually get any kind of reaction out of the stuff posted here, but yours really kind of stood out, at least to me.

Get a real job? You really carry yourself on a pedestal, don't you? The three people that I know are reselling their ps3's are all very hard working individuals, with full time jobs, with families, who work regular 9-5 jobs, know the value of money, are honest, ethical, pay their taxes, and so forth....but clearly there must be something wrong with them that I do not see.


And as for the eBay warning, the restrictions apply only to presale items, since technically, the seller doesn't actually have the item yet.
When the system is released come Friday, anyone who physically holds one can sell it on eBay. Will this stop scams...probably not...but that's the inherent risk of eBay.

The way I see this whole situation is as such: Real gamers are the ones being completely screwed over by this. They want to actually buy the PS3 for themselves to play, not to sell. All these idiots out there who are going to just go wait in line to turn around and flip the consoles are doing the video game world an injustice.

quote:

Originally posted by VERTiG0 The way I see this whole situation is as such: Real gamers are the ones being completely screwed over by this. They want to actually buy the PS3 for themselves to play, not to sell. All these idiots out there who are going to just go wait in line to turn around and flip the consoles are doing the video game world an injustice.

Conversely, it can be said that it's actually Sony that is screwing the loyal gamer on this one

In essence I agree with your point, and I'm sure that many are buying the system purely for the sake of profit, while those actually wishing for one for the sake of gaming will be left out in the cold.