DailyTech - eBay Canceling PS3 Pre-order Listings

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Gadgets eBay Canceling PS3 Pre-order Listings
Marcus Yam (Blog) - October 17, 2006 9:15 AM

23 comment(s) - last by JeffDM.. on Oct 17 at 10:35 PM

eBay says none of this nonsense for another month

In order to sell something, you must have something to sell

From an informal survey of the EB Games locations we visited during our pre-order quest, most gamers who camped out to get a system were planning on keeping it for themselves, as opposed to putting listing it on eBay. In fact, eBay has been actively canceling all PS3 auctions and suspending the accounts of the user who listed it.

According to eBay's policy, the seller must have the item in his or her possession and be able to ship it within 30 days in order to put it up for auction. As posted on the eBay Trust & Safety (Safe Harbor) forum:

Due to the high demand and limited supply of this item we are taking stronger measures to protect both buyers and sellers in the eBay community. Currently, eBay is not permitting “Pre-Sale” of this item, and sellers who list it on eBay must have physical possession of the products at time of listing.

Since even being the very first on an EB Games pre-order list does not guarantee getting a system at launch, it's impossible for any bidder to be sure he or she will be getting what's promised. eBay likely is using this rationale to cancel any PS3 auction it spots. Once the system is officially available, however, market forces will take over and PS3's will easily fetch four-digit dollars.

Despite eBay's policing efforts, a quick search consistently turns up results of several rogue listings seeking nearly $2000 to Buy It Now.

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PWND

By therealnickdanger on 10/17/2006 9:29:21 AM , Rating: 4

I'm actually glad eBay is stepping up and closing down these stupid auctions. It should help to curb the idiocy surrounding the price wars.

RE: PWND

By Loc13 on 10/17/2006 9:52:39 AM , Rating: 1

once those people get their ps3 on Nov.17, you'll see all those PS3 auctions on Ebay again. So it doesn't really matter if they sell it now or later, there is still a huge demand for it.

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RE: PWND

By therealnickdanger on 10/17/2006 9:59:49 AM , Rating: 1

quote:
there is still a huge demand for it.

I'm not denying that, but it won't be as crazy. Given how many people now can not "buy" it before launch on eBay, that will motivate more people to pre-order via a local store or just show up and wait in line to pay regular retail. Yeah, we'll still see $1,500 PS3s on eBay, because there's one born every minute.

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RE: PWND

By Spivonious on 10/17/2006 10:05:41 AM , Rating: 2

Where will they preorder from? Every store is maxed out.

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RE: PWND

By therealnickdanger on 10/17/2006 11:05:27 AM , Rating: 2

I think there are still some GameCrazy and Sam Goody locations that have preorders available. I've heard that some Best Buys are doing pre-orders on the hardware (even against company policy). Either way, I'm willing to bet that the majority of the 400K PS3s available at launch will be found by waiting in line at CompUSA, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. We're also only talking about pre-orders FOR launch day. Following shipments will have their own pre-orders and line-ups...

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RE: PWND

By kamel5547 on 10/17/2006 12:35:51 PM , Rating: 2

Of course every store is maxed out. Currently they've been allotted ZERO units. All the presales are speculation on the parts of the companies on what they will recieve (hence the reason they cannot guarantee that being first on the presale list will get you anything).

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Easy workaround

By othercents on 10/17/06, Rating: 0

RE: Easy workaround

By Loc13 on 10/17/2006 10:46:33 AM , Rating: 2

You know what's easier? Sell it on Yahoo Auction! Granted, there aren't as many people who go to Yahoo Auction, but I've seen a few PS3 auctions up there and seems like Yahoo didn't take them down.

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RE: Easy workaround

By othercents on 10/17/2006 11:10:17 AM , Rating: 2

Selling the slip on either auction house sounds better than selling the possibility of getting a PS3. Because if you sell the slip the transaction is done and the person receives their product. You get your $2k and they get their slip. Selling the possibility of a PS3 means that you might have to refund their money. I think I'm going to ask a friend for a copy of their PS3 slip so I can sell copies on ebay.

Other

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RE: Easy workaround

By Kilim on 10/17/2006 11:42:22 AM , Rating: 2

Um, that is a bad idea. You had to have had photo ID with you when you reserved your system, and you have to have photo ID with you when you buy it.

Maybe some stores did not follow this when you pre-ordered it, but my entire region did, and we surely will check when it comes time to buy it.

The Ebayer chump would have bought a worthless receipt unless he goes with you.

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RE: Easy workaround

By othercents on 10/17/2006 5:59:03 PM , Rating: 2

They won't take a copy anyways. Your just selling the copy to someone so that they have an original copy of a preorder. This why they can show it to their friends or frame it for the future when the prices on preorder copies goes up.

Other

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Sants Claus is comin.... to town...

By edge929 on 10/17/2006 10:02:03 AM , Rating: 2

Not a big deal, just wait until closer to Xmas and you'll get even more $$. That's what everyone should be doing anyway. Plenty of people willing to pay 4 digits for this especially during Xmas. Let attention and hype build up to about 12/1 and then list it the week after. Guaranteed 4 digits then.

RE: Sants Claus is comin.... to town...

By Spivonious on 10/17/2006 10:08:44 AM , Rating: 2

Yay for Capitalism! And the idiots who pay more than retail because "Little Johnny wants one for Christmas."

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What if...

By shabby on 10/17/2006 8:19:24 PM , Rating: 2

i sold a reciept on ebay, which by dumb luck happens to be for a ps3 preorder? I mean i have the reciept in my hands, that is all im selling, and i can ship the reciept right away.
Would little loophole fly?

RE: What if...

By JeffDM on 10/17/2006 10:35:01 PM , Rating: 2

I think that would be grasping a bit much. I suppose you can try to just sell it as a receipt, but if the item says PS3 anywhere in it, I can't imagine them not taking it down. I can't imagine anyone paying for it unless they somehow knew that it was a PS3-related item.

This reminds me of one particular shenanigan where a person listed the PS2 box on eBay, it was cleverly worded too. The box sold for above-market prices for an entire system, so some person got duped into paying for an empty box.

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gone

By regnez on 10/17/2006 9:29:48 AM , Rating: 3

all the PS3's in that link have been removed. they are listed when you search for them, but actually clicking the item and going to the page, you will find:

"This listing (190040340743) has been removed or is no longer available. Please make sure you entered the right item number.
If the listing was removed by eBay, consider it canceled. Note: Listings that have ended more than 90 days ago will no longer appear on eBay."

What A Great Idea

By UserDoesNotExist on 10/17/2006 9:41:46 AM , Rating: 2

<rant>
If only Gamestop/EB Games/Funcoland would follow eBay's example.

I do have a Wii pre-order, but quite frankly, I really don't like having to camp out in order to have the ability to buy something over a month in the future, when they won't even guarantee that I'll get the item. I'd rather camp out to buy the item then and there. On the one hand, if they don't have the item, I'm just forced to wait as long as Gamestop wants since I already have $50 on it. On the other hand, if I don't have the money 48 hours after they receive the item, they just give it to someone else. Why can't I just get back my $50 and give it to another business 48 hours after Gamestop fails to deliver my item? It's a retailer's dream.
</rant>

some brave people

By NotAok on 10/17/2006 9:41:50 AM , Rating: 2

I was one of the lucky one who grabbed a preorder and I still wouldn't try to sell it. With all of the shortages and stuff who knows who's really going to get one. I know if i were to bid on a ps3 preorder and the seller didn't receive it I'd be pretty damn pissed.

and off-topic, I found it pretty pathetic how there were a good amount of people selling the ps3 preorders and featured a picture of the old ps3 look with the boomerang controller... Could they make it anymore obvious that they knew nothing about gaming and just wanted a quick buck?

Waiiiiiiiiiiiiiit......

By encryptkeeper on 10/17/2006 10:21:31 AM , Rating: 2

eBay says none of this nonsense for another month

Wait a month, THEN let the insanity begin.

Maybe they'll go for LESS on eBay after release??

By ninjit on 10/17/2006 3:52:23 PM , Rating: 2

It'll be interesting to see how things turn out after the PS3 is actually released.

If all the news bits about problems/failings with the system are true (and consumers verify them), those who pre-ordered may look to dump their purchases quick while there's still a profit to be made, before the average joe realizes it's better to wait.

Personally I never like being first on the band-wagon for anything new, and this is especially true for new tech-products.

1. Hight prices in itself
2. Low availability
3. Design/production issues.
4. And for consoles specifically, lack of choice in games to play.

It's amazing how just waiting a year helps with all of the above issues.

Its the same with people who wait hours in line to see a movie on opening night - I just don't get it, doesn't seem worth the effort.