Price Scalping For The SNES Classic Has Already Begun
Nintendo only announced the SNES Classic yesterday, but that hasn’t stopped eBay sellers from already listing the system online at more than double the retail price. Eurogamer reported that multiple sellers on the auction site have put their pre-orders up for sale, ranging in price from £180 to £300. Whilst most of the listings are around the £200, that is still more than double the £80 price that stores were selling the system at.
The Japanese company has already confirmed it will be producing “significantly more” SNES Classic Edition consoles than it did with the NES Mini, possibly as a way of combating the disappointment many gamers felt. The move should have also meant scalpers wouldn’t have as much of an effect but it seems like it hasn’t worked.
All three stores that were stocking the system in the UK have now sold out and are no longer taking pre-orders online. Those who act fast might be able to get a pre-order in-store at GAME, though, they will have to put down £50 rather than £10 after the retailer saw such high demand.
What is worse for those who can only get their hands on the new console this way is that the eBay listings for these pre-orders means buyers will have to wait until after the official release date to receive their console, as the seller will have to get their system and then mail it out.
Jason76
July 23, 2017 @ 9:58 pm
Honestly, I think a lot of this stuff is silly. I mean, they could easily put a lot of those games on the Wii, Wii U or Switch, and they have already, take Super Mario All-Stars (Wii), for instance. However, though, people want the original system for nostalgia purposes and I can't blame them somewhat.
Anyway, another advantage is the fact the system is way more kid friendly, but that's probably not the major motivation of the buyers.
Ammyfan
July 23, 2017 @ 11:39 pm
With UK stores not taking pre-orders anymore, it is obvious there's unfilled demand out there. I'm surprised that Nintendo don't produce a load more of the consoles. They could make more money and flood the scalpers out of the market.
I won't be buying one, though. As a die-hard retro gamer I have the original.