[Updated] Nintendo Switch retail shortage is leading to exorbitant third-party pricing

[Pickles von Brine]

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In a nutshell: Toilet paper and hand sanitizer aren’t the only commodities in short supply as of late. Nintendo’s handheld Switch is also proving difficult to find in stock as more people are turning to gaming as a source of entertainment during shelter in place orders (and to play the new Animal Crossing).

New Switch bundles are available from third-parties on sites like Amazon and Walmart, so long as you’re prepared to pay a significant markup. The cheapest example on Amazon right now, for example, is north of $460 $506, well above the $299 MSRP.

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This has made it incredibly difficult to grab one of the consoles for your family to enjoy during the long hours of isolation that many of us now face. According to a report from Motherboard, the reason for this shortage is not just human demand (though that's part of it, in a way), but robots.

You read that right: scalpers are using a tool called "Bird Bot" to automatically purchase Switch consoles en masse, and at speeds that no human could possibly compete with. As soon as a digital storefront restocks its supply of Switches, these individuals snag them and then attempt to sell them at up to double (or more) their original price.

Really? Are you freaking serious? This is some absolute BS. Literally everything is sold out on amazon and the only ones available are used for 500 bucks! This is ridiculous!  What is wrong with people? I was looking to get one a week ago. Prices were normal then. In a week, this all happened. Freaking stupid man. People need to relax and chill. Times are tough, I get it, but do we have stoop to this level of nonsense?

[Valentyn]

I was actually looking into buying one, as I’ve never owned a Nintendo console. Seems fun and relaxing to relax out in the sun here with a relaxing game. I can see the Lite version is still in stock, but the normal one is out of stock, and resellers and “like new” selling for £420+ a pop.

 

Thats mental

 

 

[That Franc]

Well, there is a way around this.

 

Some dude built a Switch entirely out of replacement parts and it ran him mere 200 dollars - also covered by TechSpot, by the way

[James300]

I've had one delivered today (The delivery driver was named Mario, it was perfect!), and they're like goldust. I ordered from Currys at 1am yesterday morning, so not sure if their stock got updated at midnight.

 

In the UK, your best bet is to check hotukdeals regularly as the usual suspects (Argos, Currys, Very, Smyths) seem to have regular deliveries, but are selling out quickly. The community are great at posting up whenever anyone has stock

[Valentyn]

11 minutes ago, James300 said:

I've had one delivered today (The delivery driver was named Mario, it was perfect!), and they're like goldust. I ordered from Currys at 1am yesterday morning, so not sure if their stock got updated at midnight.

 

In the UK, your best bet is to check hotukdeals regularly as the usual suspects (Argos, Currys, Very, Smyths) seem to have regular deliveries, but are selling out quickly. The community are great at posting up whenever anyone has stock

Smyths here in Ireland had one for €329, and ordered one. The second console I've ever purchased.

[soldier_ph]

Good thing I bought my Switch Lite back in January, lmao.

[PlayStation 2]

My local Walmart was completely wiped of Switches period. Found it kinda hilarious, to be honest.

[imreloadin]

I mean it makes sense, people are being forced to stay inside and a lot of them just got a $1,200 stimulus check deposited in their account starting Monday...

[Pickles von Brine]

People are actually scalping these things now. Check ebay. 

[Commodus]

1 hour ago, Pascal... said:

Good thing I bought my Switch Lite back in January, lmao.

You can still find the Switch Lite in places -- it's the regular one that's selling out because people want a game system they can use in the living room.  And one that includes plenty of kids' games, I'd add.

 

I suspect part of this is because Nintendo had a supply hiccup some weeks ago, and we're seeing the ripple effect of that.  Still, it'll be funny if Nintendo ends up crushing it over the next few months where Sony and Microsoft have to deal with an end-of-generation lull in sales.

[GoodBytes]

Tags are not allowed in the title under the Tech News section.

If you are concerned by the validity of the source to a point that you need to warn people on the title, then don't post it.

 

Thank you.

 

[Pickles von Brine]

4 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

Tags are not allowed in the title under the Tech News section.

If you are concerned by the validity of the source to a point that you need to warn people on the title, then don't post it.

 

Thank you.

 

OHHHHHHHHHH. I didn't know that is what you meant by a tag. Okay, noted for the future. I am ao use to following the guidelines for OCN's news section. Still getting over that. Thank you for informing me. @GoodBytes

[Brooksie359]

Doesn't seem like a bid deal to me. You can just wait until it comes back in stock or pay more for it from a third party. I mean it is not as crazy of a markup compared to what I thought it was going to be based on the title which would indicate the supply issue isn't that bad. If it was really bad then it would be going for much higher than 500. 

[Pickles von Brine]

3 minutes ago, Brooksie359 said:

Doesn't seem like a bid deal to me. You can just wait until it comes back in stock or pay more for it from a third party. I mean it is not as crazy of a markup compared to what I thought it was going to be based on the title which would indicate the supply issue isn't that bad. If it was really bad then it would be going for much higher than 500. 

The markup is still really high regardless. This is a device new goes for 299. Yet people are trying to charge 500. In some cases, I have seen as much as 700 on ebay. 

[Valentyn]

3 hours ago, imreloadin said:

I mean it makes sense, people are being forced to stay inside and a lot of them just got a $1,200 stimulus check deposited in their account starting Monday...

Wish we got something like that in Ireland.

Also doesn't explain the pricing I posted from the UK. Just down to less made in China, and more people trying to turn a profit.

[GreyestGoat]

12 hours ago, Valentyn said:

I was actually looking into buying one, as I’ve never owned a Nintendo console. Seems fun and relaxing to relax out in the sun here with a relaxing game. I can see the Lite version is still in stock, but the normal one is out of stock, and resellers and “like new” selling for £420+ a pop.

 

Thats mental

 

 

Holy...........

[Pickles von Brine]

Off of ebay. Scalping is a thing now. 

[732]

39 minutes ago, Pickles - Lord of the Jar said:

Off of ebay. Scalping is a thing now. 

What's the quality of the switches?

Mine has a dented joy-con but imagine selling it for $400 and getting a $100 profit 

[Tristerin]

Ahhh capitalism.  This is how supply and demand works.

[GoodBytes]

Just wait a week or so, then things will be back to normal. China are starting its factories, correct not at 100%, but your Switch will be in stores soon enough.

Spending this much, on a console that probably will get a refresh next year (my analysis), is most likely not wise.

[PocketNerd]

So it's just the Switch launch all over again. Got it

[S w a t s o n]

3 hours ago, PocketNerd said:

So it's just the Switch launch all over again. Got it

Way worse than launch, at least here. I sold my used switch with some games for $800 CAD

[KWelz]

I was able to get a Black Lite for myself and a Yellow Lite for my wife from Sams Club.  But the full size unites are unobtanium.  

 

[Pickles von Brine]

Just now, KWelz said:

I was able to get a Black Lite for myself and a Yellow Lite for my wife from Sams Club.  But the full size unites are unobtanium.  

 

Think about how you just state that sentence. Take off your filter, let things get wrong and read it again. I did. I died. XD

[Soppro]

Not even the Switch, but the Animal Crossing Edition ... I'm seeing those things listed for like A$700-800, hell there was even an Amazon listing for $1100 ..