EBay puts limits on PlayStation 3 sales
 

EBay puts limits on PlayStation 3 sales
Nov. 15, 2006. 06:25 PM

SAN JOSE, Calif. (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 US$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."

Ho! That's sad news for all PS3 buyers! Hurry while supplies last! :(

thats fucked up

People know people. They will just have their friends sell the other boxes for them.

People paying over $3,500 are on crack.

This one paid over $5,000!

http://cgi.ebay.com/PLAYSTATION-3-PS...QQcmdZViewItem

thats only for pre-sales

Winning bidder has 0 feedback. He won't see a penny of that $5K.

I'll have to wait till the rush is over :(

I was actually thinking about heading down to futureshop here in toronto but I called the store and there is already a long line.. and they dont open until tomorrow at 8am :Oh crap

wow, they will be selling for more now...

The lines started yesterday here in Indy.

wasn't this known for a while now?

heh, you have to love how eBay manipulates the marketplace. I can understand the limits to only established sellers since there is alot of fraud, but one per account is stupid. eBay really is becoming just like Microsoft...

ebay isn't the only way to sell shit. you could even place classified ads in newspapers...

the price for the ps3 keep going up its crazy!

why dont people just wait
or better yet why didnt they fork out the pennies to pre-order it before hand?

Seems fair to serve the customers.. but not too fond of the limit per account

Why not just wait another while, and then get it with no problems at all ?

People have had to wait because of delays and shit already, so what difference would waiting another short while do now ??

you couldn't pre-order unless you got as lucky as you are in getting one now.

It isn't like you could go online to Bestbuy and preorder one, very few places did any perorders to begin with.