Buying a PS5 from FB Marketplace - Pitfalls?

[Beanicles]

I've had a quick search through the PS5 mega-thread and this pops up in passing, not not conclusively.

As much as I loathe the idea of having to shell out to scalpers, 12 months on there's no clear alternative to get my son a PS5 for Christmas. My work and family commitments make it difficult to monitor the stock checkers and be in a position to act quickly.

Whilst grudgingly happy to pay over the odds for a scalper's console, I'm obviously keen to avoid a scam.

There are numerous PS5 Disc Editions for sale local to me on FB marketplace. Prices are less than I would have expected at around £550/560 (I believe that the disc edition is £499 in the UK?) which makes me concerned.

Here's the thing though. The items are collection only, I can pay cash (so no upfront/online payment) and they also offer that I can unbox and test the console before leaving. That being the case, what exactly is the hustle here, as I can't see how I'd be parted from my money without actually getting the console? One final thing that makes me suspicious... When I view the sellers, they all have more than one console for sale (although they're selling other stuff too) and when I view the profiles they're all quite quiet since, say 2019.

Thoughts? Has anyone here bought one from FB marketplace, or know of what a given scam is likely to be?

 

[Beanicles]

Disc edition is £450 so you're paying a £100 premium for the privilege. That's the equivalent of two games or a headset.

You've got three months, I'd suggest holding off and seeing what Sony's plan is for the inevitable Christmas demand. Obviously the scalpers will be out in full force too but it may become easier for regular, honest, civilised people to get hold of one in the process.

Ah I see, that makes more sense if they're pocketing £100. I understand your thinking vis-a-vis holding off, but my genuine fear is losing out - I'd never normally be considering Xmas purchases this far out but I'd hate to let him down two Christmases on the trot, and I fully understand the whiff of rank consumerism around all this. Still, I remember getting by Spectrum +2 back in Christmas '86 (I think!) and it meant the world to me...

 

[Beanicles]

Walk into your local game and give your name and number. Took me 10 days to get one. Do not buy off FB or any other crap.

I might try that if it's genuinely going to be that easy. My fear is of losing out through the legitimate, correct channels and demand is only going to grow as the festive period approaches.

 

[Beanicles]

Thanks everyone for your replies, due to the aforementioned lack of time I've managed to miss all of my notifications!

I appreciate all of your input, genuinely. To provide a bit of additional background to my situation I work 60+ hours a week running my small business and my wife is currently unable to drive for medical reasons. I'm therefore picking up the slack for getting my two children to clubs, sporting events, before and after school care as well as taking my wife to and from work. This isn't a request for sympathy you understand - I have a great life and family just pointing out that I'm not being lazy when I say I haven't got time to visit Game, check stock alerts, pop into Argos etc.

So based on all of your advice I've resolved to do the following - I'll install the Hot Stock app and monitor it for the next 3 weeks. Equally I'll try and call into Game this weekend and speak with a manager to see if that can possible bear fruit. If at the end of this I've been unsuccessful I'll swallow my pride and pay the extra to one of these unscrupulous scalpers. Thank you to the person who mentioned buying from FB marketplace. You've reassured me that these people are just grifters and not actually scammers or criminals (well, not all!)

I know that this is an extravagant gift for my son, but as a deluded parent I feel he's worth it and I over-compensate for my own childhood where my parents (whilst wonderful) couldn't afford to get me nice things.

Anyway, thanks again everyone - as previously mentioned I genuinely appreciate it.

 

[Beanicles]

Hi everyone.

Thank you for all of the supportive messages and information. Just providing a bit of feedback as to where I'm up to - I figure that's the very least I can do when so many people have offered their assistance!

So I have installed the HotStock app and configured it to send alerts at all times. Thus far there have been maybe 20 alerts, and I would estimate that I've been in a position to follow up around half of them either immediately or within the first 2 minutes. Invariably either the site is down (most common for John Lewis) or the site has sold out by the time it has loaded in my browser (Asda, Amazon, Smyths). I haven't given up though, and will stick with my three week plan as detailed above.

I didn't get chance to call into Game at the weekend, unfortunately - there simply wasn't time - but I'm hopeful of being able to this weekend.

I like the idea of using Discord but I get the impression (maybe wrong) that I'd either have to have it closely monitored or simply be lucky with when I checked in. My work means that I travel around quite a lot and don't get too long sat in front of my laptop or phone.

Still hopeful of getting one through the official channels!