The Nintendo Switch 2 craze is real: a man sells his pre-order for $450—without the console
Nintendo fans are fighting back against scalpers, and some are even making a profit from it.
With Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders selling out instantly, scalpers have flooded eBay with listings demanding exorbitant prices for the upcoming console. But in a hilarious twist, some users have started selling printed pictures of the Switch 2, effectively trolling scalpers and bots that automatically buy listings.
Scalpers vs. anti-scalpers—how the chaos unfolded
As soon as Switch 2 pre-orders opened, listings appeared on eBay offering the console for $1,000 or more, far above its official $450 retail price. However, some sellers decided to fight back, flooding eBay with fake listings that only include a printed image of the console.
One listing, priced at $540, explicitly states that buyers will receive a black-and-white printout instead of an actual Switch 2. Another seller even warned buyers not to purchase, explaining that the listing was designed to confuse bots and scalpers.
Why are people doing this?
The tactic aims to disrupt automated scalping bots, which scan eBay for new listings and purchase consoles before real buyers can. By flooding the marketplace with fake listings, sellers hope to slow down scalpers and make it harder for them to resell consoles at inflated prices.
The Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order frenzy has led to unexpected tactics from frustrated buyers, with some using printed pictures to fight back against scalpers. Whether this method proves effective remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Switch 2 hype is real, and people are willing to go to extreme lengths to secure their console.
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