[Editor’s note- This applies to our gamers in the UK, and whilst we all stand behind Davey’s sentiments in this article, we won’t condone any foul language or visually disturbing metaphors he chooses to use. We will not apologise however, if you take offence at this, as he’s got a point]
Intro
2020 has been one hell of a year, hasn’t it? From the Gamerhub getting its mojo back, to a certain President getting unseated, there’s been a lot to like about 2020. I am, of course, being facetious here, because the rest of this article won’t be packed with jokes and pop-culture references. There’s no obligatory “your mum” joke in here either, as for once, I’m going to have to be serious. Congratulations, humans, you’ve made me be serious for a wee bit.
In the beginning of November 2020, three new consoles were released to the gaming market, and they are all of the next generation of consoles. The PlayStation 5, the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S all got sold in every market worldwide. From my personal experience here, it’s been very difficult to get my hands on any of the consoles, and the story is the same for most people in the UK. Particularly in the Central belt in Scotland, we’re facing the toughest restrictions in wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
With a dearth of next-gen consoles available in the run-up before the holidays, Brexit (which I’ve been told I’m not allowed to talk about yet) and heavy lockdowns in most parts in the UK, it’s become increasingly apparent that the fortunate few who got their hands on the consoles here bought them in multiple amounts to make a quick buck. Normally, if this helps people get their hands on the console and they wouldn’t be able to normally, I’d be for this.
The Issue
Sadly however, the quick buck has not been generated fairly or honestly. Instead, across second-hand marketplaces such as eBay, Facebook, Shpock and other sites, there’s a wave of people selling these new consoles at ridiculously high prices. Today was supposed to contain a review of Nickelodeon Kart Racers, as I push towards reviewing and recommending games to play for the festive season, but this lunacy has put it on ice. Here’s why:
Firstly, we cannot avoid acknowledging that right now, we live in a country where one in three people live on or below the poverty line in the UK. The figures vary country by country, but in the western world, there isn’t much money to splash around. From people losing their jobs in a variety of industries to people being paid a furlough payment of 80% for a limited time, it’s a financial fartstorm for most. The purchasing of these consoles by some must have taken one hefty chunk of change from their pockets. Thankfully, Microsoft have set up financial plans for the less well off, but the fact remains the same.
To press on this point further, both myself and the editor of this article have been contacted by a mother asking us if we could help raise money so that her extremely unwell son could get his hands on the console. In the context of all this, you can understand why we might be a bit ticked off by people selling a £450 console for figures around the £900 mark.
Secondly, for those of us fortunate enough to be able to afford the new consoles, many people in the area where several of us live cannot go to our local Game (or other stores) because the “not necessary” shops have been closed to help reduce the rate of transmission of COVID-19. I’m not arguing about whether this virus exists or not, so if that’s you, just listen in. Our economy is being strangled by this move, in order to save lives. Therefore, getting our hands on these consoles relies on us being able to purchase them online, and right now, we can’t. At the time of writing, every online retailer I’ve checked has sold out on all three of the consoles.
This is why people are checking the second-hand marketplaces such as the ones featured on Facebook, and the sites such as eBay, Gumtree and Shpock. For the most part, people are charging well above the price you would have normally been able to pay in the shops. Had the release of the consoles happened before this bugger of a year, people would have been able to call this out, with little repercussions. Seeing as most of us are locked inside of our houses this year though, people are taking full advantage of these circumstances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you’re lucky enough to own not one, but several versions of the same console during these times, I have a few suggestions for you. If you’re wanting to get rid of the unnecessary console, and improve somebody’s life, then do the following.
Firstly, you could always donate it to charity. There are several around the world that you can do, but personally, I’d recommend Get Well Gamers, who give high-quality and high-spec consoles to gamers facing severe medical issues. They’re a fantastic charity who I’ve dealt with in the past, and the benefits of video gaming for pain management cannot be ignored. They focus mainly on children and young people in hospitals, and rely on donations for financing alone.
Alternatively, you can sell the consoles second hand, but unlike the aforementioned buzzkills and miscreants, make enough profit to make it worth your while, but not overcharge people. If that’s you, then I recommend making about £50-75 on the console, depending on location and who you’re selling to. This was me some time ago, when I bought two Playstation 4’s at launch, under the mistaken impression that my brother wanted one. I ended up selling one at £400, when the retail price was £350. £50 profit for myself, and the money back for the extra console.
We live in unprecedented times, folks. Right now, we could all use a helping hand with each other, but please, don’t rip off your fellow gamers to get a leg up. We had enough of Bethesda doing that to us with Fallout 76 and EA filling their games full of lootboxes and micro-transactions.
Yours,
Davey
