Screw the Scalpers: The Switch 2 Is Not Worth Paying Resale Prices
Gamers no longer have to imagine the grueling anxieties of past console launches. As we greet the sun today, it seems the Switch 2 midnight events that took place at Best Buys and GameStops all across the U.S. were relatively calm affairs. Except for a few outliers, there was little in the way of mobs driven into a frenzy for lack of stock or people huddling together for warmth for days before launch. It was calm enough; the scalpers seemed to have finally missed the boat with what is likely the biggest hardware release of the year.
Those who were unlucky and failed to finalize a preorder or stake out Nintendo's new handheld in person should take this lax atmosphere as a sign that they shouldn't need to shell out hundreds extra on Nintendo's sequel Switch. Already, eBay is inundated with Switch 2 listings selling for $700 on average, $250 more than the console at its MSRP. Some listings for the system with Mario Kart World bundled in are asking for $800 or more. Even if the game costs $80 by itself, it's certainly not worth spending $300 more than what you'd spend in a store.
Last night's midnight launch felt nostalgic. It's been a few years since people felt excited enough for new hardware that they were willing to hold their bladders for hours just to get a console on launch day. Stores played the game better than they have at previous events. Most GameStops and Best Buys handed out tickets to customers beforehand, limiting them to one unit per adult. Scalpers could only make their way home with a single item. For volume, scalpers instead relied on websites' broken preorder systems.
It's not yet clear if scalpers made a wide dent in the overall Switch 2 supply. However, there are signs, based on anecdotes posted to Reddit and X, that most people who wanted to wrap their hungry mitts around Nintendo's new console on launch day were able to secure one. It's a good sign for those of us who didn't want to wait through the night just to play their new console come morning. Even if your local shops are out of stock, Nintendo has made inroads with Samsung to help the Japanese console maker produce even more Switch 2s going forward. If supply does run dry, you may not need to wait too long before a restock.
If you do go to a GameStop to pick up a Switch 2, just make sure they're not brandishing a stapler anywhere near your device. Several customers who bought a Switch 2 found that the games retailer had stapled their receipts to their box. The Switch 2 lies relatively close to the box lid, and the staples have damaged the plastic film that sits on top of the screen. One customer who went to a GameStop in Staten Island, New York, said he received a damaged system. We reached out to GameStop for comment about damaged units and possible returns, and we'll update this post if we hear back.
Nintendo bears some blame here. It made the odd decision to place the precious console so close to the box's exterior, making it more liable to damage. Either way, if you found your console was stapled, you should look to your local shop to return and replace the console. You may be surprised which still have stock. Turning to resellers is certainly not worth it. Nintendo bosses know the best way to deal with scalpers is to make enough Switch 2s for everyone who wants one. Now the folks at Nintendo just have to follow through.
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