Latest news with #BestBuys
Gizmodo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
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.
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'Best' supermarket sausages - and it's not Aldi, Morrisons or Asda
Consumer experts at Which? have tried out a variety of sausages to find the best - just in time for the Bank Holiday Budget supermarket Lidl has trounced premium rivals in a major blind taste test of pork sausages – just in time for the Bank Holiday barbecue season. A 65-strong panel of ordinary consumers, independently recruited and blindfolded to branding, tucked into sausages from major retailers and household brands in a test designed to uncover the best bangers Britain has to offer. Three emerged as Best Buys, with Lidl 's Deluxe Pork Sausages not only topping the charts with a score of 77%, but also clinching the Great Value accolade thanks to their modest £2.49 price tag for 400g – just 62p per 100g. Described as 'good looking and succulent', Lidl's sausages won praise across the board. An impressive 80% of tasters rated the meaty flavour as perfect, with two-thirds saying the herb and spice balance hit the mark. Around 75% liked the salt levels, and a similar number were pleased with the texture – judged to be neither too coarse nor too fine. However, they come with a health warning. Two sausages contain 11.5g of saturated fat, more than half the recommended daily limit for women. M&S and Sainsbury's serve up premium picks M&S 's Collection British Outdoor Bred Pork Sausages and Sainsbury's Taste the Difference British Pork Sausages both scored 75%, earning Best Buy status. M&S's offering, at £4.50 for 400g (£1.13 per 100g), was praised by three-quarters of tasters for flavour, juiciness and salt levels. Two-thirds liked the texture, although opinion was split on the seasoning. These were also the joint priciest on test. Sainsbury's sausages, £3 for 400g (75p per 100g), were dubbed excellent all-rounders. More than 70% gave top marks for pork flavour, juiciness, and seasoning. But a third found the appearance too pale. The also-rans Despite a polished reputation, The Black Farmer Premium Pork Sausages (72%) fell just short of Best Buy status. At £3.50 for 400g (88p per 100g), they impressed with juiciness, but a third of testers found the seasoning underwhelming. Asda 's Exceptional Classic Pork Sausages followed closely with 71% – third cheapest at £2.98 for 400g (75p per 100g). Though flavour and texture were applauded, almost half of testers found the seasoning lacking. How the rest of the field stacked up Morrisons The Best Thick Pork Sausages – 70%: Tasty with good aroma, but texture divided opinion. £3.25 (81p/100g). Aldi Specially Selected – 69%: Satisfying texture but a little bland. £2.49 (62p/100g). Co-op Irresistible – 69%: Juicy but pale. £3.60 (90p/100g). The Jolly Hog Proper Porker – 69%: Decent but unremarkable. £4 (100p/100g). Iceland Luxury The Ultimate – 65%: Juicy yet bland and pale. £4 (100p/100g). Waitrose No.1 Free Range – 62%: Juicy but let down by looks and seasoning. £4.50 (113p/100g). Heck 97% Pork Sausages – 54%: The biggest disappointment. Over 60% found the pork flavour too weak and more than half wanted more seasoning. Notably, Heck sausages use beef collagen casings. £3.25 (81p/100g). Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of Home Products and Services, said: 'Sausages are a summer barbecue staple for many, so it's important to pick the right ones that will have your guests queuing up for more. Lidl came out on top for our taste tests, impressing with their juicy texture and meaty flavour. While pricier than Lidl's, M&S and Sainsbury's also dished up impressively succulent sausages.' How the sausages were tested The sausages were blind-tested in April 2025 under controlled conditions at a specialist lab. Participants, chosen to reflect a representative UK demographic, tasted sausages individually in private booths to prevent influence from others, Which? said. Each sausage was scored based on: 50% flavour 20% appearance 15% aroma 15% texture
