For many Australians hopeful to get their hands on the latest gaming console by December 25, it was always going to take more than a Christmas miracle.
The shortage has been happening for over a year due to the pandemic and high-demandNot even the manufacturers can keep up with demand, let alone Santa and his elves.
COVID-19 has impacted supply chains, meaning it's taking much longer to make things and then get them to people who want them.Microsoft, the company that makes Xbox, struggled to get enough of the consoles for a gaming tournament. "The console makers did warn they expected that they wouldn't be able to keep up with demand when the new generation launched late last year, but I think they've still been surprised by both the demand and how long it has taken to try to catch up," Byrne said.Bots beating humans to the shopping cart
Finally, on December 14, he got a message that an Australian game retailer had PS5s available for pre-order and managed to buy it on the first go. The fierce competition has made the market rife for scalpers, who use bots to snatch up stock from retailers then charge double or more.Scammers also lure hopeful buyers in with the promise of a console, only to leave them with empty hands and pockets.
"If they've got, you know, nefarious reasons for buying up the stock and reselling it for an exorbitant price, it's hard to say whether or not they're going to give you the original receipt for you to go back and make a warranty claim," Innes said.
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