PS3 on eBay pulls in $10,100

by Kevin Kelly { Nov 16th 2006 at 3:10PM }

A PlayStation 3 pre-order up for auction on eBay ended just 45 minutes ago as of the writing of this post, fetching over ten thousand dollars. If this guy doesn't get his pre-order, and we have a feeling that's going to be happening a lot tomorrow, can the winning bidder get out of it? Yes, according to the notes on the auction, although you still have to pay for shipping (wtf?). His wife is getting in on the bling action as well, "my wife is first in line at our local Walmart and she is also garunteed a PS3 so I will have 2 of them at midight."

We don't know anything about the winning bidder except he's apparently a Florida Gators fan. Let's hope he didn't type an accidental zero in there when bidding ... 10k for a PS3 is quite a stretch from the $600 asking price. We've emailed him for some answers, hopefully he hasn't had to hock his computer to pay for this baby.

The guy who is reselling 100 PS3s is probably crapping his pants right now. Just keep the receipts for the Ferrari and the yacht in Bermuda. Impulse buys can be a real bitch.

Tags: $10,000, bling, eBay, holy crap, money, PlayStation 3, PS3, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Chris @ Nov 16th 2006 6:51PM

I go to UF, and that just makes me sad.

crono141 @ Nov 16th 2006 3:24PM

Some people are just stupid as hell. Was it worth 9500 extra dollars to have it 2 months before the common man?

Its not like they're only making 400k for the rest of eternity.

Damn.

Marty @ Nov 16th 2006 3:24PM

Not surprised, I saw a 360 go for a similar price during it's crazy post-launch eBay auctions.

Hemisphere @ Nov 16th 2006 3:27PM

I can't imagine what sort of comment this post is hoping to draw :D

Abe Froman @ Nov 16th 2006 3:26PM

If I'm Sony, I would be bidding for something outrageous like $10,000 for a PS3 just to get the extra publicity. It's all about marketing. It's a good way to create artificially excessive demand, creating a huge buzz.

darko82 @ Nov 16th 2006 3:26PM

Human beings really are stupid. There are no decent games for the PS3 yet (there are better new games coming out for the PS2), so what the hell is the point of owning one right now, just to say, hey look everyone, I have a useless PS3!! WTF?

Kevin @ Nov 16th 2006 3:37PM

I just have one thing to say..

Why? haha

flymolo @ Nov 16th 2006 3:29PM

this guy got more
http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-Playstation-3-PS3-System-Console-Premium-60GB_W0QQitemZ110055209362QQihZ001QQcategoryZ62054QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

slestak @ Nov 16th 2006 3:36PM

"garunteed"? Maybe his wife should pick up a dictionary as well.

crono141 @ Nov 16th 2006 3:32PM

Hemisphere

You know, they don't blog to get comments. They blog to share what they've heard, buzz, for fun, to keep the people informed.

I'm sick of the joystiq hating here. They don't post bad news to get hits, they don't post bad reviews of TP for hits, they post it because there's bad news, and because a blogger had issues with TP.

This blogger posts this story to tell everyone, not just commenters, that there are some really rich dumb people out there.

Gatorade @ Nov 16th 2006 3:33PM

Must've come with a free pair of jean shorts.

Steve @ Nov 16th 2006 3:35PM

Abe Froman has a good point. $10,100 is a cheap price to pay for all the free publicity this act will get.

Jeff @ Nov 16th 2006 3:36PM

"this guy got more"

No, he got less. About $10,100 less, because he ain't seeing a dime of that money. Look at the feedback rating of the buyer in your auction. And all those positive comments were no doubt left by him and a couple friends with shill accounts. Happens all the time.

The $10,000 auction winner actually has a decent amount of feedback, but I still doubt he's going to follow through on payment.

Every time there's a video game auction like this, it gets posted up as if the money has actually changed hands. The truth is most of these auctions end up going nowhere for either party involved. The buyer thinks better of it, the seller doesn't have the unit, or both. Think about it - if the buyer gets cold feet, is he going to go through with a $10,000 purchase on principle, or is he going to say "screw it" at the risk of a few angry emails?

Kenny @ Nov 16th 2006 3:37PM

It's over Nine THOUSAAAAAAAAAAND!!!!

BklynKid @ Nov 16th 2006 6:45PM

That is INSANE. And exactly why I wanted to pre-order a PS3. :)

Oh well.

adam @ Nov 16th 2006 3:38PM

Some people have more money than sense

christopher @ Nov 16th 2006 4:01PM

I hate to say it, but if someone is stupid enough to bid that much for a PS3, then I say bravo to the guy who got a $9,400 profit on that sale. Too bad Sony only gets $600 b/c they probably could use the money.

Like P.T. Barnum once said, "There's a sucker born every minute."

Jeff @ Nov 16th 2006 3:38PM

"The truth is most of these auctions end up going nowhere for either party involved."

btw I'm not talking about the $1,500 auctions you're seeing all over the place for the PS3. I'm talking about these outliers; the $1.8 million Atlantis II's, the $15,000 PS3's, etc. In cases like that, one or both parties involved is obviously not serious.

Hemisphere @ Nov 16th 2006 3:39PM

Number 7: What?
Number 12: Yes!

Tim-E @ Nov 16th 2006 3:49PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBtpyeLxVkI

It's over NINE THOUSAAAAAAAND!

Fluckduffy @ Nov 17th 2006 6:26AM

Dumb, Dumb, Dumb, Dumb. Hell, even dumping that 10K into a 6 month CD (current national average yield of 5.55 percent) will cover the cost of a bran new PS3 on interest alone.

F*cking stupid.

Joe SMith @ Nov 16th 2006 5:47PM

I call BS on this one. No one is either that stupid or that rich. If you have $10g's to drop on a game system you mean to tell me you can't just bribe a clerk at Best Buy?

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Nov 16th 2006 3:47PM

In a word...

recoculatardiousy!

Lansing @ Nov 16th 2006 3:49PM

here is an idea...
why doesn't sony just launch their console on ebay, its launching there anyway why not cut out the middle men and make some more money!

DaveDaGamer @ Nov 16th 2006 3:50PM

How was the purchasers rep? I'm seeing a lot of Zero rep bidders on the 5k PS3's. Could be artificial inflation. I think the average price of these things are gonna be in the 1k - 2k range.

JKTrix @ Nov 16th 2006 3:51PM

Yeah, I'll hold on to the yacht *and* the Ferrari if you like. Keep the receipt yourself!

/me lives in Bermuda.

Scott @ Nov 16th 2006 3:54PM

Joystiq,

Why no thanks for sending in that tip? :(

Just kidding.

Farseer @ Nov 16th 2006 4:16PM

Seriously, take a look at the bid history on any of these outrageous auctions. None of them have much (if any) eBay purchase history. This means one of two things: someone created an account to drive up the price and not suffer any consequences for bailing out *gasp, or the person didn't know what they were getting into. Either way, #11 had it right. There's very little chance that any money will change hands at this time. That is, unless there is a third thing that I overlooked: stupidity. I'd much rather lean towards a conspiracy than think that there are people who could simply be that stupid.

kodec @ Nov 16th 2006 3:54PM

I guarantee this guy won't pay.

I'm wondering how many fake eBay accounts will spring up with the intention of just driving PS3 auction bids through the roof just to defer on payment.

Iscariote @ Nov 16th 2006 3:57PM

I think the eBay price of these will settle around 1200-1300. The prices will go down when launch happens, and then back up right before Christmas, and then they'll steadily drop as supply ramps up through the spring. In January of this year you could buy premium 360s for like $50 more than the 360 and tax.

As people above have said the five digit auctions are all closing with lots of shill bidding.

Rich or not, why pay $10,000 for the PS3 when you could win another auction for $1,500? Oh no if I don't pay I might lose my precious eBay account.

DaveDaGamer @ Nov 16th 2006 3:57PM

What really should be put in question is: Why when it comes to game consoles and certain toys, does the price go through the roof?

As one responder said, this is not a limited edition one of a kind run. Also, we know from history with electronics, a lot of these systems are going to malfunction. I don't understand the craze. I do understand the need to be first, but not to the point where you pay 3x retail, when it's not limited edition special.

Just my two cents.

StMadnes @ Nov 17th 2006 5:12PM

I just want to know what kind of moron would pay 10Gs for a PS3! too bad money can't buy sense..

Fhaze @ Nov 16th 2006 4:18PM

Only a few more hours till the beatings in the parking lot begin.

Have we learned anything from the X-Box 360 launch?

devildogGator @ Nov 16th 2006 5:18PM

Nobody likes a sloppy Gator.

WTF @ Nov 16th 2006 4:44PM

There are "fake" bids out there like this guy called "greedypeoplesuck" ruined a few auctions but then ebay cancelled his account. I have just witnessned 3 "REAL" auctions go trough from reputable sellers to reputable buyers and the going price right now for the 60gig premium PS3 pre-orders guaranteed to ship out tomorrow (Nov 17)is US 3500$

Scott @ Nov 16th 2006 4:47PM

...I'm thoroughly surprised...

most auctions are going for between 2k and 4k...I thought the MAX would be 2k

Wow...

John @ Nov 16th 2006 5:41PM

As the old saying goes..."A fool and his money are soon parted".... in 6 months these people paying $10k for the PS3 will just look stupid. There aren't even any good games out yet. They'll sit there at Christmas staring at this box and probably feel bored...but hey....$10k....typical American mentality!!! STUPID!

WTF @ Nov 16th 2006 4:57PM

Explanation for the high prices = Nerd Wars

1) Nerds have money $$$

2) 3 types of nerds want the PS3

Nerd A =
Videogame nut

Nerd B =
Home Theater nut (wants BluRay and HDMI 1.3

Nerd C =
Videogame AND Home Theater nut (the most dangerous of of the nerds...can be recognized by the foaming at the mouth, constant ramblings "ya must buy PS3" (in Rain Man's voice)+ keeps his hands occupied with a rubix cube

Same as when they where in school, the nerds better watch out for the bullies that will be waiting to beat them up in the parking lot but this time it aint there lunch money they will be stealing :)

Judd @ Nov 16th 2006 5:13PM

$10,000*100 PS3's= 1 MILLION DOLLARS!

Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo @ Nov 16th 2006 5:44PM

Even better
http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-PLAYSTATION-3-PS3-60GB-PREMIUM-SYSTEM-PREORDER_W0QQitemZ270054974671QQihZ017QQcategoryZ62054QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270054974671

Stan @ Nov 16th 2006 6:07PM

See if you can complete this popular quotation:

A ____ and his _____ are soon parted.

Andy @ Nov 16th 2006 6:01PM

Yea that's nothing, i just saw a ps3 preorder system sell for $30,300. No joke. Within the last 2 minutes it was at $30,100, then they actually got outbid and someone won it at $30,300. Absolutely absurd. If I were the seller, I would be buying a new car.

WTF @ Nov 16th 2006 6:08PM

No... If you are the seller, you are pulling your hair out because some dickwad just screwed with your 3 day auction (apparently, it's a rule that the pre-order PS3 sales on Ebay must be minimum 3 day sales).

ackmondual @ Nov 16th 2006 6:17PM

Dang, that beats the $9600 sale I found on Ebay the other day.

.

@ #31
Even still, those ppl with alot of disposable income with a love (devotion) to BR and the PS series could've gotten a superior stand-alone BR player, PS3 console (not necessarily at MSRP, but still MUCH ) cheaper), AND a HUGE-screen, 1080p HDTV and *STILL* had thousands of $$ left over.

Truly overkill