- Nintendo Switch 2 pre -orders have started in the US
- We’ve seen several eBay lists promising a switch 2 pre-order but they are not what they look like
- Instead of a console you get a photo of Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 pre -orders are happening right now, or at least they were until supplies dried to almost any major retailer. At present, some are on their way to eBay, where there are of course markings on pre -ordered, next generation consoles.
At least that’s what they seem to be, but the truth is far more encouraging.
It’s been a bit of a bumpy path for Nintendo Switch 2. While the early practical reports praised the product for its larger size, larger screen, faster processor, more storage and reshaped Joy-Cons, some were annoyed that it did not come with an OLED screen.
Next, impending US tariffs set the pre -ordering process on wait, where it slipped from April 8 to today, April 24.
At least Nintendo endeavored to manage direct sales by limiting these first orders to those who have a Nintendo Switch online membership for at least the last 12 months and those who could also prove that they have played at least 50 hours on the platform.
These efforts should have cut down the number of early buyers to a more manageable size and also shooed scalpers away. Meanwhile, other retailers such as Best Buy, Gamestop, Walmart and Target opened for pre -orders without these provisions. And considering how fast supplies are drained, it is not clear scalps that still did not do their dirty work.
At least a few enterprising eBay sellers think so. We found three separate lists that look like pre -determined scalp agreements. Two of them are for about $ 500, which is not bad, only $ 50 above the list price.
However, these lists include the phrase “Read Description!” And this is where you learn that you are not offering the actual console, but on a printout of someone else’s proof of a Nintendo Switch 2 pre -order.
Why should eBay sellers do this? Apparently it’s a noble act. Here’s a description (all caps are theirs):
“*This is a list of preventing bots/dealers absolutely no refund ** You buy a picture of my pre -order and a picture of a switch to console. Not the actual system again to prevent bots and dealers*
Another wrote, “This is a picture of a Nintendo Switch 2 !! Don’t buy this! If you pay for it I will send you a literal picture of a switch 2. This list is to fight B*TS and SC*LPERS. Be warned! No refund, no cancellations.”
It is interesting that the other calls bots, systems that may automate the mass purchase and then mass eBay list of scalped items.
Does it work? Not necessarily. We had no trouble finding a list of $ 749.99, which had 28 viewers at the time of writing, and it is described as a target forth for a Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle.
Either way, it is clear that it is payable to read these eBay descriptions and if you do not want to pay too much for Nintendo Switch 2, you can wait for the general sale that opens next month.
And you can watch Techradar’s Live Tracker at Nintendo Switch 2 pre -orders in the US here.
