Getting a PS5 or Xbox Series X has been more challenging during the pandemic, with lesser stock arrivals as well as scalpers and bots buying up stock as soon as it is released online.
Walmart has promised to use better technology and strategies to identify scalpers using bots, to stop them from buying consoles for the sole purpose of reselling them at much higher rates.
Jerry Geisler, chief information security officer at Walmart, outlines how the retail giant has been working to make sure that people and not bots buy “the hottest gifts they want this season.” Some of these gifts include the PS5 and the Xbox Series X which are “coming online soon,” according to his post.
Christmas eve is too late to expect a delivery on Christmas day but ordering online, if Walmart gets stocks, could lead to pickup at a local store, on Christmas.
Pickup in person is also a way to fight scalpers. When it restocked in November 25, Walmart managed to prevent 20 million bots from ordering online during the first half hour of its sales. However, as retailers develop technologies, scalpers find ways around it and manage to stock up.
If Walmart stores become strict and enact the “one per customer policy” hoarding can decrease. However, the best way is to avoid buying consoles from scalpers. If there is no economic benefit, scalpers will automatically stop hoarding goods.
The following retailers said that they have restocked PS5 consoles
- Walmart
- Best Buy
- GameStop
- Amazon
- Target
- Sony
- Newegg
- Adorama
