How to get an Xbox or PS5: avoiding the bots

The Xbox One X, the PS4 Pro, and the PS5 are already being restocked in some stores, with very few units available online. If you’re not familiar with the situation, here’s what happened: There are several resellers that have purchased bulk quantities of consoles before they became available to the public, in order to resell them at higher prices afterwards.

 Introduction

There are currently two consoles worth considering on the market. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox One X, but you’ll have a tougher time getting your hands on one of these products than you might think. Of course, this is thanks to opportunistic sellers who use robot software (often called bots) in order to buy up as many of these limited edition consoles as possible. Thankfully, there are still plenty of ways for everyday people like you and me to snag a system ahead of everyone else–we just need some tricks up our sleeves.

Know your dates

1. Keep your eye on preorder inventory for those games you are interested in and know that many retailers have a limited amount of units per store so if you can, try and buy from a store near where you live. This is because shipping costs and availability may impact what stores will be able to offer. Sometimes they may still be available but at a higher price than expected due to high demand/the retail price being raised due to demand as well.
2.  Check eBay – Often people are selling consoles that were given away during promotional events or ones they just want extra cash for but when buying off of eBay, make sure it’s legit!

 Know your preorder quantities

When preordering a console, you should figure out what day of the week is best for you and plan accordingly. This is because some consoles will go on sale first thing in the morning while others will be available at 3 p.m. EST and 2 a.m. PST — it all depends on when retailers expect their supply to run out and when they predict demand will be at its highest. That way, if you know a store is about to restock, you can log onto that site promptly before the supply sells out (and before the pesky bots take over).

#1- The following should apply from this point forward as shown below

Don’t count on going in store, because they might be all gone by then

Consoles are being sold out across North America, but there are a few ways you can potentially avoid the bots and snag one for yourself. One option is just buying a console from your closest retailer. For example, at Walmart in Canada, it’s $549 for both consoles. Another option is buying one through Microsoft directly. The downside to this is that it will take two weeks for your console to ship and you won’t be able to get it until November 16th – 20th if you’re purchasing on November 15th (that’s a Friday).

Use social media as a tool, not an influence

One of the most powerful ways to avoid a bot is by using social media as a tool rather than an influence. However, social media should be seen as a supplement, not replacement, for other tactics that can help you be successful.

 Sign up for Microsoft/Sony emails

Sign up for the emails of your favorite game console manufacturer. You’ll receive a few notifications per week, and they’ll usually contain links to consoles. The queues won’t be as long if you go this route, but there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to snag one as quickly. There’s also more chance of competition because anyone on that email list will be notified when a new stock arrives.