The launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, like every new console from the Big N, has sparked massive anticipation. But it has also reignited a problem that has become all too familiar: mass reselling. Unlike what happened with the PS5—where scalpers hoarded consoles to resell them at outrageous prices—Nintendo fans are determined not to let history repeat itself. This time, they’re taking action.
Although pre-orders for the Switch 2 are now available in several countries, the United States and Canada remain excluded due to ongoing tariff issues. Even so, resellers quickly jumped into action, attempting to secure as many consoles as possible for resale, with some listings reaching prices of over €700. But this time, gamers are more prepared and have begun to mobilize to fight back against speculation.
One of the main battlegrounds is eBay. In 2023, the platform updated its presale policy, requiring that the time between purchase and delivery not exceed 40 days. Since the Switch 2 officially launches on June 5, 2025, scalpers cannot meet that requirement. Seizing on this restriction, Nintendo fans have begun organizing on forums like the official Nintendo subreddit to mass-report listings that violate the rule—a collective push to outpace what eBay’s bots fail to catch in time.
To streamline this “scalper hunt,” users have started sharing report templates, making it easier for others to flag and remove listings that breach eBay’s presale policies. While eBay does penalize sellers who break the rules, within that 40-day window, some scalpers still manage to sell consoles to unaware buyers. That’s why fan vigilance has intensified.
Nintendo itself has tried to stay ahead of the problem. In addition to ramping up console production early on, the company introduced a reservation policy limiting pre-orders to users with a certain amount of playtime on their original Switch consoles. Still, some resellers have managed to slip through and list units for presale.
All in all, the fight against mass reselling is far from over. But for the first time in a long while, gamers aren’t standing by idly. They’re organized, motivated, and ready to defend fair access to Nintendo’s next big console.
