Nintendo Fans Post Fake Switch 2 Auctions to Flood eBay and Drown Out Scalper Listings

Nintendo enthusiasts are taking a stand against scalpers by flooding auction sites with fake listings for the Nintendo Switch 2. This clever tactic aims to bury the scalpers' overpriced listings, making it harder for buyers to find them. With the highly anticipated console's pre-orders appearing on sites like eBay, ranging from $500 to $2,000, fans are frustrated not only with the pre-order delay but also with the scalpers' tactics.

As the Nintendo Switch 2 launch date of June 5 approaches, scalpers have been able to list their overpriced consoles with the caveat that the pre-order will ship within 40 business days of purchase. In response, Nintendo fans are posting fake listings at or below retail prices to push these scalper auctions down the page, making them less visible.

Take this listing, for example. Titled "Nintendo Switch v2 video games console PREORDER," it's listed at $450, which might seem reasonable at first glance. However, the description reveals the truth: "PRE-ORDER SCREENSHOT Please note: You are ordering a picture of the Nintendo Switch 2. This listing is to combat bots and scalpers. No refunds. No cancels. > You will receive an png image of a switch 2. No console." These listings often include "read description" in the heading to differentiate them from genuine scalper listings.

Another $550 listing is even more direct: "Do not, I repeat DO NOT BUY this unless you are a bot or just wish to donate $550 to me. I will be shipping a laser-printed image of the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle and that will be all you get. NO REFUNDS. NO. REFUNDS. NO REFUNDS. You will NOT BE REFUNDED you will be receiving the picture whether you like it or not. I'm just gonna make sure to state this again, there will be NO REFUNDS, and you will be getting a laser printed image of a Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle. That is all you will be getting. Oh, one last thing. Did I mention NO REFUNDS? Ok but actually though, it will ship after you order instead of after it releases so you should be getting it before Switch 2 release date."

A $499.99 auction similarly states: "This listing is for a printed picture of my Nintendo Switch 2 console confirmed preorder. You will receive a printed picture, folded, and sent in a standard letter envelope. This is NOT for the console itself. No refunds, No returns. F the bots."

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Originally slated for a June 5, 2025 release, the Nintendo Switch 2 was set to start at $449.99. However, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date faced delays in the United States due to import tariffs enacted by President Trump, which caused financial market instability. Pre-orders eventually went live on April 24 at the same $449.99 price point, and as expected, they sold out quickly. For more details, check out IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide.

This week, Nintendo also addressed compatibility issues with its new GameCube controller, noting potential problems when using it with modern Nintendo Switch games.