Want to buy an Xbox Series X? Try out these strategies
Successfully getting your hands on an Xbox Series X or PS5 is incredibly difficult these days due to the rampant plague of scalpers and the global silicon shortage that isn’t expected to improve until late 2022. Most consoles that come back in stock at official retailers sell out again in seconds, forcing people to go to eBay and buy at a ridiculous markup if they want to get their hands on a console quickly and reliably.
Thankfully, though, giving in to the scalper menace isn’t the only way you can get an Xbox Series X or PS5. There are several online resources that you can use to try to beat the bots to the punch, and as long as you’re patient and you don’t give up, there’s a solid chance you’ll be able to score a next-gen console. Here are five tips that will help you land an MSRP purchase of an Xbox Series X or PS5.
Use stock alert websites and Discord servers
Source: Windows Central
The best way to increase your chances of getting an Xbox Series X or PS5 is to sign up for and utilize various stock alert websites and Discord servers. These resources track the stock of pretty much every retailer on the internet in real-time, and you can set up push notifications that will alert you whenever they detect a fresh batch of next-gen consoles going in stock. This gives you a great chance to snag a console before scalper bots buy them all, though you need to be quick.
For websites, your best bets will be HotStock (I scored an Xbox Series X for myself on this site while writing this) and NowInStock.net. If you’d prefer to use a Discord server, we recommend Stock Alert, StockDrops, and Unobtanium.
Get on Twitter
Source: Android Central
There are also stock alert Twitter accounts that you can follow to compliment your stock alert sites and Discord servers, too. Our favorite is Wario64, who often tweets about imminent restocks hours before they even go live and notifies followers whenever there’s a good deal on a console (and games!).
Buy console bundles
Source: Samsung | Microsoft
The price on these bundled consoles is higher than standard MSRP, unfortunately, but it’s still much lower than what scalpers want you to pay on eBay. Therefore, it’s definitely worth getting a bundle if you can find one available.
Use Xbox All Access or PlayStation Direct
Source: Microsoft
Go to a physical retailer early in the morning
Source: Shutterstock
You can improve how effective this strategy is by speaking with the employees that work at the store you’re planning on going to. Many workers have a general idea of when things come back in stock throughout each week, so don’t hesitate to ask about next-gen console restocks. If you’re able to identify the usual days when new consoles hit the shelves, you’ll maximize your chances of success.
Good luck!
Getting a next-gen console to enjoy the best Xbox games or best PS5 games on is very tough in 2021, and it doesn’t look like things are going to get easier anytime soon. With that said, you can significantly improve your chances at snagging a console by using stock alert sites and servers, getting involved on social media, looking for bundle deals, and using Xbox All Access or PlayStation Direct. Don’t forget that you can try to score a console at physical retailers near your residence, too.
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