Ebayers Know The Advantage of New Releases

 Nintendojo

It’s now inevitable– any anticipated new item will find it’s way to eBay within minutes of release. eBay is often looked at as a way to get a good deal on items, but this is not always the case, as new gadget owners often look to turn a profit.

U.S. versions of DS Lites are being listed as high as $200 as a stand alone purchase on the popular auction site, $70 more than the MSRP of Nintendo’s new handheld system. Other listings are offering DS Lites bundled with a game at prices nearly double the retail value.

One seller is combining a copy of Nintendogs with a DS Lite for $275, a combined $110 over retail. Another seller is offering a “pre-order” on a Black DS Lite, currently only announced for release in Europe, for $249 (plus shipping), $119 over retail.

eBay seller policies do not explicitly forbid selling new items above retail prices, but prohibits sellers from using exorbitantly high shipping costs to inflate the price of items. This was common after the Japanese release of the DS Lite, with many auctions listing shipping costs over $100.