Halo Infinite Limited Edition Xbox Series X Console Announced... And Falls Prey to Scalpers

[Raevenlord]

Microsoft and 343 Industries, developers of the popular Halo franchise, recently announced at Gamescom 2021 both the release date for Halo Infinite and limited edition products to accompany the launch - and the anniversary for 20 years of Halo. The game drops on December 8th for the Xbox family of devices and PC, but users who want to play immersed in lore can attempt to get themselves the Limited Edition Xbox Series X console, which comes with a custom skin (representing both details of a Spartan's armor as well as the starry skies above Zeta Halo. The green LED behind the top fan has also been changed to Cortana blue, and there are golden details across both the console (the golden Xbox badge is a nice touch) and the custom, skinned controller that comes with the console. For the price of $549,99 including a digital download version of the game, the choice between this one or a regular Xbox Series X console is clear.





But, just like the Xbox Series X is currently facing supply issues, and just like has been happening with what seems like every single hardware release, so has the Limited Edition stayed true to its name - the console has already appeared in Ebay listings, with scalpers selling their "pre-order confirmation" places in the queue. The console is going for around double its MSRP, at $1000. Microsoft have also announced a commemorative Elite Series 2 controller inspired on the Master Chief's armor details - the controller is still available, at its MSRP of $200. The world goes around, it seems, and sometimes, it comes right back to where we started.



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[Space Lynx]

If Congress banned Ebay and Craigslist from selling recently released tech items for at least 1 year, it would end this scourge overnight. Sure there would still be some scalping, but that kind of ban would take away the biggest chunk of the market.

The lack of action from Congress is really sad. They banned scalping tickets in my state many many years ago, for sports games etc... so there is no reason they can't ban scalping like this at the federal level too. A shame we have a bunch of incompetent people in Congress that can't decide on anything and act like toddlers on both sides of the aisle.

 

[Deleted member 185088]

Why not sell through the Xbox directly.

 

[maxfly]

These companies know this will happen but make no attempt what so ever to stop it. Im convinced they want the headlines. It keeps their product in the forefront for a few more days. Free advertising at its best!

 

[Raevenlord]

Why not sell through the Xbox directly.

They could sell via the Xbox app; some PC users would also like to get their hands on these (me )

 

[Deleted member 24505]

If no one bought them, there would be no scalpers. Sorry but it's people who MUST have the latest piece of crap that drive the scalping. It will never stop as long as there are exclusive, limited edition or must have items.

 

[Vayra86]

If no one bought them, there would be no scalpers. Sorry but it's people who MUST have the latest piece of crap that drive the scalping. It will never stop as long as there are exclusive, limited edition or must have items.

Human greed is a condition we all suffer from in one way or another, I think the only cure here is strict regulation of markets. Something many markets can take advantage of in one way or another I'd say. The regulatory bodies we have are generally too weak the world over.

Its one of those things that always existed but internet just magnified our view on it, so now we can worry about it too. And maybe improve things a little here or there. Self restraint however is not a quality that is common these days, for many understandable reasons.

 

[QUANTUMPHYSICS]

If Congress banned Ebay and Craigslist from selling recently released tech items for at least 1 year, it would end this scourge overnight. Sure there would still be some scalping, but that kind of ban would take away the biggest chunk of the market.

The lack of action from Congress is really sad. They banned scalping tickets in my state many many years ago, for sports games etc... so there is no reason they can't ban scalping like this at the federal level too. A shame we have a bunch of incompetent people in Congress that can't decide on anything and act like toddlers on both sides of the aisle.

As much as I'd love to use the government against these scalpers, it's absolutely anti-Free market, anti-capitalist and UNCONSTITIONAL.

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

As much as I'd love to use the government against these scalpers, it's absolutely anti-Free market, anti-capitalist and UNCONSTITIONAL.

The U.S. constitution says nothing about a free market or capitalism, in fact, about the only thing in there is the 5th amendment and the government not being able to take private property without due process (eminent domain is considered due process BTW), and the commerce clause which just restricts the states,but not the federal government. I'd really like to hear how the OP's idea to have congress regulate that specific commerce is "unconstitutional" either based on the document itself or relevant case law.

At best, you might be able to point to the work of conservative,activist Supreme Court judges at the turn of the 20th century,but there's nothing inherently permanent about any given instance of judicial review.

 

[MentalAcetylide]

As much as I'd love to use the government against these scalpers, it's absolutely anti-Free market, anti-capitalist and UNCONSTITIONAL.

It doesn't make it any less deserving when the time comes for them to have part of their GPU stock rammed up their asses. Rest assured, they'll have their spot on Bob Ross's "The Joy of Punishing".

Its one thing to scalp in an uncertain market where you're just selling off a couple of cards. However, its a completely different story when knuckleheads are able to buy hundreds of these cards at a time and set their own prices 100%-300% above the MSRP which they paid.

 

[QUANTUMPHYSICS]

The U.S. constitution says nothing about a free market or capitalism, in fact, about the only thing in there is the 5th amendment and the government not being able to take private property without due process (eminent domain is considered due process BTW), and the commerce clause which just restricts the states,but not the federal government. I'd really like to hear how the OP's idea to have congress regulate that specific commerce is "unconstitutional" either based on the document itself or relevant case law.

At best, you might be able to point to the work of conservative,activist Supreme Court judges at the turn of the 20th century,but there's nothing inherently permanent about any given instance of judicial review.

You should learn more about CONTRACT RIGHTS (Private Contract law).

#1 If the scalper buys the product, the contract is between him and whoever he buys it from.
#2 If the scalper sells it to a 3rd party, then the 3rd party AGREED to buy at the scalper price.

So guess what:

Either you can a) Not buy from the scalper. Or b) buy from someone else.

You have NO RIGHT to use government to force someone out of the market or to not sell at the value he can sell at.

I will not argue about this because I refuse to argue with communists, socialists or liberals.

You can send your complaints to:

The Supreme Court of the United States,
One First Street N.E., Washington, D.C., 20543

All 9 sitting justices will agree with me.

 

[Space Lynx]

As much as I'd love to use the government against these scalpers, it's absolutely anti-Free market, anti-capitalist and UNCONSTITIONAL.

it is? then how does my state ban scalpers from selling sports game tickets on the sidewalks outside the game? they have banned that for decades where I live.

honestly i could care less either way. the rich get richer the poor get poorer. welcome to modernity. take care now.

also if you can explain to me how much would carrots cost at the grocery store if our tax payer money did not subsidize agriculture, isn't that anti-free market and anti-capitalist too? yet here we are... with bags of carrots at 98 cents instead of 10 dollars per bag... also because of government intervention... what a terrible world we live in. those carrots, dangit!

 

[MentalAcetylide]

it is? then how does my state ban scalpers from selling sports game tickets on the sidewalks outside the game? they have banned that for decades where I live.

honestly i could care less either way. the rich get richer the poor get poorer. welcome to modernity. take care now.

also if you can explain to me how much would carrots cost at the grocery store if our tax payer money did not subsidize agriculture, isn't that anti-free market and anti-capitalist too? yet here we are... with bags of carrots at 98 cents instead of 10 dollars per bag... also because of government intervention... what a terrible world we live in. those carrots, dangit!

Our government is in love with a carrot! I seem to recall a similar Wierd Al poetic song containing a line like that.
Pure 100% capitalism would work, just like any other system, but the problem is human nature, hence the need for checks & balances, which of course due to human nature, will never be perfectly applied either.

 

[Space Lynx]

Our government is in love with a carrot! I seem to recall a similar Wierd Al poetic song containing a line like that.
Pure 100% capitalism would work, just like any other system, but the problem is human nature, hence the need for checks & balances, which of course due to human nature, will never be perfectly applied either.

no it wouldn't. there is no money in growing carrots at what the customers would be willing to buy them at, hence, why they have been subsidized for decades, because some people want to live healthy. a capitalist would be better off using that farmland to grow something else other than carrots if the farmer only cared about profit. that is why we have the subsidy system in place for agriculture. so we don't die. you should eat a carrot or sweet potato once in awhile. its good for you.

 

[MentalAcetylide]

no it wouldn't. there is no money in growing carrots at what the customers would be willing to buy them at, hence, why they have been subsidized for decades, because some people want to live healthy. a capitalist would be better off using that farmland to grow something else other than carrots if the farmer only cared about profit. that is why we have the subsidy system in place for agriculture. so we don't die. you should eat a carrot or sweet potato once in awhile. its good for you.

Which is why I question making farmers and those who work in that industry pay taxes. Also, it doesn't help things when farmers are(or were at one time) exempt from paying minimum wage. The problems are at the top where businesses want to pay a select few a larger chunk of the pie instead of the ones that are physically busting their asses to make ends meet. Human nature.

 

[thestryker6]

These companies know this will happen but make no attempt what so ever to stop it. Im convinced they want the headlines. It keeps their product in the forefront for a few more days. Free advertising at its best!

I gotta agree completely here... Microsoft could easily have put a system in place for these limited edition consoles which required the Microsoft account they were bought with to be the one to activate the console. This wouldn't completely prevent scalping, but it would prevent what happened.

 

[Space Lynx]

Which is why I question making farmers and those who work in that industry pay taxes. Also, it doesn't help things when farmers are(or were at one time) exempt from paying minimum wage. The problems are at the top where businesses want to pay a select few a larger chunk of the pie instead of the ones that are physically busting their asses to make ends meet. Human nature.

I understand where you are coming from and I slightly agree, still, I think land is too valuable, especially as population increases for any farmer to want to invest in carrots, when they could you know grow hemp instead, hemp is a big money maker right now. So the farmer would need an incentive to grow the carrots, aka our tax payer money pays them what they would have made growing hemp, but they grow carrots instead, win win for everyone. I don't want to pay $10 for a bag of carrots.

I'm not saying my theory is failproof, but neither is yours. I don't know the best answer, but this the world we live in so eh.

I gotta agree completely here... Microsoft could easily have put a system in place for these limited edition consoles which required the Microsoft account they were bought with to be the one to activate the console. This wouldn't completely prevent scalping, but it would prevent what happened.

yep. exactly.

 

[Tardian]

Technology

The latest news, videos, and discussion topics on Technology - Entrepreneur

www.entrepreneur.com

Scalping and mining are linked!

 

[mharbinger]

One correction for the article:

The green LED behind the top fan has also been changed to Cortana blue

There is no green LED at the top of the console. The effect is just paint.