While gamers wait patiently for Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders to officially open, some fans are taking justice into their own hands—targeting scalpers who are trying to exploit the hype by listing consoles early on eBay.
Scalpers Jump Ahead of Pre-Orders
Although Nintendo confirmed the Switch 2 will launch on June 5, and priced it at $449.99 for the standard console (or $499.99 for the Mario Kart World bundle), pre-orders in the US and Canada remain unavailable at the time of writing.
Still, that hasn’t stopped opportunistic scalpers from listing pre-order slots on eBay for a steep markup. But the community isn’t having it.
Reddit Rallies Against eBay Scalpers
On the r/NintendoSwitch2 subreddit, users have banded together to mass-report these scalper listings, leading to a wave of takedowns on eBay. One user, FroggoOwO, pointed out that eBay policy prohibits pre-selling any item that can’t be shipped within 40 business days of purchase. Since Switch 2 ships June 5, many of these listings fall outside that legal window.
Another Redditor even created a poll to track how many listings fans have helped get removed. Some users noted that eBay’s AI moderation system isn’t perfect, but manual reports are making an impact.
Nintendo’s Timing Complicates Things
Originally, Switch 2 pre-orders were expected to go live on April 9, but this was delayed due to tariff complications. Under the Trump administration, tariffs were temporarily dropped to 10% for 90 days, keeping the June launch window viable, but further changes could still occur.
Power to the Players
This grassroots movement shows how online communities can push back against unfair practices. While Nintendo hasn’t made an official statement about scalpers, fan efforts are clearly making a difference on platforms like eBay, where unauthorized listings are now disappearing almost as fast as they appear.
For anyone looking to grab a Switch 2 at launch: stay informed, report scalpers, and wait for the official pre-orders. The gaming community is proving that together, they can hold the line against exploitation.