Nintendo Fans Flood eBay with Fake Switch 2 Auctions to Combat Scalpers

Nintendo fans are taking a stand against scalpers by flooding auction sites with fake listings for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. These creative efforts are making it harder for buyers to find the inflated scalper listings that have been popping up on sites like eBay, where the console is being offered for prices ranging from $500 to $2,000.

The frustration among U.S. Nintendo fans has been palpable, particularly due to the pre-order delay and the abundance of overpriced pre-orders. With the Nintendo Switch 2 set to launch on June 5, scalpers have started listing their pre-orders with a promise that they will ship within 40 business days of purchase.

To combat this, Nintendo fans are posting fake listings at or below retail prices, pushing the scalpers' overpriced auctions further down the search results. An example of this strategy is a listing titled "Nintendo Switch v2 video games console PREORDER," priced at $450. However, the description reveals a clever twist: "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 fan-made listings are easy to distinguish from genuine scalper auctions, as they often include "read description" in the heading. Another example is a $550 listing with a bold warning: "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."

A third listing at $499.99 further exemplifies this tactic: "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, the Nintendo Switch 2 was supposed to arrive on June 5, 2025, with a starting price of $449.99. However, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date faced a delay in the United States due to import tariffs introduced by President Trump, which caused financial market instability.

Despite the delay, Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders became available on April 24, maintaining the $449.99 price point. For more information, check out IGN's comprehensive Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide.

Additionally, Nintendo recently addressed compatibility concerns with its new GameCube controller, noting potential "issues" when using it with contemporary Nintendo Switch games.