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Despite the fact that the PS5 released in November, the next-gen console has been in extremely short supply. Thanks to scalpers, bot snipers and price gougers, any chance of the average gamer emerging from a PS5 restock with a shiny new console was impossible for a long time. But in recent weeks, snagging a PS5 online has become a faint possibility.
It’s still won’t be easy, mind you, but if you’re on top of your shopping game you might just end up with one of the hottest gadgets of 2021.
We haven’t heard what the next PS5 restock will be, but we will keep you updated as soon as we find out.
Tips for Successfully Finding a PS5 Online
If you’re wondering why the PS4 has been in such short supply, it comes down to a combination of the usual marketing strategy and hype that surrounds a console, a pandemic that threw a wrench into production plans and a lack of a thoughtful process for selling high-demand items online. As a result, price gougers have taken advantage of all this and snatched up what little supply there is using bot snipers.
And what makes the PS5 so special? Well, the combination of its AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU make it a truly next-gen piece of hardware that is capable of things like 4K resolutions, 120Hz frame rates. Furthermore, it can support advanced graphical features like ray tracing that add lighting effects to make things look more realistic than ever. Long story short, this is going to be a console where some of the biggest games will end up over the next decade. This is why people have been so eager to get their hands on it.
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Being prepared for a surprise PS5 restock will require a combination of advanced warning, preparation and a little bit of luck. But knowledge is power, which is why we have a few pointers for giving yourself the best odds possible.
Figure Out When PS5 Restocks Are Happening Ahead of Time
One crucial step to coming out on the winning end of a PS5 restock is to be prepared. If you have a plan, you’ll limit any unforeseen hurdles. But in order to be prepared, you need to know when retailers are restocking the PlayStation 5 in advance. In addition to bookmarking this page and checking back regularly for updates, there are a couple of other ways to stay in the know.
TARGET #PS5 + #Xbox DATE
Like+RT to help others!Per the official email from corporate is Thursday March 11. My live stream will be 6am EST – 9am EST Thursday, as no time was given.
I’ve shared this info with @mattswider who is now releasing an article for Tech Radar (1 of 2) pic.twitter.com/xx8qjpd5ZY
— Jake Randall (@Jake_Randall_YT) March 9, 2021
First, you can follow industry insiders on Twitter, such as @Wario64 and the aforementioned @Jake_Randall_YT. They will often have knowledge of PS5 restocks before anyone. Secondly, you can set up a Google Alert, which will send you an email whenever there’s a mention on the web of an upcoming restock. (We recommend search terms such as: “PS5 restock,” “PS5 in stock,” “PS5 inventory,” or “PS5 available.”)
While you can try and use a third-party site such as NowInStock to send you a stock alert, we feel like these are selling out so fast that by the time one of these sites tells you a product is in stock, it will already be sold out. However, these sites are helpful for getting a sense of how frequently retailers are restocking the PS5.
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Make Sure You’re Logged In (…and Have All Your Payment Info Saved)
Just because you have an item in your online shopping cart does not mean it will be held for you indefinitely. There would be nothing worse than getting a PS5 into your shopping cart during a restock, but missing out on it because you took too long filling out the billing and shipping info.
Instead, before the PS5 is scheduled to be back in stock at a retailer, make sure you are logged into their site and have all your pertinent info pre-loaded and saved.
MORE: Best PS5 Accessories
Start Early (…and Refresh Often)
While a PS5 drop may have a scheduled date and time, that is obviously relative. Whether a retailer decides to make its PS5 inventory available a few minutes early, a few minutes late or simply has technical difficulties, do not assume they’re in perfect sync with your clocks.
There will also be a whole mess of people also trying to get a PS5 console, so we would start keeping tabs on the PS5 product page an hour before, and refresh it more frequently as it gets closer to its scheduled drop. That way, if the page is loading slow or the site is down, you can be prepared.
this is my first time. woo hoo! pic.twitter.com/jSkxjp8q7P
— YoDarkShadow 💀🤡 (@YoDarkShadow) March 10, 2021
Some retailers, like Sony, also have a digital waiting room or queue. It’s not always clear when they begin letting people “line up,” so checking the page before it goes on sale can make a huge difference and cut down on your wait time.
Use the Mobile App (…If You Can)
There are some savvy shoppers who already have their PS5, and according to them, using the mobile app will load pages and process transactions quicker than using a web browser.
While there’s no proper way to empirically confirm this, it certainly couldn’t hurt.
Be Quick (…But Don’t Hurry)
While the early bird does get the worm when it comes to PS5 restocks, you don’t want to be in such a hurry that you make mistakes. Trying to rush through the checkout process could result in your precious console being shipped to the wrong place, or perhaps having more than one console charged to your card.
If At First You Don’t Succeed, Leave It In Your Shopping Cart (…Or Wish List)
There may be a situation where you do every last thing right and get a PS5 into your shopping cart, but can’t complete the transaction. If this is the case, DON’T delete the PS5 from your shopping cart. Instead, leave it there, and the next time there is a PS5 restock, simply load up the checkout page and try to complete the transaction.
Alternatively, Amazon shoppers have found success with adding the PS5 to their Wish List while it is still unavailable, and then when a restock does happen, completing the transaction from their Wish List page.
Whatever You Do, Don’t Buy From Sketchy Twitter Accounts, Price Gougers or Unknown Retailers
Given the high prices the PS5 can fetch on the resale market, scams around the console are common.
You’ll often see people in PS5 restock threads offering to sell PS5s they’ve obtained. You’ll see resellers on Amazon charging double the price. And you’ll see retailers you’ve never heard of before with a magical supply of the consoles. Some of these could be on the straight and narrow, but aside from the fact that you’ll be paying much more than you should, there’s a chance that you end up with a fake console or no console at all.
If you’ve waited this long, there’s no point in caving now when the PS5 is more available than ever. Instead, be patient and stick with the official retailers. Sooner than later, you will get your PS5.
The Best Retailers for Buying a PS5
So now that you know all the best practices for making these online retail sites work in your favor during a PS5 restock, the only thing left to do is to go and try to successfully buy a PS5. It will be an epic quest for sure, but we have faith in you. And to get you started on your way, here are the six retailers that will give you the best chance of tracking one down. Good luck!