Preposterous Pricing: A Case of the Secondary Market for the Playstation 5

Maxwell Harley and Alexandre Scarcioffolo

International Journal of the Economics of Business, 2025, vol. 32, issue 1, 91-103

Abstract: Volatile market conditions, likely caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, have caused a highly active secondary market for the Sony PlayStation 5 on online marketplaces since the console’s launch on 12th November 2020. Those who have purchased a console have found it profitable to resell it at premium prices on online auction websites, such as eBay. This research aims to use eBay’s online marketplace to gauge what factors impact consumers’ willingness to pay for the console in secondary markets. Our results show that aspects of console listings, such as the edition and included accessories, largely explain variation in final secondary market prices. Secondly, sellers’ reputation management does not appear to be crucial for business in online marketplaces.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/13571516.2024.2419077

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