Amazon UK has started replacing PlayStation 5 consoles that never made it to pre-order customers as intended.
Last month a significant number of its customersreported that their PS5s did not arrive as scheduledon the console’s November 19 launch date, despite being marked as delivered by couriers.
Many consumers reported receiving erroneous items in place of theirPS5consoles, such as kitchen appliances and cat food, or even empty boxes.
The issue became widespread enough todraw the attention of mainstream media including the BBC, which featured it during the consumer rights segment of The One Show, which is watched by up to five million viewers each week.
At the time,Amazonsaid it was investigating what had happened to the missing orders so that it could “put it right”. It subsequently issued refunds to affected customers rather than replacements as the sought-after product was no longer in stock.
However, it later told customers whose PS5 pre-orders went missing that itwould reserve replacement consoles for them. These are now starting to be delivered to some customers, includingNintendoLife and Push Square managing director Anthony Dickens and freelance journalist Bex April May.
So after all this, Amazon said they now had stock and would issue a replacement. And look what just arrived (Amazon tape in tact this time)pic.twitter.com/VLsNUOEIdn
Finally the proud owner of a#PS5from@AmazonUKas they followed through on their promise to “put it right” after the first was likely stolen. My journey was okay, but others have had a very poor customer service trying to resolve their order issues.#consoleme#ps5ukstockpic.twitter.com/VVY8Xgy8Bl
It’s a Christmas Miracle! 🎄🎄🎄pic.twitter.com/AaolqGQp83
Many of the Amazon UK customers who had their PS5 pre-orders go missing have alleged foul play on the part of delivery drivers, with oneeven filming their courier failing to deliver the next-gen console(Amazon later claimed it had cut ties with the driver).
Another Amazon UK customerposted a video on Twitterof them confronting their delivery driver, after they allegedly marked their PS5 as delivered without doing so.
PlayStation 5 at retail
PS5 remains sold out at all major retailers in the UK, aftera record-breaking launchwhich VGC understands saw it surpass the 250,000 consoles sold duringPS4’s launch.
UK retailers including Argos and Smyths said this week that theydon’t expect to receive any more PS5 stock until 2021.
It’s been claimed that PS5 shortages in the UK arebeing partly driven by scalper groupsusing software to automatically buy consoles as they come in stock.
One such group, CrepChiefNotify, claims to have obtainedover 5,000 next-gen consolesto resell for profit over the past month.
With PS5 demand expected to outstrip supply for the foreseeable future, the console is beingresold for eye-watering pricesonsites like StockXand eBay, as well as at second-hand retailers like CEX.
