Stock allocation woes continue
Online retailer ShopTo has contacted a segment of its PS5 and Xbox Series X/S pre-order customers to inform them that they will not receive their console of choice come launch day.
The retailer sent out the emails, (as seen by Eurogamer), to a selection of its customers in the last few days, explaining that the company had received its shipment allocation for the much sought-after hardware, with an allocation number lower than the total number of registered pre-orders.
“We have received the allocation details from Sony and, unfortunately, we regret to inform you that we will not be able to fulfil your pre-order on day one/release date,” reads the email. “Sony may notify us of additional stock with extra allocation for day one and you have already reserved your place in the queue. Some customers may cancel their pre-orders and that may allow yours to be next in line.” A day later, VGC reported that a similarly worded email had been received by some Xbox Series X/S pre-order customers.
ShopTo is not the only retailer to warn next-gen customers that their respective orders might not be filled for launch day, as retail giant Amazon has also contacted some shoppers with similar stock allocation issues, following the frenzied and chaotic pre-order process that took place for both platforms.
While this situation has proven inevitable with almost all next-gen hardware launches over the past two decades, it’s still a frustrating scenario for parents and those hoping to give the consoles as holiday gifts. From my own experience in console retail, management has always taken the stance of “Just take all orders possible and we’ll sort it out later.” It seems that the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X is set to be no exception.
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S launch November 10. PS5 launches November 12 in The U.S., Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. It will follow in all other territories one week later on November 19.