Scalpers on eBay take advantage of the Apple Watch hype
We knew supplies of Apple Watch would be limited, but I don’t think anybody anticipated the smartwatch selling out as quickly as it did. Within minutes of the starting bell, delivery times begin slipping to May, June, or July. If you overslept the 12:02 a.m. EDT start time of preordering the Apple Watch, you might have missed your opportunity altogether.
Predictably, the eBay scalpers have already taken advantage of the hype around Apple’s newest offering. Various models of Apple Watch are already listed for sale on the auction site, including the vaunted Apple Watch Edition. If you buy your Apple Watch through eBay, though, you can expect to pay a hefty premium for the privilege of getting the wearable shortly after launch day.
At the time of this writing, the most expensive listing for an Apple Watch was a buy it now listing for a 42mm Apple Watch Edition in 18K solid yellow gold with the blue classic buckle. Apple’s price for this model is a cool $15,000 and the company currently says it is available to ship in June. On the eBay listing, though, you’ll be paying $19,995 for the watch. The auction gives an estimated delivery date between May 4 and May 7, but the details of the auction hint at the possibility of the watch not being delivered until July.
If the Apple Watch Sport is more your style, that model can be had on eBay for between $440 and $1,000 or more. Bear in mind, this is the model that retails for $349 and $399, depending on the case size. Stainless steel Apple Watches are going for more than $900.
