Within hours of its 5 June 2025 debut, the new Nintendo Switch 2 (MSRP ¥49,980) became a hot commodity on Japanese flea-market apps. Despite pre-launch cooperation between Nintendo and major e-commerce platforms to curb illicit listings, resale prices kept climbing—highlighting the persistent cat-and-mouse struggle against scalpers.

Launch-Day Price Spike on Mercari

Conclusion first: By 3 p.m. JST, completed sales averaged ¥65,000–¥66,000, roughly 30 % above retail, with some listings reaching ¥90,000.

Platform Warning Banners
Searching “Switch 2” on Mercari triggers a notice: “Prices may be soaring; please purchase calmly.”
Still, hundreds of “brand-new, unopened” consoles changed hands at inflated prices.

Hour-by-Hour Escalation
Noon check: unit sold for ¥63,999.
3 p.m.: similar units clearing at ¥65k–¥66k, signaling growing FOMO among buyers.

Pre-Emptive Countermeasures and Their Limits

Nintendo announced a pact with Mercari, LINE Yahoo, and Rakuten Group to delete rule-breaking listings, especially “pre-release” or “no-stock” offers. However:
Post-purchase resales are not fully prohibited under current terms.
Platforms rely on reactive deletion, giving scalpers brief profit windows.

Community Backlash

Online comments range from frustration to self-reflection:
“Yahoo is stricter, but Mercari is still a scalper haven.”
“Buying at mark-up just feeds the problem—don’t reward resellers!”
“It’s an endless game of whack-a-mole.”

Supply-Demand Mismatch Fuels Scalping

Nintendo’s president Shuntaro Furukawa admitted the pre-order demand “far exceeded expectations,” warning many applicants would miss the initial My Nintendo Store lottery. Scarcity, combined with social-media hype, creates fertile ground for arbitrage.

How to Avoid Overpaying—Practical Tips

1.Wait for official restocks: Nintendo typically ships additional waves within weeks.
2.Track verified retailers: Use My Nintendo Store alerts and big-box electronics chains.
3.Avoid cash-only meet-ups: They forfeit buyer protection.
4.Report suspicious listings: Helps platforms refine automated takedowns.

Source : ORICON NEWS