by Emily Leaney (@1upemily)
“It timed out, failed, logged me out, and cleared my login user details…”
At 10 am AEST on Thursday, 26th September 2024, PlayStation enthusiasts across Australia geared up to snag the highly anticipated PlayStation 30th Anniversary Edition items. With only a handful of retailers offering pre-orders, the rush was inevitable. However, for many, the experience was far from smooth.
Limited Availability Across Select Retailers
In Australia, the following retailers had stock of the exclusive anniversary edition products:
- Amazon: Offered the Slim 30th Anniversary Console and a 30th Anniversary-themed controller.
- Big W: Also had the same lineup as Amazon, with the Slim console and controller up for grabs.
- The Gamesmen: Only stocked the 30th Anniversary-themed controller.
- EB Games: Stocked all five items; PlayStation Pro Limited Edition (numbered) console bundle, Slim 30th Anniversary Console, PlayStation Portal 30th Anniversary and both 30th Anniversary-themed controllers; standard DualSense and the DualSense Edge.
- JB Hi-Fi: Stocking all five items available by ballot.
However, the most sought-after items – the Limited Edition PlayStation 5 Pro console bundle plus, of course, the Slim 30th Anniversary console – were where things took an unexpected turn.
EB Games’ Exclusive Approach
EB Games made the bold decision to lock the Limited Edition 30th Anniversary PS5 Pro bundle behind their Level 5 membership program, a move that immediately raised eyebrows. Level 5 members represent the top tier of the EB Games loyalty program, making this console bundle essentially exclusive to a select few. While loyalty programs are common, offering a rare and highly coveted item to a restricted user base feels less like a reward and more like gatekeeping.
Is this really a fair way to manage a pre-order launch in Australia? Many fans voiced their disappointment with this approach, feeling alienated from the opportunity to even try to secure this special edition.
READ MORE: PS5 Pro officially announced by PlayStation
JB Hi-Fi’s Ballot System: A Different Kind of Gamble
On the other hand, JB Hi-Fi opted for a ballot system for Perks members. Perks is JB Hi-Fi’s free-to-join program, so anyone could register and try their luck. After signing up, customers have the chance to register their interest in one of the 30th Anniversary items, but here’s the catch: even if you won, you could only buy one item from the selection.
While this system sounds more inclusive, it’s still a gamble. Many are left with no way of knowing whether their efforts by entering will pay off. Some see it as a more democratic way – luck of the draw, while others felt this uncertainty added unnecessary stress to an already competitive process.
My Experience: The EB Games Checkout Nightmare
Now, if you’ve read this far, you’re probably expecting some firsthand frustration. Well, I’ve got plenty to share. Let’s start with EB Games. I had the Slim bundle, a controller, and a portal in my cart within the first minute. I was logged in, prepped, and ready to hit that “checkout” button. The site was thinking, processing my order… for a solid minute, and I thought, “I’ve got this!”
Then came the downfall. It timed out, failed, logged me out, and cleared my login user details (both on desktop and mobile). I tried again, and again, switching from click-and-collect to delivery, even attempting full payment upfront. But nothing worked. It was a complete disaster and stressful 25 minutes until the items all reflected as “sold out” on the EB Games website.
Meanwhile, I held off on checking out at Big W, assuming EB Games had me covered. Big mistake. By the time I returned to Big W, the Slim console and controller were both sold out. And that’s when the frustration really hit.
Luckily, right before the EB Games website stated “zero stock”, my partner was able to check out the DualSense Controller and a PlayStation Portal. So we didn’t end up empty handed, but I know a lot of fans have.
The Aftermath: Was It All Fair?
What followed was a 30-minute wait on the phone with EB Games customer service, only to be told the site had too much traffic – something we all knew from the start. They explained that website glitches can be expected along with “checkout errors” due to the high volume of users on the website. They confirmed my fear that the items were sold out, not removed from the website to be added again at a later time.
But here’s the thing: how could so many of us, myself, my partner, friends, and followers, all face the exact same issues? It felt less like a technical hiccup and more like the system was rigged against us.
Final Thoughts: The System Needs to Change
The way this pre-order was handled in Australia leaves a lot to be desired. Between EB Games locking items behind their loyalty program and JB Hi-Fi’s ballot system, it felt like the average consumer had little to no chance of securing these highly sought-after items. The process was stressful, unfair, and downright disappointing for many.
To make it all so much worse, moments after they went on sale, eBay was flooded with overpriced listings from scalpers.
There were dozens for sale, all labelled “Pre order confirmed” and priced upwards of $1,500 – it’s reminiscent of the original PS5 launch back in 2020. Bloody frustrating to look at, but there’s nothing stopping them or anything illegal about it.
This isn’t just about missing out on a console or controller – it’s about feeling like the entire system is stacked against regular consumers. Retailers need to rethink how they handle limited-edition releases like this. More transparency, better handling of traffic, and a fairer system for all customers could make future launches far less painful.
Have you had a similar experience with pre-orders in Australia? Let’s keep the conversation going – something needs to change.
This article was written by Emily Leaney. You can follow her on Instagram here.
