Trying to get your hands on a PS5, Xbox Series X, or Xbox Series S is a somewhat thankless task, as Sony and Microsoft's new game consoles seem to be selling out all over the world. Every time new inventory arrives, it sells out in mere moments.

That's because there is a huge demand for gaming consoles, but the problem also stems from the duffers. These opportunists use bots to scour retailers, buying up as much PS5 and Xbox Series X inventory as they can and reselling it for exorbitant prices.

Paying $1,000 or more for a PS5 or Xbox Series X, both of which cost $499, may seem crazy, especially if these consoles do not have a vast array of exclusive games. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't look like there will be much inventory of any next-generation consoles until 2021. This means that some people may be desperate to get their hands on a PS5 or Xbox Series X before the holidays, and they may be willing to take a chance on a duffer.

Somewhat ironically, these duffers now seem to have more consoles in stock than the major retailers; according to Business Insider, one reseller managed to get 200 PS5 consoles and sell over $40,000 worth of consoles in one week. However, with some consoles going for $1,000 apiece, it seems likely that this is the case. [Also, one reseller group called CrepChiefNotify managed to collect 3,500 PS5s to sell for a high price. And this group is encouraging others to do the same and join the resale game, further driving up the price of PS5 consoles.

While this behavior is not illegal, it is not the most morally sound practice. At a time when some may have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak and scraped together what little energy they had to buy a PS5 before the 2020 dumpster fire burns out, these inflated prices could ruin their chances of getting a console.

However, an even worse PS5 sales situation is underway: some people are running scams on eBay, pretending to sell PS5 consoles, posting pictures of the console, and getting people to bid on them even though the PS5 is not listed. There are several words to describe such duffers and scammers, but they are not suitable for publication.

With all this going on, it may seem silly to buy a PS5 from such a reseller. However, with the Coronavirus outbreak keeping more and more people indoors, it is clear that some PlayStation fans are desperate to get a new console to enjoy the holiday season.

Speaking of coronaviruses, social media posts from the recent Black Friday sales show people flocking to shopping centers to get their hands on a PS5, despite the risk of contracting the deadly virus if they fail to maintain social distance This is a good example of what we are talking about. We suggest that despite the fact that the PS5 is a very nice gaming console, one should not risk one's health to get a PS5.

Duffers are also targeting the Xbox Series X and Series S, further contributing to the shortage of gaming consoles in stock.

VGC reported that a duffer named CrepChiefNotify managed to buy up 1,000 Xbox Series X consoles as soon as fresh stock became available at UK retailer Very. And the group boasted online: "If you snooze, you lose.

The duffers justify ruining the launch of the next-generation console by claiming that it is compensation for the severe economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the loss of jobs for some of them. Thus they are reselling them to feed their families. It doesn't matter.

"Many in our community have been laid off temporarily, made redundant, or are disadvantaged in some way due to the pandemic. These people manage to make ends meet, put food on the table, and provide Christmas presents for their children. It may be unfortunate that some children will not wake up at PS 5 this Christmas, but some may wake up with nothing," the organization said.

Again, none of this is illegal. However, there are better ways to make money without making game fans unhappy.

As frustrating as it may be to find a PS5, Xbox Series X, or Series S, we recommend that you avoid buying gaming consoles from these duffers and resellers. Even if they are legitimate, it is not wise to pay more than the retail price for a new console that has only been on the market for a short time and still needs to have various bugs squashed and optimizations applied.

If you want to get the PS5 at the right price, see our article on where to buy the PS5. Also, for more information on Microsoft's game consoles, see our article on where to buy the Xbox Series X.

Also, I know it can be hard to resist wanting a new gaming console. But if you hold out until 2021, both Microsoft and Sony will have more consoles and more exclusive games; both "Halo Infinite" and "Horizon Foridden West" will appear next year. By then, many more current games will have been optimized for the new consoles.

In the big picture, stopping the use of bots would be one way to curb scalpers. But that is easier said than done, as there is effectively a bit of an arms race going on between bot systems and the prevention systems used by retailers. However, according to Reddit, Best Buy seems to be doing a good job of keeping bots in check.

As it stands, it seems unlikely that the duffers will disappear anytime soon. But if we can avoid buying from them, we should at least be able to reduce their numbers and rampant scalping.