Restocking the PS5 is still a nightmare, even six months after the console's launch. Demand for the next-generation PlayStation still far exceeds supply, and with news that Sony expects inventory problems to continue plaguing the console until at least 2022, the situation is unlikely to improve anytime soon.

Competition to secure a PS5 remains very intense, with thousands of gamers desperately trying to get that elusive order confirmation email for each restock, and unfortunately there are usually more losers than winners in the PS5 restocking game.

That's why it's so important to avoid common PS5 restocking mistakes. While we can't give you a secret formula to ensure you get your PS5 in the next wave of restocks, following the advice below will definitely tilt the odds in your favor.

The only way to get your hands on a PS5 is by sheer numbers. Every time a major retailer restocks, there are more customers trying to buy than there are available units, which means that at least some of them will be left unsatisfied.

Usually, those who are not actively tracking the dwindling inventory leave without ever picking up a console because they show up for restocks when they are already done and done; you can't sit around thinking you're going to buy a PS5 when it's convenient, you have to be proactive and (if possible) restock in advance. You need to be proactive and make sure you know in advance (if possible) when it will be restocked.

Bookmark the PS5 Restocking Guide to stay up-to-date on the latest inventory. Also, if you are on Twitter, you must follow PS5 inventory tracking accounts such as @mattswider and @Wario64.

Unfortunately, items in high demand in large quantities, such as PS5s, tend to attract scammers who seek to profit from the innocence of others. To avoid contributing your hard-earned money to scammers, try to purchase PS5s at major retailers with which you are familiar.

Matt Swider of TechRadar has also received Twitter messages from hundreds of people who have fallen prey to scammers and been duped.

Let's not forget that the PS5 is an extremely popular system that even major retailers are having trouble keeping in stock. If a website you have never heard of claims to have it in stock, it is most likely a scam. The same goes for resellers on social media, who are just trying to make some easy money from some suckers. Don't let that happen.

You may not know this, but most retailers restock the PS5 in waves. So, for example, if Target restocks consoles at 9:00 a.m., they don't actually put all of their inventory allocation in at once. They replenish inventory slowly to reduce the load on the payment servers.

Thus, if you persist in trying to buy a console during the restock, you may actually get lucky because other customers will give up and think the PS5 is out of stock again, freeing up space in the queue.

Of course, the consoles will eventually sell out, but if you give up after a few attempts to put the console in your cart, you won't get it right away. Persistence is key.

No two PS5 restocks are the same. The best approach for each retailer is different; trying to buy a PS5 at Target is completely different than trying to buy one at Amazon. Don't assume that you can follow the same procedure at every retailer; you need to learn the ins and outs of each retailer in order to have the best chance of getting your console from the PS5 restock.

For example, Amazon has a little trick that uses the retailer's wish list feature. However, this same method does not work at Best Buy. I hope you see my point. To maximize your chances of success, you need to learn each retailer's individual process.

Fortunately, we have guides for each major retailer. If you follow these tips, you will know exactly what to do to win the next time PS5 is restocked.