Amazon is piloting restocking of the PS5 exclusively for Prime members in early access slots. This could help fend off duffers trying to buy the console in bulk for resale, and subsequently make restocking easier for real customers.

Retailers secretly made this rather dramatic change during the latest PS5 restocking in the UK. Sony's in-demand gaming console was restocked this morning (July 14), and during this restock, customers who signed up for Amazon Prime were the first to purchase the machine. Naturally, the limited inventory sold out before the machines went on sale to the general public, making this restock essentially a Prime-only price reduction.

The retailer warned customers that it was changing the way it restocked the PS5 by stating on the product listing page that "Amazon Prime members have priority to purchase the PlayStation 5 until July 14, 2021." This language suggests that this could be a one-time Prime priority restock, but of course, the date could be reset once the retailer is ready to drop inventory again.

For now, this early access slot is only seen in the UK. However, Amazon has a history of testing new offers and schemes on sites in different countries before rolling them out across its international network. Therefore, there is no need to be surprised if the Prime priority quota is also established for the next US rollout.

If you're still looking for a PS5, it might not be a bad idea to sign up for Prime before the next price drop; with a 30-day free trial, you can't go wrong; Amazon Prime also offers free shipping and Prime Video streaming service for just $12.99/month. The service is available for just $12.99/month.

Amazon is not the first retailer to offer Premium subscribers early access to restocked gaming consoles. Last month GameStop announced that Pro Rewards members would have priority access to upcoming PS5 and Xbox Series X restocks. Since then, we've seen the retailer drop consoles on numerous occasions, and the system seems to be working well.

If you are in dire need of a PS5 restock, signing up for Amazon Prime may be a small price to pay to finally get your hands on the machine. Additionally, be sure to check the PS5 restocking hub regularly to stay up-to-date on the latest availability.