Update: The first auction has closed and after 22 bids the final bid price was $178. Screenshots are below.

As duffers continue to buy up and resell high-demand electronics, many continue to ask where to buy a PS5, where to buy an Xbox Series X, and where to buy an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080. Now, it seems that the upcoming Switch accessories are also caught in this mix. That means fans will soon start asking where they can also buy the limited edition Zelda joystick.

Earlier this week, Nintendo announced that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword would be getting an HD port to the Switch, and a new limited edition Zelda Joy-Con will be available for $80 when the game launches on July 16. However, as soon as sites like Best Buy and GameStop began taking pre-orders, duffers brought the sold-out accessories to auction sites at high prices.

A search for "Zelda Joy Con" on eBay turns up several listings for the new limited edition controller. Listed prices range from a low of $170 to a high of $300. There have also been several auctions, some of which have already exceeded $152.

A detailed search reveals that several listings have sold for over $150, including some from Japan. Because this item is so new, we have not seen any listings close at the final auction price. However, it should close within the next 24 hours. Once the auction closes, I will update this post to reflect the final sale price.

A screenshot of the final auction price is embedded below.

The ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have severely hampered manufacturing around the world. This has slowed production and made it difficult to purchase products in demand. This scarcity has spawned a cottage industry of aspiring entrepreneurs who use bots and other means to buy up as much inventory as possible in an attempt to earn higher profits. Some sites, like Best Buy, have added verification systems and are trying to compete with duffers. Other sites, such as Newegg, have implemented a lottery system where buyers can select one product they are interested in and, if they are lucky, purchase the system. Unfortunately, many other large retailers have yet to implement more stringent measures to discourage scalping, allowing bots to buy up inventory in seconds.

In countries like Japan, the situation has gotten so bad that police in a Tokyo electronics retail store were forced to halt PS5 sales.

Duffers may be the bane of gamers and enthusiasts, but the duff community feels they are collecting an undeserved amount of "bad press." In their worldview, they are providing a service by making their goods easily available so that they don't have to wait in line. Of course, it is also their fault that they can't get it.

However, those trying to profit from the limited edition Legend of Zelda Joy-Cons may be in for a rude awakening. Nintendo is willing to order more from manufacturers to keep sales going. For example, when supplies of NES Classic, SNES Classic, and Nintendo Switch Animal Crossing Edition ran low, they were all replenished months later.

If you are tempted to buy from such duffers on eBay, we recommend that you avoid it. Not only does it encourage this type of duffer behavior, but Nintendo will gladly take your money. Wait a little longer and Nintendo will replenish its supply chain.