Amazon Under Fire for Limiting PS5 Pro Pre-Orders to Scalping Bots

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA — Amazon is facing backlash from frustrated consumers after reports emerged that warehouse workers are intentionally capping pre-orders of PlayStation 5 Pro consoles for scalping bots at a mere 900 units at a time.

Local scalper Ahmir Fredrickson expressed his outrage, stating, "Cutting us off at only 900 units leaves no consoles for other honest, hard-working scalpers!" He added while shaking a bewildered warehouse worker by the collar, "What are we supposed to do if we can't rely on online sources to buy these consoles and then resell them grossly overpriced on eBay for up to 3x the retail cost?"

At the time of publication, it remained unclear how widespread this policy was. Amazon Consumer Policy Division Spokesperson Joseph Anton confirmed that there had been numerous reports of mistreatment of scalpers nationwide. "We have received multiple complaints from the Midwest about warehouse workers intentionally limiting purchases by scalpers," Anton stated. "We are launching a thorough investigation to determine if our systems are equipped to prevent these abuses in the future."

As news of the policy circulated, scalpers across the nation hurriedly dusted off their prized website checkout tricks for rival retailers like Walmart, BestBuy, and Target.

At the time of publication, one ambitious scalping bot reported discovering over 50 pre-order consoles available at a local BestBuy outside Cedar Rapids, Iowa — but only if Fredrickson could make a quick call to alert the store managers that he and his crew would be swinging by.