Friday update: The Best Buy restock is now live, as exclusively reported by TechRadar. More employees have reached out to us via Twitter, and we’ve added their tips on how to get a cancelled console in rare circumstances.
Best Buy: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition – it’s now live
As we reported in the last 24 hours, the next major PS5 restock was going to be at Best Buy, according to our sources at its retail stores and warehouses. Best Buy had been stockpiling next-gen console inventory, as you can see from photo (below) provided by Best Buy employees exclusively to TechRadar. We were told it’s ‘ready’ to fulfill online orders (the where), at least at four locations.
It’ll look like:
🚨🚨🚨PS5 restock! 🏷 BEST BUY 🏷 in the US has it right now.♻️RT this + follow @mattswider + @techradar for instant Xbox & PlayStation 5 updatesPS5 Disc ($499) https://t.co/AjQJ37QctFPS5 Digital ($399) https://t.co/zBCWLFWVVPMarch 5, 2021
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PS5 restock at trusted retailers
Please don’t buy PS5 off of Twitter or other online sources where there is no fraud protection. Here are a dozen good sources to buy PS5 that have had the console in stock before.
Amazon: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition – due for a restock next weekBest Buy: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition – readying new stock, maybe for FridayGameStop: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition – great source due to affordable bundles that stay in stock longerWalmart: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition – just went out of stock ThursdaySony Direct: PS5 | PS5 Digital Edition – went out of stock WednesdayTarget: PS5 |PS5 Digital Edition – you are hereB&H Photo: PS5 |PS5 Digital EditionSam’s Club: PS5 | PS5 Digital EditionNewegg: PS5 | PS5 Digital EditionCostco: PS5Adorama: PS5 Antonline: PS5 – good source of bundles
Best Buy PS5 restock time and date (prior reporting)
When is the Best Buy PS5 restock? We don’t have a definitive date and time for you just yet, however, we’re working to confirm it today. We’d suggest that you look out for another online purchase opportunity today, Friday, as well as next week if today doesn’t pan out. We’ll let you know when we can confirm the PS5 drop date.
However, with Best Buy orders from the last restock still being picked up at certain stores, we may see the date slip to next week. That said, it doesn’t mean Best Buy can’t open up for new orders today.
Here’s why: Best Buy rarely has same-day pickup at its locations, according to another employee who reached out to us. So you can expect to be offered a pickup window next week if ordering opens today.
“They get shipped in on Monday with the rest of the store stock,” said one of our Best Buy sources. “So usually Friday is a solid estimate for a drop date because store pickups are usually set only 3-5 days after order date.”
Here’s why the date and time isn’t set in stone, despite the fact several Best Buy facilities around the country are ‘ready’ to go with new PS5 stock (as well as Xbox Series X restock): every warehouse that is due consoles needs to get them first. It’s an inventory and logistic necessity, we’re told.
Also, we’re told that not every PS5 and Xbox in Best Buy has in inventory actually makes it into the hands of consumers. Some are held in case someone comes back with a console that’s defective. We’re told that’s rare, but it does happen, so there needs to be enough stock to remedy those issues in each store.
We’re showing that Best Buy has enough stock of next-gen consoles in warehouses to launch a PS5 restock at certain stores. It all depends on if enough warehouses have them nationwide, ready to ship to stores.
Can you buy a cancelled PS5? Maybe
You could get a PS5 by simply asking. Cancelled orders go back into inventory and are up for grabs, according to two different Best Buy employees we talked to.
“I know our store does it, but if we have [PS5] cancelled orders, customers can ask for cancelled orders and buy them in store,” said the employee who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity. “They won’t go live for another day.”
That useful advice was echoed by another Best Buy worker in another state who admitted it’s rare, but there’s a process in place for it.
“Best Buy employees are allowed to sell consoles in store now that were cancelled orders. I was told that recently,” said the second Best Buy source. “I haven’t had it happen yet. If someone happens to be in store, they could go to a register and request one.”
They added that right now “any that get cancelled are almost immediately swept up online, however.”
In other words, you have to be lucky.
One last thing we were told by one of the Best Buy employees: “It’s been rough because a lot of people think we ‘hide them in the back’ or something.”
The Best Buy PS5 schedule
Best Buy has done three consecutive Friday PS5 restocks, so it could do another one tomorrow. The photo TechRadar obtained via a Twitter direct messages shows the Best Buy PS5 restock inventory in a warehouse, and that other consoles are going to be available at the same time.
On March 12, we could see Best Buy go from a three-peat and make it a full month of rolling out consoles on a Friday. We’re keep you updated in case that changes.
Best Buy tips for buying PS5
Ordering PS5 and Xbox Series X at Best Buy works very differently than other retailers where you constantly refresh the page to put the console in your cart.
You can find out best practices for ordering from YouTuber Jake Randall, who offers tips like not using the app, keep trying for 45 minutes when the new stock lands and how to prepare for the PIN for verifying your checkout order.
After Best Buy, Amazon has a PS5 restock too
Best Buy isn’t the only retailer brimming with PS5 stock. We’re due to see the Sony console on sale next week from one major retailer that’s overdue for a new stock.
The Amazon PS5 restock is scheduled to happen next week, according to Jake Randall. We don’t have a specific date for the Amazon PS5 restock, but that’s to come when the date and time approach.
PS5 restock explainer
PS5 has been nearly impossible to find in stock for more than a few minutes every time stores restock the Sony console. We’re finding the same can be said about the Xbox Series X. Both Sony and Microsoft launches their respective consoles in November 2020 and haven’t been able to manufacturer enough to meet demand.
Stores like Target, Walmart and Best Buy routinely add new stock to their stores and the crush of people coming to their sites often crashes the pages. Four months after the initial launches, it’s still a burden to buy a next-gen console, even after months of customers constantly trying their luck.
