Unwanted gifts headed for eBay

Published: Dec. 27, 2007 at 1:45 PM
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Sony's new PlayStation 3 video game system sits on a shelf in the stockroom at a Circuit City store in Downers Grove, Illinois on November 16, 2006. The device, which retails for either $500 or $600, depending on the model, goes on sale at select cities nationwide at midnight on November 17. (UPI Photo/Brian Kersey)
Sony's new PlayStation 3 video game system sits on a shelf in the stockroom at a Circuit City store in Downers Grove, Illinois on November 16, 2006. The device, which retails for either $500 or $600, depending on the model, goes on sale at select cities nationwide at midnight on November 17. (UPI Photo/Brian Kersey) | Enlarge Enlarge
LONDON, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Britain's unwanted holiday gifts have appeared by the thousands on Internet auction sites.

Popular site eBay has been hosting the sales of unwanted Sony Playstation 3 gaming consoles for as much as $3,000 -- many times the $600 retail price, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.

Meanwhile, Nintendo's Wii console, which was difficult to find in the run-up to the holidays due to its short supply and high popularity, has been selling for as much as $1,000, way above its $360 retail price in Britain.

Officials with eBay said sales of unwanted gifts this year are expected to reach $2.4 billion. The company is offering discounted listing prices for auctions posted Dec. 29 to encourage people to get rid of the gifts they don't want. The site said it is expecting double its usual number of postings in the coming week.


© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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