Kotaku is running a wonderful feature chronicling the rise and very quick fall of PS3 prices on Ebay. Retailers like Fry's and Wal-Mart have units in stock albeit via expensive bundles, eBay auctions are going at or near list price, stories of PS3 speculators returning unsold units to stores. Kotaku graphs the going price on Ebay and the apparent collapse of demand before Christmas. Did anyone pick up a PS3 this season? Did you wait in line or get it from the speculators?

Surprise, surprise.

My wife is looking for a new camera and we stopped by Best Buy today. They had 12 PS3s in stock. I almost got one, but even for me $600 feels pretty steep.

Now that the new year is over we've really left the phase where consoles are a rare commodity. All the hype has died down and we've entered that normal period for the console market now.

I still feel bad for those who bought the PS3 with expectations to sell and never got the chance.

I don't. I really don't like people who do that. It just makes anyone who actually wants it pay more and/or wait a long time to get one.

Why feel bad... it's all simple business practices... supply and demand.

....because it must suck to waste 600 dollars on something you probably only wanted some quick cash on.

But whatever.

Yup. Kotaku is also reporting that PS3s destined to make people rich on ebay and etc. are coming back to roost at the retail shelves from whence they came.