Scalpers snap up Xbox mini fridges as pre-orders sell out in minutes

Pre-orders for the Xbox Series X mini fridge have sold out in the UK and US in a matter of minutes.

Retailer GAME, which was the exclusive retailer for the mini fridge in the UK, put up pre-orders today at 2pm UK time, and by 2.10pm customers were complaining on Twitter that it was already sold out.

Meanwhile, customers trying to pre-order the fridge from US exclusive retailer Target faced similar issues, with many adding it to their cart then finding it had been sold out before they had even finished the checkout process.

To make matters more frustrating for those who missed out, a number of these pre-orders have already started appearing on eBay, with prices going way beyond the $100/£90 retail price.

Some customers turned up at their local GAME stores, after being told they could pre-order there, only to be disappointed.

“Told by GAME Rugby we could come and pre-order today at 2pm, and when we went there [we were then] told they were allocated only to the bigger stores,” said one Twitter user, “so by the time we’ve gone online they are out of stock. Why were we not told that before? Thanks so much.”

As fans began to post angry replies to the official GAME and Target Twitter accounts, Xbox social marketing manager Josh Stein promised that more stock would be coming when the mini fridges launch in December.

“Remember! Launch in December will be a great way to snag one, it’s not a one-and-done day,” Stein said.

Created in partnership with Ukonic, the Xbox mini fridge holds up to 12 cans of drink. It also includes a USB port for charging devices and comes with a DC power adapter so that it can function on the go.

Xbox Series X fridges have been a running joke among fans ever since the console was revealed in December 2019, which led to various memes comparing its unique design to that of a refrigerator.

Responding to the memes, Microsoft made real, full-sized Series X fridges in October 2020, sending one to influencer iJustine and another to rapper Snoop Dogg. The promotional items functioned exactly like a normal fridge but made the Xbox Series X boot-up sound when the door was opened.

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In March 2021, Microsoft resurrected the meme by producing some Series X mini fridges as a promotional tie-in with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s new energy drink brand ZOA.

After fans asked how they could get their own mini fridge, Xbox said they were only being made for promotional purposes, and that while some could be won by entering sweepstakes on the Microsoft Rewards site, they weren’t being made available for general sale.

But Microsoft changed its mind in April when it confirmed plans to start producing and selling the mini fridges after narrowly winning a Twitter marketing competition which pitted popular brands against each other.