On past form, the launch of the PlayStation 3 should have provided a guaranteed quick buck for anyone lucky enough to secure a pre-ordered console, but eBay’s pricelist suggests that this time round the touts have misjudged demand.

When the Xbox 360 and PlayStation Portable arrived they were fetching two or three times their asking prices on the online auction site, but Sony’s latest console is going for about £400, £25 less than the recommended retail price.

The problem for the PS3 touts is that the console is still readily available on the high street. Delays to the launch in Europe allowed Sony to build up large stocks, including an allocation of 220,000 for the UK.

“This is by far and away the largest stock allocation for any console launch there has ever been in the UK,” Jonathan Fargher, a Sony spokesman, said. Microsoft supplied an estimated 70,000 Xbox 360s for its UK launch.

A spokesman for Currys and PC World said that sales had been brisk but that the console was still in stock.

Analysts have said that the high price of the PS3 may also have reduced demand. Carl Gressum, senior analyst at the technology consultancy Ovum, said the first buyers would be dedicated Sony fans.

“Those consumers tend to be willing to pay a large premium to get the new PlayStation,” he said. “That is a limited market so Sony will need to get the price down quickly in order to reach a bigger market.”

Retailers and analysts have suggested that PlayStation sales will strengthen throughout the year and are predicting UK sales of between 1 and 1.5 million consoles by the end of the year.

Those looking for quicker profits would have done better to focus their attention on the Nintendo Wii, a £175 games system with a wireless, motion sensitive wand. This console, packaged with five games, is fetching more than £400 on eBay.