Google recently took the wraps off its new TV streaming device the Chromecast. The item was so popular right out of the gate that it has sold out and backordered everywhere that its available for weeks, and it doesn't even ship until August. This has caused a few profiteers to find a way to jack up the price of the Chromecast and make a quick couple hundred bucks.
According to Computer World, the device is up on sale on eBay for as much as $300, a 757 percent markup from its original asking price of $35. Clearly the device is new, exciting and popular enough for people to pay the extra coin just to count themselves among the first to own the Chormecast device.
The device went as high as $300 and as low as $55, meaning the least profitable profiteer would still make a 57% profit on the Chormecast sale. As of Thursday, more than 130 listings of the device were showed on eBay as a "Buy It Now," meaning people can circumvent the auction phase of the purchase and just get the device immediately.
Supply for the $35 Chromecast was so high that Google had to shut down a promotional offer that gave buyers three free months of Netflix service, valued at $24.
"Please note that the Netflix promotional offer (which was available in limited supply) has now ended," read a message on Amazon. "Customers who ordered their Chromecast prior to 5:31 p.m. PST on July 24, 2013, will receive a Netflix gift code via e-mail within 5 days of their product's ship date."
The Chromecast is a small "dongle" device that can be plugged into a television set's HDMI port and allows the user to stream media from smartphones, tablets and computers. Unlike many others of its kind, the Chromecast, when streaming media to the television screen, will not make your mobile device useless as it has the capability to multitask.
