[Whitewolf7789]

Hey, @mothered, I'm in a bit of an iffy situation. So, I ordered a ps5 off of a big insured company on eBay, and I claimed, the console was missing from the package, but everything else was there.  The response was: "We have a rep at Sony that we report stolen serial numbers to. When a serial number is stolen Sony removes access to the internet and suspends the associated account. Once the PS5 is "bricked" it holds no value and we cannot accept it back as a return. Please confirm you do not have this PS5 before we report it as stolen to Sony." Can they actually brick it, or is this just a scare tactic, or both? If so, what is the best course of action?

[Defeat]

Quick Google search, they can be bricked. However, it looks like you can send a bricked device in for a new one(I saw various reasons they are bricked but none like what you're saying, it's quite possible though)... I don't think this guy has that juice though.
Edit: read up more, can be appealed too if it does happen.

[Fagottino89]

Hey, @mothered, I'm in a bit of an iffy situation. So, I ordered a ps5 off of a big insured company on eBay, and I claimed, the console was missing from the package, but everything else was there.  The response was: "We have a rep at Sony that we report stolen serial numbers to. When a serial number is stolen Sony removes access to the internet and suspends the associated account. Once the PS5 is "bricked" it holds no value and we cannot accept it back as a return. Please confirm you do not have this PS5 before we report it as stolen to Sony." Can they actually brick it, or is this just a scare tactic, or both? If so, what is the best course of action?

They cannot brick your console, it is impossible, they could however ban you from the online part, but I don't believe they would. I dealt with Sony in the past and their customer service was very bad, I doubt they will spend time doing this.
Anyway you could do something, call the customer service and tell them that you have been robbed of your ps5 from your home and were wondering if they could ban your console, they may be able to tell you the truth about what they can and cannot do, and if they ask you any serial number, just say that you will get them at a second stage as you don't have them at hand

[mothered]

They cannot brick your console, it is impossible, they could however ban you from the online part

^ This.

It's quite obvious as per their message below.

When a serial number is stolen Sony removes access to the internet and suspends the associated account

[Whitewolf7789]

They cannot brick your console, it is impossible, they could however ban you from the online part

^ This.

It's quite obvious as per their message below.

When a serial number is stolen Sony removes access to the internet and suspends the associated account

What do you think I should do?

[mothered]

What do you think I should do?

Sony does have the capacity to blacklist serial numbers. It may not happen, but there Is a (remote) possibility that It will.

You can either risk It, or say your brother took the PS5 In your absence and told you about It at a later time. Then return It for a legit refund, and order It from another company that doesn't tend to take action. - Amazon being the obvious choice.

[Whitewolf7789]

What do you think I should do?

Sony does have the capacity to blacklist serial numbers. It may not happen, but there Is a (remote) possibility that It will.

You can either risk It, or say your brother took the PS5 In your absence and told you about It at a later time. Then return It for a legit refund, and order It from another company that doesn't tend to take action. - Amazon being the obvious choice.

What is the point of buying through Amazon? As long as there is a third party seller, they will brick it.

[mothered]

What is the point of buying through Amazon?

Sold and shipped by Amazon - they're less likely to contact the manufacturer, namely (In this case) Sony.

I've yet to experience It In decades of social engineering.

[Whitewolf7789]

What is the point of buying through Amazon?

Sold and shipped by Amazon - they're less likely to contact the manufacturer, namely (In this case) Sony.

I've yet to experience It In decades of social engineering.

Amazon does not sell ps5, they are all sold though third party sellers

[Nabeshin]

What is the point of buying through Amazon?

Sold and shipped by Amazon - they're less likely to contact the manufacturer, namely (In this case) Sony.

I've yet to experience It In decades of social engineering.

Amazon does not sell ps5, they are all sold though third party sellers

I wonder what the experience would be like, hitting those scalpers would feel so good, but would Amazon side with us or them? From what I've heard they usually side with the customer