Early buyers turn Xbox 360s on eBay

Forget day trading – the best way to make a buck this holiday season may be to flip your Xbox 360.

Some people fortunate enough to get their hands on Microsoft Corp.’s new videogame console when it was released Tuesday resold them on eBay, occasionally fetching thousands of dollars.

The online auction site said about 1,800 Xbox 360s were sold there between midnight and midday Tuesday. The average price for consoles was $660. However, the company said some console packages were selling for as much as $2,500.

The North American retail price for the consoles is $399.99, while a slimmed-down version sells in stores for $299.99.