Last week, the company that my brother works for went out of business out of the blue.  My brother didn't get paid for a chunk of money he was owed.  He had pre-ordered both the PS4 and XB1.  I told him if he doesn't get a job right away to sell his systems at launch on either craig's list or ebay.  I told him that he should be able to double his money.

Would you sell your systems or possibly go bankrupt?

Yeah, if I lost my job and had no immediate way of getting money, I'd sell every non-essential thing I owned. It's not like the systems won't be around for another decade or so. Hopefully, your brother finds something soon though.

Yeah, it really sucks.  He just took his wife and kids on a vacation that he spent a chunk of money on a month ago.  He really wishes he had any idea things could go this way.  He applied for like 15  different jobs this week.

I think selling your launch systems for inflated prices is pretty crappy. On the one hand I think, "If some idiot's willing to pay that much money, it's their own fault." But then you've got to think about how for every system you buy and sell for profit, there's a guy at the bottom of the ladder who wanted a system and didn't get one. For every pre-order someone nabs, there's someone out there who missed out, or who has to pay a ton of money for a system rather than MSRP. Just a crummy thing to do, in my opinion. It would be nice if you could just go out and buy a system rather than having to fight these scammers for them.

Not that I'm saying every person who re-sells is a scammer.  This situation is a bit more complicated.

Well if he doesn't get a job with in the next month then yeah.

That's economy for you. Suppy and demand. This is one of the very few instances where the average gamer joe has the chance to sit at the supply for once.

Not to criticize your brother, but it is recommended to save up to 6 months of your living expenses in case such a situation happens or for other emergencies.

If he is in this big of a need for cash that he'd have to immediately sell already paid off (I assume) consoles, then it sounds like that vacation expense and the console pre-orders themselves should have gone to savings to begin with. Again, if I am making a judgement without the full picture I am sorry. I am not trying to criticize, just offer my financial advice.

Also, I have 3 Xbox One's pre-ordered and 2 PS4's so I am hoping to sell them for double as well and basically completely pay for my console(s) (If I keep a PS4) plus online services and games for a good year or more.

A lot easier said than done in regards to saving up for 6 months of living expenses though. 

That said, if it were me, those pre-orders would be held onto, then paid off and around late November the would be sold.

Sue the business. Just because they went out of business doesnt mean they can withold pay. Its illegal

I doubt he will double his money. I kinda feel like the days of selling a console for a ton of money at launch ended with the Wii. A few will double their money but, like people who tried to buy tons of copies of "The Death of Superman", I don't think there will be many winners playing the eBay game.

Buy it if he wants to play it or sell it if he needs the money but I'm pretty sure there won't be a shortage of either console for those that really want one. It's just a guess but I think they'll be readily available.