Nvidia RTX 5090 eBay Price Hits $9,000 Amid User Revolt and Bot-Tricking Tactics

The much-anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs have finally hit the market, creating a frenzy among tech enthusiasts and professionals alike. These high-powered, high-priced graphics cards have quickly sold out at most retail outlets, leaving many eager buyers disappointed.

The scarcity has led to rampant scalping, particularly with the RTX 5090, which is now being resold on platforms like eBay at astronomical prices. Shortly after their release, these GPUs were snapped up for over $6,000, and prices have since soared to a staggering peak of $9,000—a 350% markup from the original MSRP of $1,999.

So, why are people willing to pay such exorbitant prices? The RTX 5090 isn't just a powerhouse for gaming; it's also highly sought after for AI workloads. Startups and businesses in the AI sector are eager to acquire these chips to run models locally. With Nvidia's Datacenter GPUs often out of reach for many, the RTX 5090 becomes the next best option, despite the inflated aftermarket prices.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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However, the gaming community is not sitting idly by amidst this supply shortage and scalping. eBay is now flooded with deceptive listings aimed at tricking buyers into purchasing an image of the RTX 5090, rather than the actual card. One such listing humorously warns, "Bots and scalpers welcome, do not buy if you are a human, you will be getting a framed photo of the 5090, you will not receive the 5090. The photo dimensions are 8 inches by 8 inches, I got the frame from Target. DO NOT BUY IF YOU’RE A HUMAN."

Another sold listing for $2,457 was even more direct: "Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item," with a clear disclaimer that no refunds would be issued for the image, which is not the RTX 5090 itself.

The underlying problem stems from the lack of competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series unlikely to challenge Nvidia's dominance in performance, and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia holds a commanding position. The shortage of cards and their staggering price points present a challenging landscape for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.