Nvidia RTX 5090 eBay Price Soars to $9,000 as Users Revolt With Framed Photo Listings to Trick Bots and Scalpers

The much-anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs have finally hit the market, and they're creating a frenzy among tech enthusiasts. These high-performance, yet high-priced graphics cards sold out almost instantly at most retail outlets, leaving many eager buyers disappointed.

The scarcity has led to rampant scalping, particularly for the RTX 5090, on platforms like eBay. Right after their release, these GPUs were resold for over $6,000, and the prices have since soared, reaching an astonishing peak of $9,000. This represents a staggering 350% markup over the RTX 5090's manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $1,999.

What drives people 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. Since Nvidia's Datacenter GPUs are often out of reach financially, the RTX 5090 becomes the next best option, no matter the inflated aftermarket price.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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However, the gaming community is fighting back against the supply shortages and scalpers. eBay is now flooded with deceptive listings that trick buyers into purchasing images of the RTX 5090 instead of the actual GPU. 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 titled, “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item,” clearly stating that buyers would receive only a picture, with no refunds offered for the non-GPU purchase.

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 firm grip on the market. This scarcity and high pricing create a challenging landscape for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.