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

The highly anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs have launched, but their high price and limited supply have created a frenzy. Both cards quickly sold out at most retailers, leaving many potential buyers disappointed.

Consequently, both GPUs, particularly the RTX 5090, are experiencing significant price gouging on secondary markets like eBay. Shortly after release, RTX 5090s were listed for over $6,000, a price that has since climbed to a shocking $9,000 – a 350% markup over the MSRP of $1,999.

This exorbitant demand stems from the RTX 5090's suitability for AI workloads, making it attractive to AI startups and businesses seeking local model processing. With Nvidia's datacenter GPUs often inaccessible to smaller entities, the RTX 5090 becomes a viable, albeit costly, alternative.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images

5 ImagesThe gaming community's response to the scarcity and scalping has been inventive. eBay is now flooded with deceptive listings designed to trick buyers into purchasing an image of the RTX 5090 instead of the actual GPU.

One such listing explicitly states: "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 detentions [sic] is 8 inches by 8 inches, I got the frame from Target. DO NOT BUY IF YOU’RE A HUMAN.”

Another completed listing, sold for $2,457, clearly indicated: “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item,” with a similar disclaimer regarding non-refundable image purchases.

This situation highlights the lack of competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series seemingly unable to challenge Nvidia's dominance, and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia's market control is evident. The current shortage and inflated prices present a significant challenge for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.