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

The much-anticipated RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs have finally hit the market, and their high power and high price tags have made them a hot commodity. These GPUs sold out almost instantly at most retail outlets, leaving many eager buyers disappointed.

As a result, both GPUs, particularly the RTX 5090, are being heavily scalped on resale platforms like eBay. Just after their launch, RTX 5090s were being resold for over $6,000, and prices have now surged to a staggering peak of $9,000—a 350% markup over the GPU's MSRP of $1,999.

Why are people willing to pay such exorbitant prices for these GPUs? The RTX 5090 is not only a powerhouse for gaming but also excels in AI workloads. This makes it highly desirable for startups and businesses in the AI sector looking to run models locally. With Nvidia's Datacenter GPUs being out of reach for many, the RTX 5090 becomes the next best option, regardless of its inflated aftermarket prices.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

5 Images

However, the gaming community is not sitting idly by as scalpers take advantage of the supply shortage. On eBay, fake listings have emerged, designed to trick buyers into purchasing an *image* of the RTX 5090 rather than the card itself.

One such listing clearly 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 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 reads: "Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item," with a similar warning that no refunds will be given for the image, which is not the RTX 5090 itself.

The underlying issue stems from the lack of competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD’s RX 9070 series unlikely to challenge Nvidia for performance supremacy, and Intel trailing behind, Nvidia holds a dominant position. The shortage of cards and the soaring price points create a challenging landscape for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.