Nvidia RTX 5090 eBay Price Hits $9,000 Amid User Protests Using Framed Photos to Outsmart Bots

The highly anticipated RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs hit the market yesterday, instantly becoming the hottest and most coveted items in the tech world. These high-powered, high-priced graphics cards sold out rapidly across most retail channels, leaving many eager buyers disappointed and frustrated.

The scarcity has led to rampant scalping, particularly with the RTX 5090, which is now being resold on platforms like eBay at astronomical prices. Within hours of the launch, these GPUs were snapped up for over $6,000, and prices have since soared to a staggering $9,000—a 350% markup from the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $1,999.

So, why are people willing to pay such exorbitant prices? The RTX 5090 is not only a powerhouse for gaming but also excels in handling 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 often out of reach, the RTX 5090 becomes an attractive, albeit expensive, alternative.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Photos

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However, the gaming community is fighting back against the scalpers and supply shortages. eBay is now flooded with deceptive listings designed to trick buyers into purchasing an image of the RTX 5090 rather than the actual card. One such listing humorously notes, "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, priced at $2,457, clearly states: “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item,” with a warning about no refunds for the image, which is not the RTX 5090 itself.

The root of this issue stems from a lack of competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD’s RX 9070 series unable to challenge Nvidia’s power dominance, and Intel still lagging behind, Nvidia holds a near monopoly. The combination of card shortages and exorbitant prices paints a bleak outlook for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.