Facepalm: As anybody who's desperate for an RTX 3000-series bill of fare knows, pretty much the only mode of getting one correct now is to pay an obscene amount on eBay. Nonetheless, there are quite a few RTX 3080/3090 listings with prices lower than the MSRP, but brand sure to read the descriptions: these volition nigh certainly be an image of the card, or an detail but as useless. Although some sellers claim this is a revenge tactic against scalpers, a few are probable using the alibi as justification to rip off consumers; all auctions state "no refunds, no returns."

RTX 3000-series cards, the Radeon RX 6000s, Ryzen 5000 CPUs, and new consoles have all suffered availability problems, due in no minor office to scalpers grabbing them to make huge profits on auction sites. A report from Jan showed that scalpers had sold over 53,000 new Nvidia/AMD cards worth $65 million, figures that will now be even larger.

In that location are numerous RTX 3080/3090 cards on eBay selling under their MSRPs, but information technology should go without maxim that buying one will lead to disappointment; about are for zippo more than than images of the products.

Always read the small print

These sort of shenanigans have long been present on eBay. It was widespread when the PS5 launched, tricking many desperate parents into paying a fortune for a digital photo of the panel. What's different with a lot of the graphics card listings is that they warn people non to buy, claiming to be a trap gear up for bots.

"NO HUMANS ALLOWED!" states one auction. "DO Not Buy UNLESS YOU ARE A BOT OR WOULD Similar TO Purchase A DIGITAL Art Slice OF THE Menu AS A MONUMENT TO CURRENT Market Weather."

Anything that punishes scalpers should be welcomed, merely information technology'south like shooting fish in a barrel to imagine that enough of these listings include "bots-just" messages equally a manner of covering sellers' backs, especially equally they have "no refunds, no returns" policies.

What's the recommended PSU for this cardboard box?

It'due south non just images of cards that scammers are pushing. PCMag notes i person selling an "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Founder's Edition," though the description reveals it'southward a "New 3D PRINTED PLASTIC MODEL." In that location are other auctions for empty boxes.

If you are willing to buy an RTX 3080 on eBay, expect to pay more than than $one,000 for the real thing—and make sure to read the description.