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, creating a frenzy in the market. Their high performance and price tag have resulted in immediate sellouts across most retail channels, leaving many gamers and professionals disappointed.

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

This exorbitant demand stems from the RTX 5090's suitability for both gaming and demanding AI workloads. Entrepreneurs and AI businesses, often unable to afford Nvidia's datacenter GPUs, see the RTX 5090 as the next best option, justifying the inflated aftermarket prices.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 – Images

5 ImagesHowever, the gaming community is fighting back against the scarcity and scalpers. eBay is now flooded with fraudulent listings designed to deceive buyers. These listings offer a photograph 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 indicates: “Geforce RTX 5090 (read description) Picture Only - Not the Actual Item,” with a similar disclaimer regarding non-refundable image purchases.

The core problem is the lack of substantial competition in the high-end consumer GPU market. With AMD's RX 9070 series seemingly unable to challenge Nvidia's dominance and Intel lagging, Nvidia's market control is evident. The current shortage and inflated prices present a discouraging scenario for high-end PC builders and enthusiasts.