Amazon Accidentally Delivers $1,000 ‘Brick’ Instead of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, Offers Hassle-Free Return

In a rather unfortunate incident, a customer experienced a shocking blunder while ordering from Amazon. The buyer intended to purchase the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, valued at $1, 000, but instead received an unexpected surprise: a brick.

Spending $1, 000 on a GPU? You Might Get a Brick Instead

The retail landscape often reveals intriguing stories that highlight mishaps within the supply chain, which can be both entertaining and concerning. Recently, a Reddit user by the handle GlassHistorical5303 shared an alarming experience where he ordered PNY’s GeForce RTX 5080 from Amazon. To his dismay, rather than receiving the coveted graphics card, he found a brick enclosed in an anti-static bag. This incident ignited a lively discussion on Reddit, prompting questions about Amazon’s retail procedures. Notably, the tech giant did step in to issue a refund for the bizarre occurrence.

Update on the brick i got from amazon. by u/GlassHistorical5303 in pcmasterrace

So how did this strange swap happen? This mishap likely stems from Amazon’s Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) logistics system. When orders are placed, Amazon may source items from various sellers without adequately verifying their contents beyond the weight of the packages. This has led to a growing number of customers reporting similar experiences where they receive items vastly different from what they ordered.

Two NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics cards on a green, abstract background. — NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 & RTX 5080 | Image Credits: NVIDIA

Another plausible scenario could involve someone purchasing the same graphics card, extracting the actual GPU, and subsequently returning it with a brick inside the box. If Amazon’s return process did not thoroughly inspect the packaging, that brick might have slipped back into inventory, leaving the next unsuspecting buyer in a troublesome situation. Hence, it is essential for consumers to adopt certain precautions when shopping, even on a reputable platform like Amazon.

Choose items labeled ‘Sold and Shipped by Amazon’ to guarantee a higher level of transparency.
Document the unboxing process to gather evidence in case of any discrepancies.
Verify the GPU’s serial number using the manufacturer’s database (e.g., ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte) to confirm the product’s authenticity and condition.

Fortunately for the Redditor involved in this bizarre episode, he received a refund despite the ordeal. He was able to recoup his $1, 000 instead of being stuck with an inanimate brick, marking the situation as a small victory amid the frustration.

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