Buyer Beware: You Spend Over $3,000 on NVIDIA RTX 5090, but Amazon Ships Rocks and a Towel; A Costly Lesson in High-End GPU Scams

NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 has recently made headlines for unfortunate reasons, as multiple reports of scams have emerged from major retail platforms like Amazon. One particularly alarming case involved a Reddit user who, after paying a substantial amount, received mere rocks in lieu of the expected GPU.

Disappointment From a Promising Purchase: A Redditor’s Experience

Amid the ongoing shortages of the RTX 50 series, there has been a notable surge in GPU prices, driven by skyrocketing GDDR7 memory costs and insufficient supply to meet soaring demand. This predicament has forced many gamers to confront exorbitant prices for RTX 5090 models, often exceeding $3, 000 on platforms like Amazon and Newegg. Unfortunately, for those who do manage to purchase one, the threat of scams looms large, as illustrated by the story shared by a Redditor who felt misled after buying MSI’s SUPRIM RTX 5090.The user was shocked to find that instead of a high-end GPU, his package contained a box of rocks.

Bought an MSI 5090 from Amazon Resale and got a box of rocks. by u/Dazzling_Course8755 in pcmasterrace

After facing previous challenges in acquiring the RTX 5090 from Amazon, the user expressed disbelief at his bad luck. He ultimately secured a unit from “Amazon Resale, ”a program where returned or discounted items are sold. Amazon claims that items in this category go through rigorous checks to ensure customer satisfaction; however, in this instance, those checks appeared to have failed dramatically.

The packaging for an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card with Amazon shipping labels on top. — Image Credits: Reddit

In the comments section, fellow Reddit users have pointed fingers at Amazon’s quality control measures. Many believe that the retailer may have simply dismissed the package’s contents, relying too heavily on its weight as an indicator of legitimacy. If this were an isolated incident, it might not warrant such scrutiny; however, this isn’t the first time consumers have reported receiving unexpected items after ordering expensive GPUs. For instance, another unfortunate buyer of an AORUS RTX 5090 was sent a box filled with “rice and pasta, ”showcasing systemic issues rather than isolated cases.

While the Redditor has not revealed the exact source of the MSI SUPRIM GeForce RTX 5090 purchase, it’s crucial to note that caution is warranted when shopping online for GPUs. With prices continuing to ascend and the prevalence of scams increasing, consumers should remain vigilant to avoid similar disappointments.

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