Another tech release, another abysmal failure. In what has started to become the standard for tech launches, the RTX 5090 release showcased another instance of scalpers robbing consumers of products only to sell them at a marked up price.

The Prelude

We where given foresight into the high likely it was that there would be issues through a suspicious yet interesting email sent out by NVIDIA the night prior to the release. In a tactic which combines both engaging in consumer hype and preliminary damage control, NVIDIA understood what was going to happen due to the events of the RTX 4090 release. The double problem of Covid19 related production complications and scalpers utilizing bots has lead to companies like NVIDIA sending out statements like these before products are even released

Check it out. Pay attention to the 6:00 AM bit as we will talk about that later.

What Happened At Release

The RTX 5090 release was somehow worse than the RTX 4090 release in that Nvidia didn’t learn from the Covid era supply chain freeze. The release above noted that the orders would be open at 6:00 AM Pacific Standard Time (we have a big issue with the release time itself). But in reality, the product was available for order around 5:30 am, a half an hour before it NVIDIA stated that the order be available.

What made the situation worse beyond the inaccurate order availability, was when people where lucky to notice that it was available, it quickly switched from auto-notify to Out of Stock within a fraction of a section. The only other options showcasing different vendors who where also sold out. We can already guess who was behind this instance.

Scalpers and Resellers Are Stunting Tech Releases

As with the RTX 4090 and the Playstation 5, the RTX 5090 was quickly snatched up by scalpers for use on sites like Ebay and Craigslist through bots. The tragedy is that Nvidia sent out a notice on it’s blog stating that it would be implementing measures to combat scalpers and bots, but the release proved that to be wrong or not enough.

Sure enough, we found 5090 resellers on Ebay offering prices between $2000-$3500+, though if Nvidia follows through on their proclamations that they will be reviewing each order, their order will likely be cancelled. We have yet to see any evidence so far of Nvidia implementing any additional measures to ensure that regular consumers are able to purchase products, but hopefully they will show tangible results to make up for the bungled 5090 release.

Tech has encountered the reseller problem that footwear has encountered

An infuriating revelation with the RTX 5090 release is that the reseller problem has crept into tech. Initially exploded with the even more bungled Playstation 5 pre-order, the reseller problem is something that has crept more and more into public awareness. This is a major problem that companies like Sony and Nvidia will have to be tackle to prevent his situation from getting worse.

But there are few counter arguments to this idea

• There is only a 30-60 day period in which reselling tech products is viable due to how fast new versions are made
• Reselling quickly dies out once production ramps up
• The price of tech products inhibits how many can be purchased and the possibility of people buying it.
• Low return: Someone spending 10 grand on purchasing graphics cards likely would have just put themselves in deep debt for a likely at best meager return.
• Unlike footwear, tech products are frequently more available at retailers

Hopefully, Nvidia and other companies will figure out the best methods of wording off scalpers and improving production.