The release ofNvidia’s GeForce RTX 3080graphics cards has generally been a disaster. Not only did orders online sell out near-instantly, butNvidia’s own website was targeted by bots and scalpers that led to 3080 Founder’s Editions never appearing to go live. It’s no coincidence that countless 3080s ended up listed on eBay for outrageous prices, but rather than passively voice their frustrations, some hoping for a new graphics card are taking action.
While there’s little that can be done to stop bots and scalpers from purchasing the cards themselves, listings on eBay can be messed with. SomePC enthusiastsare resorting to using false eBay accounts to bid on 3080 auctions and disrupt the card economy. Others are making fake listings to inform potential 3080 buyers about the situation.
RELATED:Leaked 3090 Graphics Card Tests Suggest It’s Not as Powerful as PC Gamers Hope
Others are creating bots to fight these scalpers' auctions. One person described their bot as creating accounts that will place false bids on all open3080 eBay auctions. These false bids will then take a significant amount of time to be discovered and canceled, forcing the scalpers to relist their auctions. By that time, cards will hopefully be more widely available, so no one will have to rely on overpriced eBay auctions.
PC enthusiasts “trolling” eBay auctions do not appear to be expressing anger at the retailers who failed to have adequate anti-bot measurements in place. They simply want other PC enthusiasts to have the opportunity toacquire the Nvidia cards they wantat an appropriate price.
Despite their efforts, it may be some time before stock of the Nvidia 3080 is available in a large enough quantity that scalpers will be pushed out. Even the release of theNvidia GeForce RTX 3090on September 24, and the 3070’s release in October, may not be enough. However, Nvidia’s 30 Series of cards should eventually proliferate, letting interested buyers hopefully move past this mess.
