So I've been trying to buy a desktop PC over the last week or so. I'll be working from home for at least the next couple of months and will need something sturdy long term for my hybrid work. I also want to game (i put gaming off for so long, really want to play Red Dead, Cyberpunk, D2R, etc) on this computer so I'm trying to either separately buy a graphics card or purchase a pre-built comp with one in it.

So far it's nearly impossible to find GPUs that are reasonably priced. Most of them are sold out across the board from places like Best Buy, AMD, Nvidia, and so on. But there's a striving secondary market.

Just to give one example an NVIDIA RTX 360 Ti graphics card on one of those websites mentioned above costs approx 400 bucks MSRP. All have been sold out.
On the secondary market, the price is $1900...

https://www.amazon.com/GeForce-Graphics-MAX-Covered-Cooling-AllyFlex/dp/B092KGCJSM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=17UAFOIZ92OUU&dchild=1&keywords=rtx+3060+ti+graphics+card&qid=1620402243&sprefix=rtx+3060+ti%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-3

What's happening is many of these 'resalers' or scalpers have automatic bots that alert and buy these GPUs as soon as they are released. There's currently very high demand because these things are used for crypto mining as well and not enough demand.

I'm usually against most regulations that mess with market dynamics but this one is kind of different. We see blatant price gouging that's being made possible by advancement in tech.

I remember us talking about reselling toilet paper or water after some natural disaster. I was on the libertarian side of the argument but to me this is different. This is the equivalent of the billionaire clearing out all the stores in town by automatic tech means and then reselling a case of water for a 400% markup immediately. A lot different than someone buying water from a neighboring state, renting a truck, and coming to the disaster area to make some money.

Oh so now that it affects you it's different. Seems like your philosophy really is "as long as I get mine, screw everybody else".

Why do you think the market is failing to adjust MSRP? Seems like if there's this much demand then Nvidia should be charging those prices.

I thought I made it clear how it's different. It's like you're incapable of having a discussion without personalizing an argument.

In one case scalpers are using automated bots to clear out the shelves on a massive scale, in the other case a random guy spends a few grand to buy water and drive to a disaster area. Are you really this unnuanced to see the difference?

Event tickets, apple products, xbox/playstations, graphics cards, sneakers, etc.

all heavily scalped by automated setups, all should remain legal.

producers can raise prices if demand allows it to kill the market.

I don't see it as meaningfully different. Why are you so incapable of taking a principled stance? I thought you went most of your adult life with your principles set? Seems you're pretty maleable when its a personal issue.

Everything is in short supply and high demand, even basic lumber. What your talking about is a basic nice to have commodity, so I don't think it should be regulated or subsidized. Things like lumber probably should, I'd seriously question any builder right now about material substitutions they are resorting to. Other industries like health care, def should.

This post was edited by RedFromWinter on May 7 2021 10:21am

get a better job so you can afford one.

2d thinking. Obsession is real. Following me from thread to thread to ankle bite. Instead of engaging on a topic like an adult, you're choosing to show how petty you are.



Fair point.

Subsidized? No chance.

So far we're seeing a response from the primary suppliers. Companies like Nvidia, MSI are taking certain steps to prevent this. For example, MSI recently refunded the difference when there were consumer complaints that one of its subsidiaries was price gouging.

https://wccftech.com/msi-responds-to-accusations-of-nvidia-rtx-3080-price-gouging/

It's a temporary shortage because of massive non-gaming demand. I don't have a problem with it.

100%, Im sure a lot of builders are subbing shit lumber for applications that wont last. cheaper grade steel, cheaper piping, etc.