A high-end graphics card purchase turned into a costly lesson in online retail risks this week. A Reddit user bought a used NVIDIA RTX 5090 from an Amazon third-party seller and discovered the unit was missing critical internal components. The incident highlights the dangers of buying premium hardware from unverified sources on major marketplaces. Buyers relying on marketplace discounts should verify seller reputations before completing transactions.
Buyer discovers stripped internals after purchasing used card from third-party seller
The buyer targeted an ASUS ROG Astral RTX 5090 listed for $4,193. This price sat well below the $6,449 used price found on the official ASUS store. The significant discount attracted the user to the third-party listing. The lower cost masked a serious defect that only became apparent after delivery.
Upon opening the package, the user found the graphics card arrived heavily used and incomplete. The unit lacked both the printed circuit board (PCB) and the GPU core. The box appeared resealed, suggesting the missing parts were removed after the original packaging. The buyer described the event as a swap scam where valuable internals were extracted.
Amazon has acknowledged the issue and started the return process. The retailer acted after reviewing video evidence provided by the buyer. The card was sourced from a third-party seller, which complicates direct accountability. This case serves as a practical warning for anyone purchasing high-value electronics through open marketplaces.
The original retail price for the RTX 5090 sits far above the $4,193 paid in this incident. The $6,449 used price from official channels reflects the card's standard market value. This specific transaction resulted in a total loss for the buyer until the return clears. Consumers should exercise caution when encountering prices significantly below market rates.
Source: TweakTown
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