Monday, February 10th 2025
Zotac Uses Discord to Sell RTX 50 GPUs and Stop Scalpers
Zotac has come up with a new way to fight graphics card scalping by starting a "Priority Access Campaign" on their Discord server, with a Zotac employee named Bryant making the announcement. The plan is simple and has only one main goal: to help regular buyers get a real chance of buying NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 5080 and 5090 models at the right price. These cards have been almost impossible to get because they sell out fast and end up on resale sites at high prices. Zotac says it wants to use its online community to help real gamers, not scalpers.
The process is pretty straightforward, with users being selected based on engagement in discussions and various challenges. Then, using a random number generator, eligible buyers will be selected. The campaign is already active (is limited to users in the U.S.) with special Discord channels to give out RTX 5080 models (currently Zotac has only ten RTX 5080 cards) while the RTX 5090 isn't yet available. The company has insisted on warning scalpers; each card sold via this method will have its serial number recorded, and any user caught trying to resell it at a higher price will be permanently banned from any future Zotac direct sales events or raffles. Zotac isn't the first to try this approach, in the past, companies like Newegg and NVIDIA have used lottery systems or sold directly to customers to avoid scalpers. While there is no guarantee of completely avoiding scalpers, the action is commendable and it is possible that we will see similar actions from other brands or retailers in the future.
Source:
TechSpot
The process is pretty straightforward, with users being selected based on engagement in discussions and various challenges. Then, using a random number generator, eligible buyers will be selected. The campaign is already active (is limited to users in the U.S.) with special Discord channels to give out RTX 5080 models (currently Zotac has only ten RTX 5080 cards) while the RTX 5090 isn't yet available. The company has insisted on warning scalpers; each card sold via this method will have its serial number recorded, and any user caught trying to resell it at a higher price will be permanently banned from any future Zotac direct sales events or raffles. Zotac isn't the first to try this approach, in the past, companies like Newegg and NVIDIA have used lottery systems or sold directly to customers to avoid scalpers. While there is no guarantee of completely avoiding scalpers, the action is commendable and it is possible that we will see similar actions from other brands or retailers in the future.
40 Comments on Zotac Uses Discord to Sell RTX 50 GPUs and Stop Scalpers
Nvidia really screwed the pooch this time around with their very limited release. Too much focus on the big money game of "AI" to spare enough wafers for gaming GPUs it seems. Then telling folks it'll be a few months before inventory becomes more plentiful.....
Oh well, doesn't impact me since I don't want any of these cards. I just find it crummy.
Honestly at those eye watering prices the potential market must be as small as the stock allocation. Not much room for scalpers when the retailers are already doing it!
Also the 5080s are selling for 4090 prices, also zero stock. Madness.
I did send them an e-mail to try for South-Africa, but they haven't even gotten back to me, it's been a week. :/
This may help but is not fool proof. Some see it as sport to find a loop hole.
Everything else is pure marketing BS that doesn't change anything.We need a fking Voight-Kampff test to be done before every sell!
Although probably not true, as somebody woulda stole one by now and made a TikTok.
But but people have the self control of a gnat these days.
Let me guess:
I also don't have time to spent whole day long hangin' on some Discord channel just to be able to secure my position for puchase - it's silly. There would be no problem with scalpers in the first place if stocks of merchandise would be reasonable - otherwise it will always be a free-for-all.
I mean, normally I'd agree with you (start selling when you have something to sell). But this year is special. Extra special...
Their actions are humiliating. I wouldn't in any case walk these additional miles to buy a what's essentially an overpriced piece of hardware that doesn't do blowjobs, nor does it save lives. This market is unhealthy as it is and itchy upgradeholics don't make it any better. Your "obscenely antique" RTX 3080 Ti is STILL A GOOD GAMING GPU.
Don't like the price, don't buy it. At least I won't, it's not worth it at the moment.Just like 2013–14, 2017–18, and 2020–22 with COVID and mining hysterias. Huh. There will always be some "special" conditions. They don't want things to be good enough, they want to milk.
Launch should have been pushed out. It was basically a paper launch.
They'll probably find a way to muck it up, but they *shouldn't* have any issues with stock...
And yes, they definitely should have waited for more stock to build before launch. Now from here on out it is all just random drops, on random days, making them available only to those that run In Stock bots 24/7.