Retailer held RTX 5080 ransom unless buyer paid more after the sale had been completed

Aorus RTX 5080 Master 16G graphics card
(Image credit: Aorus)

An RTX 5080 buyer in Taiwan was asked to pay more for a graphics card that had already been paid for and shipped or to return it, reports Chinese language tech news outlet MyDrivers. Before we tell the tale, though, it is important to note that the retailer backed down after its behavior set aflame local tech forums like PTT. So, the disgruntled buyer got their shiny new Aorus RTX 5080 Master 16G at the price they originally paid, NTD$42,990 ($1,312), including sales tax.

The extreme shortage of RTX 50 graphics cards continues to cause extremes of behavior. We have seen things you might find it hard to believe. People camp out for days to get a chance at an RTX 50 raffle entry. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. Unashamed scalping by individuals. Exorbitant bundling by retailers. And more. However, trying to squeeze more cash from a customer after they have paid and the goods are in transit is still a surprising retail tactic to grab more cash.

To make the unfortunate Taiwanese netizen's chain of events as clear as possible, we asked a native Mandarin speaker/reader to look at the local media reports and create a timeline. Please remember that this is still a translation, but hopefully, it makes a lot more sense than the Google machine translation we also checked out.

  • On February 7, the netizen bought various computer parts from Taiwan's Cool PC retail chain, a popular PC and components store with a brick-and-mortar and online presence.
  • One of the PC components bought was an Aorus RTX 5080 Master 16G graphics card, and they paid NTD$42,990 ($1,312), including sales tax, for this item.
  • The customer paid for all the components up front and waited for delivery.
  • Some days after February 7, the customer received all the parts from their Cool PC store order except for the RTX 5080.
  • Upon contacting the retail store, the customer was told the price had increased.
  • The customer was given two options: pay more or return the RTX 5080 after delivery.
  • A perturbed PC components customer highlighted their plight on PC and tech forums in Taiwan and sought advice.
  • The forum post gained a lot of traction and angry netizens.
  • Subsequently, Taiwan's Cool PC honored the original retail price paid and asked the customer to delete their original forum post, which they did. However, other forums, like our link (top), have kept the debate alive.

Aorus RTX 5080 Master 16G graphics card receipt

(Image credit: PTT forums)

Some forum members suggest that a salesperson—not the retail store—was trying to steal more money from the RTX 5080 customer in this instance. Whatever the case, people were incredulous that an established retail store tried to switch prices this way.

To conclude, it is good that the customer managed to get the RTX 5080 at what seems to be a fair price for a premium model. Retail prices in Taiwan seem much higher. In the U.S., the same Aorus RTX 5080 Master 16G is not far shy of $1,500 at Newegg. Of course, it was out of stock when we checked.

Mark Tyson
News Editor

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

  • Zaranthos
    They might not care about some individual customer, but they do care about their reputation with the customer base at large. Behold the power of the Internet.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    In the USA, trying to change the price after a sale had been agreed constitutes breach of contract.

    Among the methods of recourse, the buyer could probably take the seller to Small Claims Court, which doesn't require a lawyer.
    Reply
  • Pierce2623
    So CoolPC just invented post-sale scalping? It’s getting crazy out there just because Nvidia is purposefully dumping all over the people they built their business on.
    Reply
  • Shiznizzle
    Time to start charging retailers interest on the money they hold. Better yet, stop "pre-purchasing" items. Especially when lead times are weeks ahead. Retailers are not banks and you are allowing them to gain interest on this money and dont even for one second thing they dont do this. They do
    Reply
  • bigdragon
    I'm not surprised. Stores and salespeople will do the scalping themselves when given the opportunity.

    I had UPS pull a similar stunt with a PS5 3 years ago. They refused to deliver it and charged me $12 to pick it up from them. Pay the ransom or they return it to sender (and probably conveniently lose it on the return trip).
    Reply
  • bit_user
    Shiznizzle said:
    Time to start charging retailers interest on the money they hold.
    The more reputable ones won't bill you until your order ships.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    bigdragon said:
    I had UPS pull a similar stunt with a PS5 3 years ago. They refused to deliver it and charged me $12 to pick it up from them. Pay the ransom or they return it to sender (and probably conveniently lose it on the return trip).
    That's weird. Was it a fuel surcharge or what was the explanation?

    I had UPS not deliver something last fall and I was able to pick it up from them without paying a fee. It almost got returned, though, because I misunderstood and thought they were going to re-attempt the delivery. Prior to their actual attempt, I had even submitted a signature release to get them to leave it while I wasn't home, but they still didn't.

    BTW, I'm pretty sure insurance should cover the return-to-sender leg, as well. I'd guess UPS includes enough to cover a PS5 by default, but obviously worth checking on.
    Reply
  • bigdragon
    bit_user said:
    That's weird. Was it a fuel surcharge or what was the explanation?

    I had UPS not deliver something last fall and I was able to pick it up from them without paying a fee. It almost got returned, though, because I misunderstood and thought they were going to re-attempt the delivery. Prior to their actual attempt, I had even submitted a signature release to get them to leave it while I wasn't home, but they still didn't.

    BTW, I'm pretty sure insurance should cover the return-to-sender leg, as well. I'd guess UPS includes enough to cover a PS5 by default, but obviously worth checking on.
    UPS out of Laurel, MD said the PS5 (disc edition) was a "high theft item" and "policy" prevented them from delivering it. They'd hold it for me for 5 days for $12, or they'd send it back. This was October 2021 when the only way you could get a PS5 was to get a reservation with a retailer or pay a scalper. I ended up getting mine directly through Sony. UPS knew what it was even though the box was a nondescript brown box with no markings on it other than the shipping label from Sony.

    That whole experience was very weird. I chose not to spend time fighting them or complaining over $12. However, I have used every opportunity to avoid UPS since that experience. When given the option, I'll always choose FedEx or USPS over UPS. I know it wouldn't have been my problem if the PS5 went back to Sony and magically went missing or got "damaged." Still, i wanted it for games and 4k blu-rays because I had gotten a 4K projector a few months prior.

    To pull things back to the original topic, the idea that a salesperson, retailer, delivery person, or other entity would inject themselves into the middle of the buying process really doesn't surprise me anymore. These types only get in trouble if they get caught by the right people. The insane pandemic shortages of the RTX 30-series is what seemed to normalize all sorts of behaviors that were previously taboo.
    Reply
  • steacypaquette
    bit_user said:
    In the USA, trying to change the price after a sale had been agreed constitutes breach of contract.

    Among the methods of recourse, the buyer could probably take the seller to Small Claims Court, which doesn't require a lawyer.
    People love that
    Pierce2623 said:
    So CoolPC just invented post-sale scalping? It’s getting crazy out there just because Nvidia is purposefully dumping all over the people they built their business on.
    People love being lied, kicked, etc. on. They ask for more each time. Same with Apple.
    Reply
  • DingusDog
    Attack ships off the shoulder of Orion is the real story here.
    Reply