News Best Buy Locks Nvidia RTX GPUs Behind Obscene $200 Paywall

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VforV said:
As bad as this looks, this is SO FUNNY to me, because in EU we have such high prices compared to US, that this +200 USD "tax" to buy at "MSRP" is very small compared to the scalper prices we have here in stores... pffft. I'm against this practices in principle, but you spoiled people still get better deals than we do.
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First, 15-25% EU VAT taxes are a huge contributor, specifically computers and computer related items which are considered luxury items. Our taxes in the US are based at the checkout line/cart on what state you live in. Our state sales taxes variate from about 4% to upwards of 12%. You vote for your national leadership like we do. If we don't like the leadership at the local, state, and national level, we go to the voting booths and vote for change.

Second, EU nations are fragmented with each having their own governments having their own non-VAT related taxes at the national and local level. At the national level that would be corporate/business tax, and at the local level, that may include property taxes and other local costs. This fracturing of different governments makes it harder for larger E-tailers to work with them all under one corporate "umbrella" business operation plan, and hence, there are fewer competition options to buy from there compared to the US's free market (and Canada as well). Those who do have to spend more money to operate there compared to say in a US market. This is also a reason why Etailers like NewEgg and even tech websites like Toms Hardware will run a sweepstakes game for winning a piece of hardware but won't be available to many EU nation forum members.

There are several other reasons that cascade down from the above, and it all adds up to why you, being in an EU nation, pay outrageous prices for your computer tech hardware. Everything is relative. We are used to what we pay for in the US for reasons as mentioned above. Any price gouging or "value add" BS going on and we will complain about it even though our prices, even inflated, are lower than what you may pay in the EU relative to the US Dollar. So saying we are spoiled is a completely non-starter for the discussion. I hope this helps clear things up for you.
 
superop said:
Honestly best buy is a great store. who doesnt love going into a brick and mortar store and seeing all the awesome stuff they carry? i love it. they are great if you have an issue or want to return something. as easy as amazon if you are close to one. this program for 200 bucks a year is a good price, just 16 bucks a month. you are a tech/computer/electronics guy like me and arnt a broke azz beoutch, then its worth it for sure. 😉
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If you are a "tech guy," why do you need Geek Squad support or need them to set crap up for you?

If you are going into the store, then you don't need the "free" 2-Day shipping, so the only real perk left is the tech support, but if you are a "tech guy" you should already know more than the kids they got working in geek squad. Something doesn't add up here.
 
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And 24 hours later they do another drop where anyone can buy one. Reactionary article. Plus, it's another way to combat bots unless someone wants to drop $200 per bot for a chance at getting one. Either way, how is the exclusivity any different from something like Costco?
 
12.5 % of Total Tech product reviews on the BestBuy site are 1 star, 484 to be exact. Almost 100% 1 star ratings are saying joined but still could not purchase paywalled items.

Fakespot, a review authenticity rating service rates this product 2.5 stars not the 4.5 stars Bestbuy does.

Fakespot said "Our engine has profiled the reviewer patterns and has determined that there may be deception involved."

Fakespot also said "Our engine has analyzed and discovered that 68.7% of the reviews are reliable." so that infers 31.3 % are fake.

Who would benefit from adding fake positive reviews?
 
Listen either except these games or do something. This" who cares about the consumer mentality" is something companies have been doing a while, from unfinished games, to bugs etc., quality issues, from straight up lies in marketing. The consumer who has no patience & wants instant gratification is why it will continue chipping away at the og gamer model. There is no honor & people cannot stick together. All it takes is enough people to band together & take back the direction of gaming, but it won't happen because the new batch of gamers, just don't care about any of it. All these companies are only in it for money first, very rarely is the consumer the first to please. Only mass action will change all of it, so either start fighting back these soul suckers or tuck the jewels in and throw the Vaseline away because these companies are only going to drill it in more.
 
superop said:
Honestly best buy is a great store. who doesnt love going into a brick and mortar store and seeing all the awesome stuff they carry? i love it. they are great if you have an issue or want to return something. as easy as amazon if you are close to one. this program for 200 bucks a year is a good price, just 16 bucks a month. you are a tech/computer/electronics guy like me and arnt a broke azz beoutch, then its worth it for sure. 😉
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The "techs" at best buy are the most inept group of people I've ever met. They're even worse than the "techs" at Microcenter.
 
Mentok said:
If you are a "tech guy," why do you need Geek Squad support or need them to set crap up for you?

If you are going into the store, then you don't need the "free" 2-Day shipping, so the only real perk left is the tech support, but if you are a "tech guy" you should already know more than the kids they got working in geek squad. Something doesn't add up here.
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I could put in the work to mount a new tv by myself, or babysit windows updates, or install a dishwasher. Or I could have best buy do it for me while I go play video games or eat lunch. Plus I get discounts on stuff like I would with a Costco membership, on top of 60 day returns. Not to mention that members absolutely get special treatment from employees in store.
 
Mickery said:
I could put in the work to mount a new tv by myself, or babysit windows updates, or install a dishwasher. Or I could have best buy do it for me while I go play video games or eat lunch. Plus I get discounts on stuff like I would with a Costco membership, on top of 60 day returns. Not to mention that members absolutely get special treatment from employees in store.
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So not actually a tech guy. Got it.
 
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In December, Microcenter had all versions in stock but you couldn't purchase them online. I went into the store first thing the following morning and they were fully stocked. I snagged a 3060 but not after being interrogated and producing ID. I felt like a criminal but ultimately, it was worth it.
 
husker said:
Or better yet, DON'T require TT and require people walk into the store and buy a card in person, limit one per customer. No one would object to that and they would sell out of cards in an hour.
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You know what really sucks? Best Buy does sell RTX gpus in store. I get discord pings from cook groups about when they are available and have to rush to the store. Best Buy never advertises it. Only scalpers know. Now that malicious process is worth a Tom's Hardware article.

I'm not trying to defend Best Buy's practices. I'm saying the purpose of this lame Tom's Hardware article was to shame gating the online gpu drops with TotalTech. But that was a good strategy for BB to defend against the new bot updates. AND Best Buy did drop RTX gpus today without the need for TT. And you know what happened?? The bots ATE.
 
I have a Best Buy card. I tend to buy 4k tvs if you look at the last few years.....oh, only 3, really. I've had many TV fails so I use Geek Squad 5 yrs warranties, so the Total Tech sounds fair in cost, but a 5 yrs replacement warranty is sporadic, and the plan sounds too oddly commited.

I have a RTX3090 and I paid up, but I've had it, loving the best stuff is cool (!), and I have watched prices ebb and wane over the time since before I bought via Shuffle.
I do not want to have zero back up from eBay or Amazon that feel worse to me than even Walmart IN CASE OF A LEMON, or in a VGA perhaps getting a wrung out miner piece of toast.
I wish I was in the underground of true retail prices, but most are not!!!
I wanted the top Ampere and to feel no disatisfaction, and you will pay up even on 3080 &3080ti, as a base or founder version is "supered" by any partner to get your bux over debut retail price anyway.
 
hotaru251 said:
the same bestbuy who closed many stores due to not makign profit?

given this wont last long (the tech shortage) term they are just damaging what credibility they have and ppl will just avoid em later on.

just seems lei ka shot in foot.
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Agreed, I can't believe there still in business. I read an article that Crypto mining is https://www.howtogeek.com/782335/what-is-ethereum-2.0-and-will-it-solve-cryptos-problems/ I would switch to a console before paying the outrageous prices.
 
drivinfast247 said:
BestBuy is online only. Microcenter is in store only and must show ID. You're only allowed one GPU per address.
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Best Buy is constantly changing how these cards are sold. They've had quite a few in store only drops as well. Those were just as bad because you had to camp out over night to be able get one. There's no easy solution to this problem.
 
Thebotter said:
Stop griping at Best Buy. They were right to use TT to protect legitimate customers.
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BS. If this were the case they'd give special discount pricing below MSRP for FE cards. This is nothing short of a way to skirt Nvidia's requirement to stick to MSRP for founders edition cards. BB has long since ever been a friend to DIY builders with an inventory like 7-11's produce section. There's zero reason for any competent builder to buy into this extended warranty scam so many businesses peddle these days as it's pure profit for miniscule cost. Nvidia should pull all allocation of founders edition cards from BB as it's obvious profiteering on the back of Nvidia's good will effort when they normally would have discontinued FE cards long ago.
 
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spongiemaster said:
Amazon has done PS5/XBSX drops to Prime members.

apptrigger.com

Amazon Prime members given priority access to PS5 and Xbox Series X

If you're looking to buy an PS5 or Xbox Series X this holiday season, you may want to become an Amazon Prime member for early access.
apptrigger.com apptrigger.com
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To be fair, as much as I hate Amazon they give you FAR more with Prime at a much lower cost than this "extended warranty" scam BS. Customer service and support should be included with the purchase, not cost extra.
 
Mentok said:
If you are a "tech guy," why do you need Geek Squad support or need them to set crap up for you?

If you are going into the store, then you don't need the "free" 2-Day shipping, so the only real perk left is the tech support, but if you are a "tech guy" you should already know more than the kids they got working in geek squad. Something doesn't add up here.
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My thoughts exactly. Besides, support should come with purchase, not cost extra. And like I said above, their selection of components on hand are equivalent to 7-11's produce section. They aren't for diy enthusiasts. They're for fools that spend way too much on prebuilt systems and laptops. I smell BB plants here defending the indefensible.
 
Welp, guess I didn't really need that 3060 Ti FE...

I've come to the conclusion that there's no way I'll be getting a graphics card at a non-gouged price without FTC intervention, so I've decided that I refuse to pay anything over 50% of MSRP of a FE.

But quite frankly, Team Green needs to pay for this. They're completely in on this. They could easily yank inventory or take away the right to make RTX cards from anyone that engages in this behavior, but they've chosen not to. They're completely complicit in all of this, and they need to be reminded that there's a price to be paid for that.

Sadly, the reality is that they won't and this is the new abnormal...
 
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USAFRet said:
And it didn't work....

News - Best Buy's GPU Paywall Ended Up Helping Scalpers Instead Of Gamers

The dumb restriction of a single purchase of any particular SKU didn't stop scalpers from buying up tens of thousands of dollars of Nvidia GeForce 30X0 graphics card models. Best Buy's GPU Paywall Ended Up Helping Scalpers Instead Of Gamers : Read more
forums.tomshardware.com forums.tomshardware.com
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Because it could not work (even assuming it was meant to stop scalpers). Every ruling have holes that can and will be used. I have a nice example of that from my own country. Our last government decided to forbid shops from working on Sundays to let the workers spend them with family. Yet soon after the ruling was enacted the shops were back open on Sundays. The ruling had a hole - post office could be open. So now every f.king grocery in my country is post office too.
 
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Whats even worse is I am a Total Tech member and still didn’t get one. I was logged in and refreshed right at release. Verify account kept looping it’s an absolute joke.

Best Buy screwed me. They label it as an exclusive event yet I didn’t get one being an exclusive member

try exclusively denied. Screw Best Buy what a damn joke
 
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Obviously just a way for them to make more money, effectively price gouging without saying you're price gouging. Only scalpers will be buying more than 1 or 2 GPUs, to whom a $200 add on makes sense.

As far as the value of tech support/warranty, that has always been a scam. Sure, if you are living paycheck to paycheck maybe it is worth it to you personally, but in the course of ones lifetime (I'm getting old) 90% of what you pay for these warranty 'services' is going to be wasted money.

That is why they push them so hard and require their employees to get a minimum number of such sales - extended warranty support is 90% profit to them, which means you are just handing them 90c on the dollar for whatever you pay in the long run.

Oh and "free shipping"? I'm sorry but one quick look at their website (or just about any other companies website) and free shipping is the norm. Even with retailers who aren't 100% free shipping, typically any order over $100 is free ship. This is essentially worthless for an extra $200.
 
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