Should I purchase an untested GPU from an auction site?
Should I purchase an untested GPU from an auction site?
If it's a government-sponsored auction such as the police, I'd be interested in purchasing it. For private auction platforms, I'd ignore them. Only because one is more likely to have more information than they're disclosing.
I’m the seller here, and I’ve had a few items listed on eBay, like CPUs, without testing them first. They were sold as untested and in original condition. If you buy something untested, you’re making a risk.
An untested product could still function for years or not at all. For instance, I recently sold a motherboard I received from Newegg along with some DDR5 RAM, but I didn’t need the motherboard myself. After opening the package and confirming everything was present, I resold it. Since I didn’t have a spare PSU or time to test it, that was the case. The board would have been worth around $140, while I got it for about $51. That’s a big discount compared to what they’d usually charge, but it’s still a gamble.
A 4090 with a $100 starting offer seems quite low. If you’re not sure an item might not work, it’s best not to bid.
I've purchased several GPUs on eBay, but the most costly one was an RX 580 for $80. It was listed as fully functional and the seller (with a perfect 100% feedback score) accepted returns. It performed excellently.
Some listings from eBay that claimed to be working ended up being damaged or misrepresented. In every situation I reached out to eBay, receiving a refund. They generally favor buyers over sellers.
I wouldn't purchase anything from eBay that's untested, lacks returns, or has no guarantee of functionality unless the price is below $10 with shipping included. Then it could be worth a shot.
There are countless stories about GPUs missing parts, being re-labeled as more expensive, or having faulty cards. You might even receive a defective unit. Your decision is yours, even if you watch an unboxing video.
If you're looking to waste your money, just send it over. I'll buy an old laptop and donate it to charity.