aka_STEVE_b
I will update my top post with a link to this new article  - also detailing how things need to change.
 
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-10-02-hardware-launches-and-pre-orders-desperately-need-a-shake-up-opinion
 
 

The way in which availability was handled has revealed massive and growing problems in how the industry handles these launches

Not only is this situation not inevitable, it's also completely avoidable

 
 

since the decision to allow scalpers to resell pre-orders at higher prices is pretty clearly an overt and deliberate policy choice. Why wouldn't Amazon decide to double-dip in that manner, knowing that most of the backlash would be focused on the manufacturers? Why would any retailer go out of their way to make the launch process more equitable and smooth, when consumer anger is going to strike at Sony, Microsoft and Nvidia in the end anyway?

Not only is this situation not inevitable, and not a mere repeat of the decades-old pattern of hardware launch sales, it's also completely avoidable. The internet has made these launches into a total disaster, a magnet for scalpers and a significant pain point for the industry's most enthusiastic and high-spending consumers. But it doesn't have to be this way, because the internet also offers us better ways of doing this.

 
Isn't that basically what most of us have been saying for weeks now?

Caffeinated_Sarcasm
Isn't that basically what most of us have been saying for weeks now?

YEP, it just feels good to know we're not the only people saying & noticing these things... 

Yeah, there's no shortage of tech articles pointing out all the obvious issues and shortsightedness with NVIDIA's launch tactics. But I don't see them changing either. This is the same company that was so paranoid about leaks that it sent an app-specific driver to AIBs to test with, then sent full drivers to the press before its AIBs. Like really, it's no wonder so many AIBs had to change designs last minute (even though NVIDIA itself approved all the original AIB designs).

I wonder if they decided that launching early with insufficient stock was better than competing with the consoles, Zen 3, and RDNA 2 launches. Even if they didn't sell a bunch of cards last month they got millions in free advertising building brand awareness. Every tech influencer on Youtube is releasing incessant 30 series content. They wouldn't have gotten so much coverage if people were also reviewing consoles and AMD hardware. The scarcity also adds to their perceived value in most consumers' minds. So while we may all be salty, they may have decided the short-term anger was an acceptable cost for the positives of an early launch with insufficient stock. 

John1019
I wonder if they decided that launching early with insufficient stock was better than competing with the consoles, Zen 3, and RDNA 2 launches. Even if they didn't sell a bunch of cards last month they got millions in free advertising building brand awareness. Every tech influencer on Youtube is releasing incessant 30 series content. They wouldn't have gotten so much coverage if people were also reviewing consoles and AMD hardware. The scarcity also adds to their perceived value in most consumers' minds. So while we may all be salty, they may have decided the short-term anger was an acceptable cost for the positives of an early launch with insufficient stock. 

There's also a psychological aspect to it. Generally, if you tell people they can't have something, they want it even more.

Rumor is NVIDIA intentionally tried to **** this release just to drive up prices, But compounded with bots it went further than they originally intend. I don't really ride that train but it does cause a bit of an itch on the brain.

aman4672
Rumor is NVIDIA intentionally tried to **** this release just to drive up prices, But compounded with bots it went further than they originally intend. I don't really ride that train but it does cause a bit of an itch on the brain.

I wonder how that would work. I haven't noticed retailers increasing prices and NV doesn't make a dime from resellers.

Caffeinated_Sarcasm

aman4672
Rumor is NVIDIA intentionally tried to **** this release just to drive up prices, But compounded with bots it went further than they originally intend. I don't really ride that train but it does cause a bit of an itch on the brain.

I wonder how that would work. I haven't noticed retailers increasing prices and NV doesn't make a dime from resellers.

I know right. one of the things is that the Fe is the best card (quality wise) but is being sold at cost (per the rumor). And they are forcing AIBS to cut prices on the msrp grade cards to meet the drastic msrp. All to pump up hype then not meet the hype with enough product. High demand and low supply means raise prices. Take this with salt though as i am trying to explain something that still sounds a little silly to me, and not everything adds up.

Seems like many tech companies are doing better than ever. Look at their stocks! It's dumbfounding. Something in this thread's logic is very twisted. Tech companies have capitalized. You are essentially asking "why haven't they capitalized enough/as much as they could have?". Unprecedented demand requires unprecedented growth. Growth takes time. Also, considering that they have done unpredictably well, unprecedented growth was ... unpredicted.

Caffeinated_Sarcasm

aman4672
Rumor is NVIDIA intentionally tried to **** this release just to drive up prices, But compounded with bots it went further than they originally intend. I don't really ride that train but it does cause a bit of an itch on the brain.

I wonder how that would work. I haven't noticed retailers increasing prices and NV doesn't make a dime from resellers.

I think with the current demand of the product, the price is bound to go up. Once the demand goes down, I think prices will go down as well. Hopefully, it doesn't but it makes sense if it does.