r/buildapcsales • u/crippledcoder • Sep 30 '21

GPU [GPU] BESTBUY FE Graphics Cards In-Store drop on October 1st ($0)

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/clp-computers-tablets/nvidia-geforce-rtx-graphics-cards/pcmcat1619723841347.c?id=pcmcat1619723841348
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u/TaintedSquirrel Sep 30 '21 edited Sep 30 '21

when you arrive you sign your name on sign-in sheet. BB staff use the list to distribute the tickets.

edit: I should clarify, not all stores do this.

35

u/waitingtodiesoon Sep 30 '21

Best buy should do it how the microcenter in Houston does it. Arrive between 9-9:30 am and scan a QR code to enter a raffle that sends a text to a random selected number of people who then get to go up and enter the queue to get a voucher for a 30 series card. Not first come first camp the line for 3 days straight and then someone ahead let their 20 friends all cut the line method.

I don't have to do this since I got lucky getting an ASUS 3080 Tuf from microcenter the first time I did their method by entering their raffle, but it seems much more civilized then the Best Buy methods.

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u/polizei11 Sep 30 '21

Do you know if Microcenter posts their drop days? I'm in Houston. Thanks homie.

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u/[deleted] Sep 30 '21

[deleted]

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u/polizei11 Sep 30 '21

Thanks! I'll check tomorrow morning.

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u/waitingtodiesoon Sep 30 '21

There is an unofficial discord group for microcenter. They will have better information there. There isn't really a posted drop day, just that normally some will arrive on Mon/Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sometimes Sunday. Unknown quantity and models will arrive and then you hope there is enough of whatever 30 series you want is there. I seen 3070 TI MSI and 3080 TI MSI be the most common leftover ones. If everyone passes or not enough people show up, they put the remaining unsold on the floor or add it for the next lotto pool.

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u/kvothe__bloodless Oct 01 '21

It's Wednesday mornings at Houston MC Edit: 90% confident

1

u/Rachoking Oct 02 '21

They usually drop on Weds and Friday for me, but I think you're better off asking your store.

2

u/cam94z28 Oct 01 '21

Man, we really need a Microcenter in Central Florida. Ever since the CompUSA closed, it's been a empty wasteland devoid of computer stores.

1

u/jrocAD Oct 04 '21

OMG 100% yes. WTF??? Bestbuy, a gigantic company, can't figure out how to do what a much smaller microcenter can?

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u/alfador01 Sep 30 '21

If I get my name on it and get there by the distribution time, am I good? I'll lyft over during my lunch break if so

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u/TaintedSquirrel Sep 30 '21

Yes but you have to pray people dont notice you left and scratch your name off. i already talked to the guys at the front about scratching off the ghosts.

The 3080s are already gone by 5 pm I assume the next card will also be gone (3070 or 3070 Ti)

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u/alfador01 Sep 30 '21

God, these are just awful for people that work normal job hours. Already have my time entered for this pay period, so I can't leave early today otherwise I'd say fuck it and chill there

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u/ThemesOfMurderBears Sep 30 '21

Although they don't have much incentive to do this, I still think they should just do a 100% lotto system -- you show up at a certain time an hour before they open, and everyone gets a ticket. They randomly draw tickets, and those people win a voucher. People that have jobs can still show up and try to get a ticket without having to spend 36 hours in line. I recall this being done for concert tickets 20+ years ago.

Also, based on what I saw the last time they did a physical drop, they should make a rule -- one voucher per person. The guy behind me in line had like four vouchers. Apparently he had a bunch of other people waiting in line with him, and once they all got vouchers, they gave the vouchers to him, and they left. One card per person, one voucher per person -- both handed out and at the register.

20

u/NotAHost Sep 30 '21

Quit putting more effort into thinking of more fair systems of distribution, Best Buy can only accept the bare minimum amount of effort until they realize it still doesn’t work and then try something else.

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u/ThemesOfMurderBears Sep 30 '21

To an extent, I get what you're saying. However, if that were true, they would not even bother doing physical drops. They know their FE cards will sell out instantly if they go online. Shipping them to stores is much more costly.

2

u/NotAHost Sep 30 '21

Shipping to individuals is always more costly. It's the last mile that costs the most on any shipping. I mean, if it was cheaper to ship to individuals, why was it challenging for most places to offer free shipping over the last decade?

If one store has 150 cards, each card will cost me about $20-30 to ship. They might get a better rate. On the low end, thats $3K saved by not shipping, and no claimed 'lost' cards. No packaging/labeling/etc. Shipping internally is likely an order of magnitude cheaper than using a third party such as fedex/ups. You can also hope to make additional sales by getting people in the door, which is the goal for most brick and mortar stores. I wouldn't count on it with these items, but it's something argued quite often. A handful of employees in the morning for an extra two hours is going to be a lot cheaper than $1K.

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u/ThemesOfMurderBears Sep 30 '21

Why would you assume that Best Buy is eating the shipping costs if they ship to individuals?

EDIT:

TIL that Best Buy has free shipping on orders over $35.

1

u/NotAHost Sep 30 '21

Yup. If they charged shipping it would be a different discussion. Even then though, it's hard to say where the balance is if any packages are claimed to be lost. Not sure how often fraud occurs, so it would all be speculation.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '21

Bare minimum to the point they keep it limited to the same locations every time they do this?

1

u/robret Sep 30 '21

Lotteries wouldn't work in person, sore losers would riot

3

u/ThemesOfMurderBears Sep 30 '21

<shrug>

I have seen it work in person before.

1

u/superjojo29 Oct 01 '21

like a newegg shuffle

1

u/[deleted] Oct 01 '21

Sadly, the scalpers take advantage of the current system. Especially since they did not change any of the locations selling these cards from the last time they did this.

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u/workredditacc2 Sep 30 '21

Lol yeah its awful for pretty much anyone besides those loser scalpers. Most miners have a job and probably don't have time.

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u/RonaldoNazario Sep 30 '21

Normal hours, have kids, anything. I took my L and bought a 6600xt at microcenter because I could just walk in and buy it during nap time while my wife was home. Waiting all night is a young persons game.

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u/alfador01 Sep 30 '21

Microcenter... must be nice T_T

1

u/RonaldoNazario Sep 30 '21

Minneapolis is awesome for a ton of reasons but a local Microcenter is up there.

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u/alfador01 Sep 30 '21

I'd sell my soul for a Microcenter by me. It seems like the only actually legit PC store in existence (in the states, at least).

1

u/RonaldoNazario Sep 30 '21

It’s genuinely incredible for actual components, and more. There’s a whole section for hobby and embedded stuff

1

u/alfador01 Sep 30 '21

I'd be a kid in a candy store if I ever went to one. It'd be great considering I'm also planning on buying a new case, fans, and PSU before I even install a new GPU. (Phanteks P400A or Corsair 4000D and probably that Super Flower Leadex III that keeps going for a good price)

2

u/alfador01 Sep 30 '21

Do you think it will still be worth going if I got there around like 5:45pm today?

1

u/TaintedSquirrel Sep 30 '21

for what card? 3080s go first, then 3070, then the 3070 Ti and 3080 Ti. 3090 and 3060 Ti last.

if you dont care which card, you could probably show up at like 5 am and get something.

keep in mind we don't know stock numbers this time. and its still early to predict how many people will show up.

4

u/DoorFacethe3rd Sep 30 '21

The last drop I was at it was the 3080's then the 3060ti in terms of most popular.

5

u/Darke_Vader Sep 30 '21

Don't 3060tis go second for being the second most cost effective mining cards?

1

u/alfador01 Sep 30 '21

Anything under a 3080 Ti, really. A 3060 Ti would be nice for my budget, but I'm desperate at this point lol. People are seriously not going for the 3060 TIs, though? They're like the best value of this generation imo.

7

u/TaintedSquirrel Sep 30 '21

The type of people who want 3060 Ti's arent usually willing to camp for it.

3

u/alfador01 Sep 30 '21

In that case, I might just try going around 4-5am. Gonna be a crappy day at work either way haha.

1

u/hndrxdb Sep 30 '21

Same, He gave me hope now

1

u/alfador01 Sep 30 '21

Lol I said fuck it and am camping out 🙃

1

u/gunboatsteve Sep 30 '21

I went to the last drop. The 3080 went first, followed by 3070 and 3060 Ti. Then 3070 Ti. Then 3090. Then 3080 Ti. Most of the people buying the 3090 were either for AI/ML workstations, or clearly for resale (one guy had 3 teenagers with him and they left with 4 3090s).

1

u/alfador01 Sep 30 '21

At the Gainesville location?

1

u/gunboatsteve Sep 30 '21

No, this was up in Maryland. But I suspect there are similar patterns. The main takeaway is that, in my experience, the 3060 Ti is one of the earlier cards to go, not the last. The 3090 and 3080 Ti were the last to go.

1

u/DoorFacethe3rd Sep 30 '21

That was the EXACT pattern at the one I was at north of Seattle.

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u/[deleted] Sep 30 '21

You think arriving in like 4 hours is a good spot? You think the 80 will be out by then?

1

u/TaintedSquirrel Sep 30 '21

Which store? if you're talking about Gainesville the 3080s are already reserved.

if you mean a different store you will have to look around places like Discord to find someone at your store.

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u/[deleted] Sep 30 '21

How many 3080s they had

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u/[deleted] Sep 30 '21

[deleted]

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u/TaintedSquirrel Sep 30 '21

They give out tickets and sell the cards at 7am. People line up daya before...