Is This Mystery 4090 Graphics Card Lottery at Online Computer a SCAM?

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OnLine Computer

• 

  Pelicannn on 07/01/2023 - 01:22

  +5

  Possibly not a scam but I’d argue in no way do their T+C complies with ACL and I doubt they have a valid lottery licence to run it in the first place.

  • 

    FireRunner on 07/01/2023 - 10:36

    +1

    Do you really need a lottery license to run this kind of promotion? I’m pretty sure I've seen other lucky-dip type promos albeit on much less expensive products

    • 

      Pelicannn on 07/01/2023 - 10:37

      +4

      Yeah almost certainly but it does differ by State/Territory. There is usually a value cap but these are exactly the type of thing that should be regulated and audited, they should AFAIK also state the probability of getting a particular GPU because as it stands:

      "Equally divided chance to each model" would imply that there are the same number of each card in the pool.

      My personal assumption would say the pool is filled with lower-tier cards and maybe one or two of the more expensive ROG Strix or Aorus Master cards. Especially given there is no limit to how many can be purchased. For it to have been 100% fair, technically they would have had to fix the total pool (say 100 cards etc) at the start of the promotion. If they have already sold 45 cards how many are left of this original pool? Do cards keep getting added to the pool? If a shipment of low-tier cards come in do they add the whole lot to the pool or just the ones that have been picked out previously etc?

      Either way, replacing the cards would work in their favour if a higher-tier card was never drawn.

      • 

        Smilence03 on 07/01/2023 - 12:54

        +1

        Well said - These questions are exactly what I’ve been wondering, hence this post…. I’m very tempted to buy it from them, but my instinct tells me that no matter how many times I pay, I will always get the INNO3D or PNY version…. Unless someone here proves me wrong please

        • 

          jsilverhand on 16/01/2023 - 09:32

          @Smilence03: You down voted and commented often on 4070 deal why are you buying this $3k card ?
          Its just supporting the price gouging

• 

  stirlo on 07/01/2023 - 02:38

  +2

  My guess is their cost price is less than $2999 for (nearly) all of them so they can genuinely offer a random selection for that price. It's actually a decent way of getting around MSRRP requirements for particular models. If a vendor doesn't want their card advertised for less than $3799 for a premium model they can still sell it cheaper by running a "lottery"

  The yellow text clearly states its even chance and picked randomly so they'd be in a lot of trouble if it was proven not to be.

  • 

    AFM7 on 07/01/2023 - 08:30

    +4

    How could you prove it though?

    • 

      Pelicannn on 07/01/2023 - 10:03

      +8

      Post as deal, wait till some hero commentor says 'bought 10', ask them what they received.

• 

  coffeeinmyveins on 07/01/2023 - 10:26

  +1

  What's their lottery licence?

  There's your answer

• 

  Mechz on 07/01/2023 - 11:20

  +2

  It's a lucky dip. Lottery implies you chance getting nothing which is not the case.

  • 

    Smilence03 on 07/01/2023 - 12:50

    +3

    Apologies that I may have used the wrong word/classification “lottery”, but my point is that how do we know that they will make sure to draw “randomly” from their pool and give us the equal chance of getting an expensive model as the cheap ones? I don’t see that happening, since the whole drawing process is not transparent to me

  • 

    Pelicannn on 07/01/2023 - 21:11

    In the eyes of the law, a lucky dip is a form of gambling and the house would always have an edge if they decided to be dishonest.

• 

  Guybrush57 on 07/01/2023 - 11:55

  I don't think this promotion classifies as a lottery given you are guaranteed to get an item and all of them are better value than what you are paying.

  EDIT: That's assuming the store is legitimate and don't take your money. I have never bought from them.

• 

  Switchblade88 on 07/01/2023 - 12:15

  If it is worded that you are buying a voucher for a 4090, and the exact model/'colour' will be sent randomly (e.g. some eBay sellers, Big W sending some toys) then it might be compliant.

  The fact that they worded it as 'winning' and it's only what they have instock (thus no chance for the 'better' models they don't have!) is probably a big issue for ACL.

• 

  Richardc on 07/01/2023 - 14:40

  It just like buying the techfast computer, they sent you whatever's available at that time. I don't call this scam.

  • 

    Smilence03 on 07/01/2023 - 14:49

    How do you know or not know if they always only have the lower spec model available? and if the possibility for INNO3D/PNY is 70%, MSI 20%, and Strix/SuprimX at 5% each?

• 

  CodeExplode on 07/01/2023 - 19:13

  I bought this from them a few months ago, so they're a real store at least.

  https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/717346

  • 

    jsilverhand on 16/01/2023 - 09:28

    +1

    OC is a brick and mortar shop in chinatown sydney.
    They been around for ages and seem to survive covid lockdown as well. They foray into online more these days, which kinda suits their name lol.

• 

  jbird84 on 16/01/2023 - 15:19

  Pretty sure they're legitimate as a retailer, as the storefront is in Sydney and I've walked by it a number of times and seen tons of video card boxes stacked in the window. Never bought from them though, so can't speak on the actual experience