Japanese Stores Limit Graphics Card Sales Due to Memory Shortage
The global shortage of memory chips is now directly impacting the market for the latest graphics cards. Retailers in Japan have begun to officially limit purchases of high-end models, a clear sign that supply issues are returning 🚨.
Per-Customer Restrictions to Combat Shortages
Some Japanese retail chains only allow purchasing one unit per person from series like the GeForce RTX 5000 and Radeon RX 9000. This decision arises because assemblers are receiving a lower volume of GDDR memory modules from their suppliers, which slows down manufacturing and reduces store stock.
Objectives of the measure:- Prevent a few customers from hoarding all available stock.
- Deter resale or scalping, a practice that caused major problems in previous shortage cycles.
- Try to ensure more end users can purchase a product.
Japanese retailers are among the first to act officially in response to this new bottleneck.
Broad Impact on the Hardware Industry
The deficit is not limited to a single manufacturer or type of memory, but affects several key suppliers. Industry analysts anticipate that this supply chain tension could persist for several months. For consumers, this translates to finding inflated prices and very irregular availability.
Immediate consequences:- Delays in producing new graphics card units.
- Total volume of units for the retail market lower than expected.
- Greater difficulty in obtaining the most powerful models.
User Community Reaction
On forums and social media, some users are joking about needing a “special permit” to buy a graphics card, as if it were a complex mission. Others express nostalgia for a time when one could simply walk into a store and buy the needed component without restrictions or markups. The situation is generating concern about how long this new cycle of limitations will last 🤔.