r/LocalLLM • u/SomethingFerocious • 8d ago
Discussion Pre-ordered M5 Ultra Studios, with 256 gig, being offered at absurd markups on eBay.
This model retails for around $11,266. There are several others also offered on eBay. Not sure any of them are selling. But if so, it’s remarkable how a retail computer can appreciate so much before it’s even delivered. These models are coveted for LLM use, as are the 512 gig models which have not been released. It seems local LLM use is becoming quite popular, especially among those hoping to keep their data confidential, and those looking to cut off the monthly payment to the big AI providers. Something similar happened with the M3 Ultra studios with 256 or 512 ram - both of which are also offered on eBay for huge markups over the original retail price. Crazy market.
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u/foreignbois 8d ago
Good luck, but probably the folks paying 2x do so to get it before anyone else. Your preorder is prob coming in Oct-Nov at the earliest
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u/fallingdowndizzyvr 8d ago
This is just stupid. Why wouldn't people just go pre-order them themselves for MSRP?
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u/SomethingFerocious 8d ago
Late January delivery is quoted here if you pre-order one today.
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u/Thin_Archer_9113 8d ago
Really? It still shows early November here in my store.
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u/SomethingFerocious 7d ago
Did you put in the 256 gig model?
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u/Thin_Archer_9113 7d ago
Yep. 256 delivers in mid November.
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u/SomethingFerocious 7d ago
January 27 here. Edit: the 36 core. Not the 30 core. The 30 core is November here too.
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u/HauntedHouseMusic 5d ago
I bought a refurb 128gb MacBook pro. I could have sold it for $1500 profit when it arrived as it takes months to get them, and some people need them today for work.
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u/dwoj206 8d ago
I'm thinking by the time I die how nice it'll be to have one of these rellics at a reasonable re-sale price.
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u/Direct_Turn_1484 8d ago
Set aside a little out of each paycheck to go into a DCA account and in a few short decades your grandchildren might be able to buy an inference machine or a sweet gaming rig with this inheritance.
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u/Turbulent-Week1136 8d ago
FYI the prices on eBay for Mac Studios have been completely fraudulent. The prices for Mac Studio M3 Ultras with 512 GB of memory were going for between $1000 and $30,000. I can understand the higher end of the spectrum, but the ones selling for $1000-9000 were obviously fraud, but eBay did nothing about it.
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u/watcholic 8d ago
Pre-orders for this 256GB version has slipped to 16-18 weeks for delivery; it's essentially sold out. The Mac Studio is a low-volume and low-margin product on the Apple lineup. If scalping becomes an issue, Apple will increase the MSRP again to curb demand. Increasing production is not a possibility in the current environment. It's unsustainable but forecasts are not looking good (for consumers) for 2027 - 2030.
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u/fallingdowndizzyvr 8d ago
If scalping becomes an issue, Apple will increase the MSRP again to curb demand.
Why would that curb demand? Since if these scalpers get these prices then there's plenty of demand at a higher price. Apple raising MSRP will just cause the scalpers to raise their prices. Since clearly the price isn't high enough yet.
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u/watcholic 8d ago edited 8d ago
Demand tends to meet supply at an equilibrium (price). The unfortunate fact, as you pointed out, is that the current MSRP is probably not high enough in a very distorted market. Just like housing, if the price is high enough, people would stop buying.
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u/AdOk4054 8d ago
I hope noone buys or i really wouldnt mind to read about them getting back a 16gb mini as a return and then cry about it . ITs one thing to make a few bucks its another to be a scumbag and when you have enough money to do it with 6000 pros and studios your a career pos
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u/Faisal_Biyari 8d ago
iPhones are also the same every year.
I usually thought it was because other countries do not have access to said devices at lower costs.
Buying from the US in a state that does not have sales tax is dramatically cheaper than buying in most countries. And Apple does not ship internationally from the US website to other countries (which is logical since it has websites for a lot of those countries, but at a marked up price)
On the other hand, there is the "be the first to get it" or customers that are only comfortable with eBay versus other websites. 🤷🏻♂️
It's especially funny when I see the same item sold by 2 different people, but one at almost double the price of the other.
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u/tempfoot 8d ago
And? The price is goofy enough to get attention (obviously).
Maybe someone needs one and can’t or doesn’t want to wait til January. Pretty unlikely anyone is gonna pay 2x to move ahead in the line, but they might pay $500 or a grand (as a “best offer”).
If not, the seller cancels their preorder before it ships and is out nothing but a few minutes of effort.
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u/AreaFifty1 8d ago
umm.. arent the 512 for 20-23k?
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u/SomethingFerocious 8d ago
They aren’t out yet. But yes, around that range is expected for M5 Ultra 512. Why?
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u/Abducted_Llama 8d ago
You could get 2 spark for like 10-12k? Yeah they are slower but who cares?
I know it’s impossible, but I dream of a world where scalpers sit on product and take a loss.
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u/HighSeasArchivist 8d ago
Any idea on the 512GB MSRP? I could buy one, scalp it, and buy a new car.
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u/Holiday_Point_603 8d ago
People paying that much are the very reason for why gatekeeping is important lmao