Camped out in Cary: PC gaming card draws long lines to Best Buy

People were waiting in long lines and sleeping in hammocks outside of Best Buy early Thursday morning to buy a tech gadget.

Posted 10:33 a.m. Aug 26, 2021 — Updated 2:52 p.m. Aug 26, 2021

Brett Knese

, WRAL multimedia journalist

CARY, N.C. — People were waiting in long lines and sleeping in hammocks outside of Best Buy early Thursday morning to buy a sought-after tech gadget.

It's not just happening in Cary. Across the country, gamers are lining up to get their hands on a graphics card that improves the quality of computer games and, since the pandemic impacted production, often sells out in minutes.

Some shoppers spent the night in the Crossroads Plaza parking lot waiting for Best Buy to open.

Camped out in Cary: Shoppers wait in line with hammocks and tents at Best Buy

People in line at 6 a.m. told WRAL News the Cary location will have a variety of 152 graphics cards. Some sell for $400 or $500, while others are priced at over $1,500.

Tickets will be given to more than 100 customers trying to purchase the cards.

Some graphics cards are used for gaming or virtual reality, while others are used for crypto currency.

People waiting in line said there is a shortage of the product due to the pandemic.

CNN reported in April that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing major supply chain issues and a global shortage of crucial computer chips, which were affecting the production of iPad and Macs.

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Carmakers were among the first to sound the alarm about a shortage of microchips, which forced companies including General Motors, Hyundai, Ford and Fiat Chrysler to temporarily shut down plants.

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