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Scalpers List Steam Machine Reservations at $1,700+
TechPowerUp • • general
Key Points:
- Scalpers are listing Steam Machine reservations at prices exceeding $1,700, nearly double the MSRP, sparking criticism and skepticism from the community about the likelihood of buyers paying such premiums.
- Many users blame Valve for allowing early sales in Japan without account restrictions, which may have enabled scalpers to acquire units and resell them internationally at inflated prices.
- Suggestions to combat scalping include linking Steam Machines to specific Steam accounts for a period after purchase and restricting warranty services to original buyers, though legal and practical challenges exist.
- Despite the backlash, some believe scalpers may still profit by selling individual components like RAM and SSD separately, though others argue this may not be financially viable due to component costs.
- The Steam Machine sold out quickly in Japan, primarily to scalpers, and the ongoing lottery system for purchases aims to limit scalping but has not fully prevented it, leading to divided opinions on Valve’s strategy.
