Valve's introduction of a queue system for Steam Machine purchases has not entirely prevented reselling, as some individuals are listing their order confirmation emails on eBay. These listings, which represent a spot in the queue rather than the actual hardware, are appearing with varying markups.
The process involves Valve sending out emails to those who have indicated interest, granting them a place in a queue to purchase a Steam Machine. The actual purchase occurs at a later stage, leading to what Eurogamer describes as "silly" listings of these email confirmations.
One eBay listing for a 512GB Steam Machine model bundled with a controller, officially priced around $1,128, was sold for approximately $1,363, a markup of $235. This particular sale is noted as one of the more reasonably priced examples. Other listings feature significantly higher markups, with some offering the 512GB model without a controller for upwards of $2,000, or the top-tier 2TB bundle for over $2,400, representing markups of $984 and more.
Many sellers on eBay possess extensive positive feedback, indicating a history of successful transactions. However, some listings appear to be from first-time resellers attempting to capitalize on the demand. The Steam Machines are slated to begin shipping in July, and some resellers acknowledge this timeline in their listings. Due to the dynamic nature of Valve's queue system, actual delivery times may vary, potentially extending the wait for both the initial buyers and subsequent resellers.
While Valve's ordering system has likely reduced the volume of scalping compared to traditional hardware launches, the emergence of these reservation listings suggests that efforts to prevent the resale of future devices are not entirely successful. These sales represent the promise of a device rather than the hardware itself, capitalizing on immediate demand before the products are even in the hands of the initial purchasers.