You can build or buy a lot more computer than the Steam Machine for $3000, even at today’s absurd component prices. I’m not quite sure which is more moronic, trying to scalp a Steam Machine for that price or somebody actually paying it.
Scalpers are low lifes who don’t necessarily know much about the products they scalp. They must have thought it was going to be the same as the last few generations of gaming console releases.
I also believe that the typical potential customer for a Steam Machine will know better.
I’ll always remember going to a rise against concert and scalpers outside were saying “tickets for rise against the machine”, they have no idea what they are selling
Yep, even Valve themselves told multiple times “it’'s just a computer”, hence the price that comparable to other prebuild computers. Who in their mind would pay 3x of that?
That being said, Alienware and Razor audience also exists, so anything possible.
you can build a better one for $1050…
Could also be people who just like the form factor but valve refuse to sell it to them directly because international shipping is too complicated for a small startup like valve. /s
Apparently you can get those listings easily removed by reporting them that the seller sells an “intangible item”. Which is true, since a reservation is indeed not a tangible item.
If you buy from scalpers, you’re part of the problem.
If you wanted one so badly, you probably got into the prenotation lottery. In the case you couldn’t get one, you were put in the prenotation queue meaning that you’ll be probably in for the next wave that shouldn’t take too long to happen.
So who are they selling these to? These scalpers are not the sharpest tools of the shed. But buying one at that price is not much better. You must be a special kind of moron to buy that.
FOMO is strong with a lot of people. A lot of these guys just feel the need to be in the first batch and will buy at any price to be included.
So, as I said, a special kind of moron.
Well, looking at the completed auctions on eBay there are enough people wo are desperate enough.
Scalpers are the proof that a lot of humans are dumb af. Scalpers wouldn’t exist if the vast majority humans were capable of using their brain.
Especially considering that is makes zero sense to pay extra, since you can literally go out and buy any other computer instead.
Just need to install Steam OS after
Dude scalper are a symptom too. I people weren’t wired for imefiat access to thing they wouldn’t exist. But hey you can get stuff in 24h, who wait a month or more for things in this society ?
They are a symptom, but they are a problem too. Denying that is pure laissez-faire capitalism. Scalpers create artificial supply issues to increase prices while adding zero value. That it pays off because some pay that, doesn’t change any of that.
In this case of course the original price was already high and that scalper price is absurd. I’d be surprised if a lot of people are ready to pay that kind of money for it, but what do I know.
Yeah well done you pointed to one of the parasitics classes. There are much. I never bought from a scalper but they clearly don’t sell to us. This system is fucked. Once th first billionaires spawned it was too late.
They make it worse, artificially or in other cases create it from scratch where there wouldn’t be any without scalpers. In any case they do not add value and are a solution to a problem they either cause or make worse.
Why would anyone spend 3x the already too much for a steam machine?
Its not like they locked the os or even think the price is good. Who needs one of these this bad?
Rich FOMO gamers
But there is nothing you are missing out on? It’s not like this is a switch, or even a steam deck. It’s a small form factor PC with SteamOS preinstalled.
The only reason I could think of for buying from a scalper is if you are a journalist (or similar) and need one or multiple to review/test.
They lack the technical skill to install an OS.
If you buy a $3000 PC from your typical boutique PC builder they will probably do that for you. If not for free, then for a lot less than $2000 you’re overpaying.
Linux FOMO is finally here?
Scalping only worth it if people will pay it. Are people actually going to pay that price?
idk, im sure there are some hardcore steam fans somewhere idk how much of those have money but I’m sure some are getting sold.
Doesn’t mean anyone is buying. Let me know when they actually get sold.
They are being sold for that (or close)…Ebay Germany
Those look like offers, sales involve both a buyer and a seller agreeing to the transaction.
Sorry to dissapoint.
Those are sold pre-orders :pVerkauft means sold
Scalpers are some of the worst scum to humanity has produced.
if you seen the pokemon scalpers, pretty much. people who dont even play it try to cash in on it.
This is a problem with every kind of hobby. Anytime something is throttling production or there’s a limited edition, scalper bullshit comes around. It’s one of the big reasons I hate limited editions so goddamn much.
tcp japan is definitely making bank on scalpers, not only limited edition but the pull rate of rares, or the price=usage in irl tournament. they also dont reprint the same card often too. magic had issues with scalping, but i heard its mostly negated by them releasing too many SETS in one year.
My g/f is more or less just a collector. She has binders and binders of cards she collected over 30 years before the scalpers turned the TCG into a commodity. She got so fed up with the scalpers and inflated prices that she started an LLC so she can get wholesale product. She has to compete with big box stores for product, which means she gets way less wholesale than big established stores. She probably sells 75% of the wholesale product/unopened packs and keeps 25% for herself. She charges reasonable prices. She’s making like $2 an hour profit running her LLC after accounting for packaging, shipping, and purchasing new inventory. Even though she can’t get as much product as she wants, she’s always sold out because she isn’t charging scalper prices. She gets cards/packs for herself at reasonable prices, and her small customer base doesn’t have to pay scalper prices.
My FLGS (which is a weirdly massive deal) has the same limits on pokemon pack purchases that everyone else has had to implement, but they recently went one further and now have a rule that children get to cut to the front of the line on restock days. Not a perfect system sure, but the salt from the scalper base has been absolutely legendary.
i heard on another forum, that some stores require the packs to be opened in store, before leaving.
For $2000, there are pre-built mini PCs with AMD iGPUs that will run circles around the Steam Machine. Just buy one of those and install Bazzite.
Ain’t nobody buying it for the official price, let alone twice that lol
what??? I thought it’s not even for sale yet?
Correct. They’re not even selling you a physical machine at that price. They’re just allegedly selling you their place in the preorder lottery for the opportunity to buy one.
I can’t imagine how anyone could possibly be that desperate.
I should be shocked, but I’m not… Some people go to great lengths to get pokemon cards.
I mean, sure. I have tons of rare knives, too. But a PC is a commodity item; it’s easily susbtituted with any other which is really the whole point of the architecture to begin with.
I think the Steam Machine is neat. I’m still not paying $3000 for one.
Neither would I, but if there is money to be scalped.
While Valve only officially supports 3 devices, it is possible to install its image on any PC (or just run Steam on Linux). But quite a few Steam users don’t realise that.
Also, Valve only officially supports Ubuntu LTS desktop (Gnome). And their own OS of course. Yes, despite having the Steam runtime. The only thing this means is that support agents will say “but did you try installing Ubuntu?”.
I guess that means steam support doesn’t end up being general Linux support.
pokemon refuses to do anything about scalping they are just halfassing it. the best is to increase the pull rate of rares, preventing them to sell it.
Hot take: You don’t have to buy an overpriced cube, just get a used laptop that’s 5 years old atmost, it can handle most of the games and you can play them on the go
Awesome, people are actually buying this on EBay. Soon we will be seeing news of how many did not get a steam machine at 3x the price. The next couple of month will be pretty entertaining.
I mean it’s not out yet. The raffle for who can buy one hasn’t started. This is just like scammers selling a PS6.
Welp… time to put SteamyOS on my old lenovo.
