Scalpers Resell Steam Machine Reservation Slots for up to $2,900

Reservation slots for Valve’s first Steam Machine are appearing on eBay with asking prices up to $2,899.99. Listings promise to transfer the device to buyers once the seller receives their unit from Valve.

Current listings include two 2TB Steam Machines bundled with controllers at $2,899.99 and $2,700, and a 512GB model without a controller listed at $1,800. Valve’s official price for the 2TB configuration is about $1,428, and base Steam Machine models start at $1,049.

Sellers are offering their reservation positions rather than shipping in-hand products. Valve used a randomized reservation system for the initial run and limited purchases to one device per buyer, but buyers can list their reservation slots on eBay when the title and description clearly state the product is not yet in hand.

Reselling reservations and preorders occurred with past Valve hardware. After the Steam Controller launch, some buyers listed devices they had reserved. The controller retailed at $99, which made many resold units appear in the $200 to $300 range; the Steam Machine’s higher retail price means resale listings reach four-figure sums.

Valve told customers on its reservation list that cancellations can move others forward. Valve wrote in a customer email: “As we work our way through the reservation queue, some customers may cancel their reservations. If that happens, you may be moved into the reservation queue, and you’ll be notified via email that you have a reservation after all.”

Some observers have asked whether reseller demand for the Steam Machine could repeat for other Valve hardware. They note that current leading virtual reality headsets offer higher performance and support SteamVR.