{"id":2017203,"date":"2026-06-29T14:09:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T11:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2017203"},"modified":"2026-06-29T14:09:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T11:09:39","slug":"people-are-putting-their-steam-machine-reservations-on-ebay-and-one-has-already-been-sold-with-a-235-markup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2017203","title":{"rendered":"People are putting their Steam Machine reservations on eBay, and one has already been sold with a $235 markup"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">People are putting their Steam Machine reservations on eBay, and one has already been sold with a $235 markup<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Pressure Valve.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/steam-machine-listing.jpg?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"steam-machine-listing.jpg\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"321\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>eBay, Eurogamer<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sherif Saed avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/IMG_1950_Uy1XomJ.JPG?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1638\" height=\"1346\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Sherif Saed avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"IMG_1950_Uy1XomJ.JPG\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1638\" height=\"1346\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/sherif-saed\">Sherif Saed<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      Contributor<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\nPublished on <time datetime=\"2026-06-29T14:09:39+00:00\">June 29, 2026<\/time>              <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>Valve may have succeeded in preventing scalpers from ruining the launch of the Steam Machine, but the company can&#8217;t stop people from selling their devices. Or, in this case, their future devices.<\/p>\n<p>Like some sort of digital version of the midnight launches of old, a number of players have already listed their spots in the queue to buy a Steam Machine on eBay for varying markups.<\/p>\n<p>The listings Eurogamer viewed include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/188565313596\">nothing more<\/a> than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/178266226700\">screenshots of email confirmations<\/a> from Valve that the seller in question is in the queue to buy a Steam Machine. This partly explains why most of them are of the 512GB base model, since <a href=\"https:\/\/store.steampowered.com\/news\/group\/45479024\/view\/685257114654870245\">Valve said the best way to get one is to sign up for multiple models<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photograph of the Steam Machine boxes as they arrive for shipping, outer box only opened, from front angle\" height=\"2268\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Steam-Machine-box-9.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"4032\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Photograph of the Steam Machine boxes as they arrive for shipping, outer box only opened, from front angle\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-lightbox data-uri=\"Steam-Machine-box-9.jpg\" height=\"2268\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"4032\"><figcaption><span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Eurogamer<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In order to limit scalping, Valve introduced a system whereby customers can sign up to indicate their interest in buying a Steam Machine. Valve would then email players who got through to let them know they&#8217;re in a queue to buy it. The actual purchase itself happens later, which is what makes these listings extra silly.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>One such listing shows the item has already been sold. The listing had the 512GB model with a controller &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/steam-machine-price-how-buy\">officially priced \u00a3938 ($1,128)<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/318508294241\">for \u00a31,030 ($1,363) instead<\/a>, a \u00a392 (or $235 when accounted for the difference) markup. Perhaps the reason it sold so quickly is because it&#8217;s among the most reasonable. Most other listings have far higher markups. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/188565313596\">This one<\/a> has the 512GB model, without a controller, for a cool \u00a31511 ($2,000) or &#8220;best offer&#8221;. One of the few listings offering the ultimate 2TB with controller bundle, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/178266226700\">is asking for \u00a31,823 ($2,412)<\/a>, a staggering \u00a3615 ($984) markup.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the sellers behind the listings have hundreds of eBay buyer reviews, and some over a thousand, most of them positive &#8211; though others are clearly first-time scalpers.<\/p>\n<p>The Steam Machines in those listings will start shipping sometime in July, and some resellers indicate that on the page. Because of the fluid nature of Valve&#8217;s queue system, many will almost certainly get their units much later, at which point it would take even longer for them to ship them to their aspirational eBay buyers.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1686\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/steam-machine-ebay-listings-screen-1.jpeg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.867141162514828\" width=\"3148\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-lightbox data-uri=\"steam-machine-ebay-listings-screen-1.jpeg\" height=\"1686\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.867141162514828\" width=\"3148\"><figcaption><span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>eBay, Eurogamer<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It&#8217;s a shame to see things get to the point of people essentially selling the promise of getting a device, rather than the device itself, for a quick buck. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/steam-machine-price-how-buy\">The safeguards Valve put in place<\/a> with its queue and ordering system have clearly helped, however, as you&#8217;d otherwise have a much higher volume of eBay listings.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"2\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re curious what all the fuss is about, you should hear it from someone who spent quite a bit of time using the Steam Machine the way it was intended. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/steam-machine-review\">Chris Tapsell talks all about their experience in the Eurogamer review<\/a>, which covers what the machine actually feels like to use. If you&#8217;re not swayed, maybe one of those <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/stim-machine-knock-off--steam-machine-on\">Steam Machine knock-offs<\/a> have what you&#8217;re looking for instead.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"preferred-source\" data-component=\"preferred-source\">\nLove Eurogamer.net? Make us a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\">Preferred Source on Google<\/a> and catch more of our coverage in your feeds.  <\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\">\n<p>Valve may have succeeded in preventing scalpers from ruining the launch of the Steam Machine, but the company can&#8217;t stop people from selling their devices. Or, in this case, their future devices.<\/p>\n<p>Like some sort of digital version of the midnight launches of old, a number of players have already listed their spots in the queue to buy a Steam Machine on eBay for varying markups.<\/p>\n<p>The listings Eurogamer viewed include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/188565313596\">nothing more<\/a> than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/178266226700\">screenshots of email confirmations<\/a> from Valve that the seller in question is in the queue to buy a Steam Machine. This partly explains why most of them are of the 512GB base model, since <a href=\"https:\/\/store.steampowered.com\/news\/group\/45479024\/view\/685257114654870245\">Valve said the best way to get one is to sign up for multiple models<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Photograph of the Steam Machine boxes as they arrive for shipping, outer box only opened, from front angle\" height=\"2268\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/Steam-Machine-box-9.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"4032\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Photograph of the Steam Machine boxes as they arrive for shipping, outer box only opened, from front angle\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-lightbox data-uri=\"Steam-Machine-box-9.jpg\" height=\"2268\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.7777777777777777\" width=\"4032\"><figcaption><span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Eurogamer<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In order to limit scalping, Valve introduced a system whereby customers can sign up to indicate their interest in buying a Steam Machine. Valve would then email players who got through to let them know they&#8217;re in a queue to buy it. The actual purchase itself happens later, which is what makes these listings extra silly.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>One such listing shows the item has already been sold. The listing had the 512GB model with a controller &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/steam-machine-price-how-buy\">officially priced \u00a3938 ($1,128)<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/318508294241\">for \u00a31,030 ($1,363) instead<\/a>, a \u00a392 (or $235 when accounted for the difference) markup. Perhaps the reason it sold so quickly is because it&#8217;s among the most reasonable. Most other listings have far higher markups. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/188565313596\">This one<\/a> has the 512GB model, without a controller, for a cool \u00a31511 ($2,000) or &#8220;best offer&#8221;. One of the few listings offering the ultimate 2TB with controller bundle, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ebay.com\/itm\/178266226700\">is asking for \u00a31,823 ($2,412)<\/a>, a staggering \u00a3615 ($984) markup.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the sellers behind the listings have hundreds of eBay buyer reviews, and some over a thousand, most of them positive &#8211; though others are clearly first-time scalpers.<\/p>\n<p>The Steam Machines in those listings will start shipping sometime in July, and some resellers indicate that on the page. Because of the fluid nature of Valve&#8217;s queue system, many will almost certainly get their units much later, at which point it would take even longer for them to ship them to their aspirational eBay buyers.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt height=\"1686\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/steam-machine-ebay-listings-screen-1.jpeg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.867141162514828\" width=\"3148\"><\/p>\n<p><img alt data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-lightbox data-uri=\"steam-machine-ebay-listings-screen-1.jpeg\" height=\"1686\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1.867141162514828\" width=\"3148\"><figcaption><span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>eBay, Eurogamer<\/cite><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It&#8217;s a shame to see things get to the point of people essentially selling the promise of getting a device, rather than the device itself, for a quick buck. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/steam-machine-price-how-buy\">The safeguards Valve put in place<\/a> with its queue and ordering system have clearly helped, however, as you&#8217;d otherwise have a much higher volume of eBay listings.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"2\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re curious what all the fuss is about, you should hear it from someone who spent quite a bit of time using the Steam Machine the way it was intended. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/steam-machine-review\">Chris Tapsell talks all about their experience in the Eurogamer review<\/a>, which covers what the machine actually feels like to use. If you&#8217;re not swayed, maybe one of those <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/stim-machine-knock-off--steam-machine-on\">Steam Machine knock-offs<\/a> have what you&#8217;re looking for instead.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News People are putting their Steam Machine reservations on eBay, and one has already been sold with a $235 markup Pressure Valve. Image credit: eBay, Eurogamer News by Sherif Saed Contributor Published on June 29, 2026 Valve may have succeeded in preventing scalpers from ruining the launch of the Steam Machine, but the company [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-2017203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2017203","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2017203"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2017203\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2017203"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2017203"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2017203"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}