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Scalpers are already selling the Steam Machine for over $3000 on eBay despite Valve's efforts
(www.tweaktown.com)
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
Agreed, the point is that this applies to launch windows specially, but afterwards it is a supply and demand problem. Scum scalpers manufacturing scarcity by buying stock. It affected the PS5 launch. 6 years later, the PS5 is everywhere in brick and mortar shops. I can go buy one right now, no problem, even online if I wanted. At official prices and through legitimate channels. The Switch 2 was available in my country on launch day, Nintendo has that kind of supply chain today. Valve's Steam Deck, 4 years later, I cannot buy it, nowhere. Valve won't sell it to me. If I go to eBay, any reseller will ship it to my doorstep right away. This is an indication that Valve's problem with hardware goes beyond typical scumbag scalping. They have a supply chain problem. It is because of OEM cartels and a lack of reputation as a hardware manufacturer, perhaps. But it is there. I have never seen Valve's hardware in person, and probably never will, unless I go to the resell market.
I see your point. It's evident valve don't have the production power of a Sony (even if they got absolutely destroyed for months for each release) or Nintendo.
I don't know if it's really a "problem" per se. They're a lot smaller as a hardware builder so they can't have the same infrastructures,I don't think the demand would be strong enough. But that certainly makes them an easier target for scalpers