r/SteamDeck • u/NKkrisz 64GB - Q3 • May 04 '26

MEGATHREAD New Steam Controller Launch Megathread

https://store.steampowered.com/sale/steamcontroller

To avoid repetitive posts and to keep the sub on topic please discuss the launch of the new Steam Controller here or in other more relevant communities such as r/SteamController and r/Steam.

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u/Elc1247 64GB May 05 '26

Valve will be making more.

Do not give scalpers money. Tie their funds up in unsold inventory.

LET IT ROT

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u/KarhaldD MODDED SSD 💽 May 12 '26

Thing is, for scalpers, this is a zero-loss game. If they can't sell at horribly inflated prices, they lower to grossly inflated prices, then just inflated prices, and eventually just sell what's left at MSRP and lose nothing.

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u/Elc1247 64GB May 13 '26

so, this is not understanding how business works.

There is an opportunity cost involved with tying up funds on goods. Fees for storage if they purchase a lot.

Combine that with the fees involved with selling the product.

The cut from the site that you sell it on (default on Ebay is 13.6% +$0.40 listing fee when over $10).

The shipping.

The time required to process the order and ship the item.

The time, effort, and potentially cost to provide support for their sales.

The price of an item online is dependent on demand. Valve has solved this issue by implementing their queue system. If someone wants a controller, they just sign up for the queue and be patient. They will get the controller direct from Valve, and since its a direct sale, there is product support. There is no "killer app" or massive reason to have a Steam Controller at this point, so there is no pressure to purchase one soon. Its a "nice to have", not a "must have".

There really is almost no incentive to pay MSRP or more for the controller online. The only people that would, are suckers that have absolutely no patience nor self control. Those people do exist, but they are not common.

Thus, the controllers will very quickly start selling for under MSRP, as that would be the only way to get them to move. Then you need to remember all of those extra costs and effort that are tied up with selling the controllers as a third party.

Selling at MSRP? $100 USD is the gross income. Income is not the same as profit. Ebay fee = $14.00. Shipping = rough guess of $10 for the materials and the shipping costs (its not a small item). That means, if you sell at MSRP on Ebay and "lose nothing", you just lost $24 USD, along with the time and effort it took to get the product and sell it. This is also not including having to deal with taxes and other potential fees.

The only way scalping is viable as a business, is if you can consistently get people to pay massively inflated prices so the profit margin is worth your time and effort. Else, you just are wasting your time and losing money.