“If you pirate games, you’re part of the problem.”
Scalpers exists because Valve’s supply chains is weak and their commerce channel is poor. If you can buy from a scalper and get the machine on launch day, or pay Valve and get it in 9 months, then the value proposition is clear and obvious. I won’t defend scalpers, just like I won’t defend scene pirates like FitGirl. I’m sure most of them are scammers, but scalping is a service problem as well. People are paying for convenience and access*. Similarly to stuff like ticket scalping, they are all scumbags, but they exist as a failure of marketing, not because of the moral failure of the buyers. They are just using their only means of access and convenience left, once the real seller abandoned them as customers.
EDIT: I know a lot of people will downvote due to the piracy comparison. But remember that Valve ships hardware to only 10% of the world. Specifically the global North and the westernized world. Everyone else can’t even get to the lottery. On the other hand, there’s no problem for most of the planet on acquiring any current console or pre-build PC. While at the same time they have publicly said they have issues acquiring their necessary OEM parts to manufacture their hardware. Valve has a supply chain problem, and scalpers are abusing that. These scalpers are not artificially creating scarcity by buying all existing stock to charge higher prices, they are abusing the already existing scarcity and extremely high demand. Scalping is a service problem, get to terms with that.
*: even if they are rich fucks with FOMO and more money than sense. They are still buying convenience that Valve can’t offer right now.
Usenet server’s subscriptions cost money and many torrent trackers rely on donations to keep up the game piracy scene. People are in fact giving pirates money.
Absolutely not. Scalpers thrive on scarcity (artificial or otherwise) which is why they make sure to hoard everything they can so that no one else can buy it from official channels. They bring no convenience, they are just parasites who make everything worse.
That is exactly my point. Valve’s hands are tied, as long as they have a scarcity problem, there will be scalpers. Lottery is helping, but it is not the long term solution. Case in point, Steam Deck and Steam Controller are still the only way 90% of the planet can ever hope to acquire that hardware. I want to give my money to Valve, but they won’t take it, they won’t serve me as a customer. eBay sellers will.
That’s a really shitty take my friend. Scalpers are people with money and time that are creating scarcity.
They’re basically building a temporary monopole to impose stupid price. It should be illegal just like concert ticket reselling is being blocked in a lot of country.
They are shitty people who don’t give a flying fuck about anyone else and who would sell their mother’s if they could. Soulless husk
I agree in like 99% of the times there’s no scarcity and scalpers cause the scarcity artificially via wholesale of the entire stock. But this is not what is afflicting Valve. They have a supply chain issue, high problems with scarcity and scalpers are exploiting that. Blaming the buyers is akin to blaming individual torrenters for piracy. It is a service problem.
Just like for any product… Give me one awaited product that didn’t get recked by scalpers.
Ps5, switch 2, … Hell even ram…
When you have enough money, scarcity is easily created. What would you want ? To have businesses to have production lines that can handle release volume? What do you do with them after, when the demand is slowing, it’s faaaaaaarrrr from free.
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 literally cannot be part of the problem, because: first, I don’t buy from scalpers, never have, never will. And secondly, Valve doesn’t recognize me as a customer. For Valve I don’t exist. So, no, I’m not part of the problem. I’m just pointing out the big elephant in the room. Valve’s hardware supply and commerce chain sucks ass. And they will keep being abused by scumbag scalpers if they don’t fix it.
“If you pirate games, you’re part of the problem.”
Scalpers exists because Valve’s supply chains is weak and their commerce channel is poor. If you can buy from a scalper and get the machine on launch day, or pay Valve and get it in 9 months, then the value proposition is clear and obvious. I won’t defend scalpers, just like I won’t defend scene pirates like FitGirl. I’m sure most of them are scammers, but scalping is a service problem as well. People are paying for convenience and access*. Similarly to stuff like ticket scalping, they are all scumbags, but they exist as a failure of marketing, not because of the moral failure of the buyers. They are just using their only means of access and convenience left, once the real seller abandoned them as customers.
EDIT: I know a lot of people will downvote due to the piracy comparison. But remember that Valve ships hardware to only 10% of the world. Specifically the global North and the westernized world. Everyone else can’t even get to the lottery. On the other hand, there’s no problem for most of the planet on acquiring any current console or pre-build PC. While at the same time they have publicly said they have issues acquiring their necessary OEM parts to manufacture their hardware. Valve has a supply chain problem, and scalpers are abusing that. These scalpers are not artificially creating scarcity by buying all existing stock to charge higher prices, they are abusing the already existing scarcity and extremely high demand. Scalping is a service problem, get to terms with that.
*: even if they are rich fucks with FOMO and more money than sense. They are still buying convenience that Valve can’t offer right now.
False equivalent.
Nobody is giving Pirates money.
Pirates are also not taking physical items away from people who want them.
Usenet server’s subscriptions cost money and many torrent trackers rely on donations to keep up the game piracy scene. People are in fact giving pirates money.
Absolutely not. Scalpers thrive on scarcity (artificial or otherwise) which is why they make sure to hoard everything they can so that no one else can buy it from official channels. They bring no convenience, they are just parasites who make everything worse.
That is exactly my point. Valve’s hands are tied, as long as they have a scarcity problem, there will be scalpers. Lottery is helping, but it is not the long term solution. Case in point, Steam Deck and Steam Controller are still the only way 90% of the planet can ever hope to acquire that hardware. I want to give my money to Valve, but they won’t take it, they won’t serve me as a customer. eBay sellers will.
That’s a really shitty take my friend. Scalpers are people with money and time that are creating scarcity.
They’re basically building a temporary monopole to impose stupid price. It should be illegal just like concert ticket reselling is being blocked in a lot of country.
They are shitty people who don’t give a flying fuck about anyone else and who would sell their mother’s if they could. Soulless husk
I agree in like 99% of the times there’s no scarcity and scalpers cause the scarcity artificially via wholesale of the entire stock. But this is not what is afflicting Valve. They have a supply chain issue, high problems with scarcity and scalpers are exploiting that. Blaming the buyers is akin to blaming individual torrenters for piracy. It is a service problem.
Just like for any product… Give me one awaited product that didn’t get recked by scalpers.
Ps5, switch 2, … Hell even ram…
When you have enough money, scarcity is easily created. What would you want ? To have businesses to have production lines that can handle release volume? What do you do with them after, when the demand is slowing, it’s faaaaaaarrrr from free.
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.
You’re part of the problem.
I literally cannot be part of the problem, because: first, I don’t buy from scalpers, never have, never will. And secondly, Valve doesn’t recognize me as a customer. For Valve I don’t exist. So, no, I’m not part of the problem. I’m just pointing out the big elephant in the room. Valve’s hardware supply and commerce chain sucks ass. And they will keep being abused by scumbag scalpers if they don’t fix it.