Valve's Steam Frame reservations are already showing up on eBay, with asking prices of around $1,700 to $1,750 for the 256 GB kit and roughly $2,000 for the 1 TB version. Valve charges $1,059 and $1,299, so that works out to a markup of about 65% and 54%.
The listings appeared within hours of Valve's reservation emails going out, and IGN reports that some have already sold. Other outlets describe them purely as asking prices, so it is hard to say how many buyers are actually paying up.
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Anyone who does may be in for a nasty surprise. Valve's Limited Drop Program terms say the right to purchase "cannot be substituted, transferred, assigned, bartered, or auctioned." Another clause voids any purchase link that was not obtained through authorized channels. That seems to cover a link bought from a reseller, though it is a reading of the terms and not a statement from Valve, which has not said whether it will enforce any of it. The link also goes to the email tied to the seller's Steam account, and it expires 72 hours after being sent.
eBay's own rules might get in the way too. Its intangible items policy requires listings to offer a physical item, and Reddit users report that some Frame listings have already been pulled after complaints. Valve built the lottery to keep resellers out, yet the Steam Controller, which launched with no queue, still got flipped well above its $99 price.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can a Steam Frame reservation bought on eBay be used with the buyer’s own Steam account?
How long do Steam Frame reservation links stay valid after Valve sends them?
What are the 256 GB and 1 TB Steam Frame reservation prices from Valve itself?
Why are eBay Steam Frame listings being removed under the site’s intangible items policy?
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I think the Frame will get flipped no matter what Valve does, but anyone buying a reservation is paying for something Valve says can't be transferred.
