Major high-street second-hand retailer CEX is facing criticism across Europe for capitalizing on limited stock of the Valve Steam Machine, turning around and selling the PC hardware with price markups reaching up to 42 percent.
Quick Facts
- Platform: PC (SteamOS 3, Arch-based)
- Original Release Year: 2026
- Valve 512GB Price: £879 ($1,049 USD)
- CEX 512GB Buy Price: £987
- CEX 512GB Sell Price: £1,250 (42% markup)
- Valve 2TB Price: £1,149 ($1,349 USD)
- CEX 2TB Buy Price: £1,264 (based on £115 profit margin)
- CEX 2TB Sell Price: £1,600 (39.25% markup)
High-Street Resale Pricing and Profit Margins
Reddit user UnlegitMilku first raised awareness of the situation, sharing a photo of a €1,550 price tag for the console inside a CEX display cabinet. Subsequent investigation confirmed that the retailer is actively purchasing the hardware from sellers at inflated rates to encourage trade-ins, before relisting the units at extortionate prices.
Valve sells the 512GB Steam Machine model directly for £879. CEX offers sellers £987 in cash or vouchers, netting traders a £108 profit. CEX then lists the 512GB model for £1,250. For the 2TB model, Valve sells it for £1,149, while traders can make an £115 profit by selling it to CEX, which in turn lists it at £1,600.
Missing Steam Controllers and Consumer Risk
Purchasing the hardware through the second-hand retailer comes with an additional drawback: CEX is selling the Steam Machine without the Steam Controller. Buying a 512GB model with a controller directly from Valve costs £938. By contrast, purchasing a mint-condition controller separately alongside a CEX 512GB model totals £1,330—exceeding the cost of a brand new 2TB model with a controller straight from Steam.
While experienced gamers are typically aware of official waiting lists and direct retail pricing, consumer advocates note that brick-and-mortar storefronts pose a risk to uninformed buyers, such as parents looking to purchase a new console for their children who may not recognize the inflated pricing.