Why Are $100 Steam Cards Selling for $145 on eBay? The Bizarre Economics Explained

The Reverse Discount Phenomenon

In a world where gift cards typically sell at a discount, Steam wallet codes defy logic: listings show $100 cards selling for $145+ on eBay. This isn’t a glitch – it’s a perfect storm of digital economics, regional pricing, and hidden risks that turn basic math upside down.

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Why Are $100 Steam Cards Selling for $145 on eBay? The Bizarre Economics Explained

Why Buyers Overpay: 4 Shocking Reasons

  1. Regional Arbitrage:
    Buyers in countries like Argentina or Turkey (where Steam games cost 70% less) use US cards to bypass regional payment restrictions. A $100 card buys $300+ worth of region-priced games.
  2. Money Laundering:
    Criminals use inflated gift card purchases to “clean” illicit funds. Overpaying lets them convert cash to untraceable digital value.
  3. Currency Circumvention:
    When platforms block certain payment methods (like Russia after sanctions), gift cards become lifelines – worth paying premiums for.
  4. Bidding Wars:
    Desperate buyers unaware of fair value drive prices up through competitive panic-bidding.

The Dark Side of the Deal

For Sellers:

  • Risk account bans if Steam detects resale activity
  • High chance of chargebacks after code redemption
  • eBay/PayPal fees devour profits

For Buyers:

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  • 30% of codes are already redeemed or fraudulent
  • Zero buyer protection from Valve if scammed
  • Possible involvement in money laundering investigations

As one Redditor warned: “That ‘discount’ might cost you your Steam library.”

Why Are $100 Steam Cards Selling For $145 On eBay? Is It A Rare Type? Thousands Have Sold For This Price.
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Steam’s Silent Role

Valve unintentionally fuels this market by:

  • Restricting cross-region purchases
  • Allowing unused codes to sit for years
  • Offering no official resale marketplace
  • Banning accounts involved in suspicious activity

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Smart Alternatives

Want Steam cards credit safely?

  • Buy directly from authorized retailers
  • Use regional pricing legally (with local payment methods)
  • Wait for Steam cards Sales (better savings than inflated cards)
  • Never buy codes from third-party resellers

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