[ADVICE] Flash Sales and Daily Deals

[Insanity Claus]

Thought I'd give some advice on the sales, what they mean, how they operate, and why you should always wait for the Daily Deal and the Flash Sales rather than the regular discount.

There's two types of deals you will see during big Steam sales, like during the current Steam Summer Sale.

One is the Daily Deal, the other is the Flash Sale.

Daily Deals are heavily discounted games that will stay at that sales price for 24 hours. After that, another round of Daily Deals will appear.

Sometimes, games will be appear as Daily Deals more than once, but not always! So, if you see a game you want as a Daily Deal, it's best to get it that day. There is no guarantee that it will go on Flash Sale or as a Daily Deal again.

If a game is listed as 50% for its Daily Deal, do not wait to see if it will be 75% off on another Daily Deal. Once the discount is set, if it appears a second time as a Daily Deal or as a Flash Sale, it will be listed again at 50%.

Flash Sales are sales that last for smaller periods of time. In the current Steam Summer Sale, there are 4 games selected and the Flash Sales last for 8 hours for all 4 titles. After 8 hours, another 4 games will go on Flash Sale. This will continue until the Sales Event ends.

Every new round of Flash Sales, you can vote among 3 games for which will be included in the next Flash Sale. The game getting the most votes will be listed along with 3 other unknown games.

Flash Sales and Daily Deals have the same discount.

FINAL WORDS

Always wait for the Daily Deal or Flash Sale! If you see a game with a regular discount, wait until the last sales have been announced to make sure it is not going to be on sale for cheaper at a later time.

Also, a tip: If you check your Steam Wishlist, it will tell you what games are discounted and how much. This is a good way to check and see if any of the games you want are on sale.

Good luck, and happy bargain hunting!


* Thanks to Elgar for correction regarding sales pricing

[Alan S]

Thanks for this, I want to get skyrim at 40% discount. Guess I'll wait a bit!

[omally72]

Thanks, I'm going to test my luck and see if Dishonored pops up as a daily deal for 75%. From what I understand, even if it doesn't it's probable that it will come up again on the last day for at least 66%. Sound about right?

[Insanity Claus]

If you think it's agood deal and you don't want to wait, jump on it. However, in my experience, if a game is listed on a Flash Sale, it will also be listed as a Daily Deal for either the exact same discount, or a an even better discount. At worst, you delayed your purchase. At best, you save some cash!

While Valve does change things up, I've never seen a Flash Sale that was cheaper than its Daily Deal price.

I mainly wanted to write this out to prevent people from having buyer's remorse. A lot of us that have been through a few of Steam's sales know how it works, but it can be kind of confusing for newcomers and they often jump on the Flash Sales, thinking they'll be better than the Daily Deals, when it's actually the exact opposite.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from the Flash Sales. If you see seomthing at 75%, it's very doubtful that it's going to go any lower, so go ahead and grab it. If you see something you want right away, go for it. Just don't be upset if you buy something in the Flash Sale and it goes on Daily Deal for cheaper later on.

IME, the Flash Sales are good discounts for those that either missed a Daily Deal or want to get the game before waiting for a Daily Deal.

[Insanity Claus]

Originally posted by omally72:

Thanks, I'm going to test my luck and see if Dishonored pops up as a daily deal for 75%. From what I understand, even if it doesn't it's probable that it will come up again on the last day for at least 66%. Sound about right?

That's what I'd do. Even with Skyrim:LE, 40% isn't bad. However, I wouldn't be surprised if it went on a Daily Deal for at least 50% or even 66%.

If Dishonored is listed as a Flash Sale at 66%, it's likely to go on a Daily Deal of 75%, although it might stay at 66%. Even if the price doesn't drop, the only thing you lost is time. If it does drop, you save money!

Steam's Flash Sales, IMO, are more about expediency than about savings.

[omally72]

To be sure, there's not a big difference between $19.80 off and $22.50 off, but when you're looking at 11 days of money-spending opportunities then every penny counts!

[Insanity Claus]

"Every penny counts" indeed! I'm one of those people that sits at the grocery store looking at the blocks of cheese to see if two blocks of 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese is cheaper than one block of 16 oz. (it sometimes is)

About twice every year I dump out my penny jar, and I usually get abou $60-$80 that I use to go out and buy a round of drinks for my friends and myself.

BTW the reason why shredded cheese is cheaper by weight is because of the additives. They spray a fine mist of cellulose-containing spray that is used as a preservative and a non-binding agent to keep the strands of cheese from sticking. You actually get slightly less cheese, by volume, than you do in block.

If you've ever noticed, you have to mash or melt pre-shredded cheese to make it stick together. But, if you take a block of cheese and shred it, it's nearly impossible to keep the strands from sticking and clumping. That cellulose spray is why.

[Urgash]

That's interesting, i always thought flash sales were the same amount as the daily deals, i was wondering about the Skyrim legendary edition too.
So maybe i'll just give it a rest, and wait for it to appear on the daily deals.

[Insanity Claus]

Originally posted by Agrael:

That's interesting, i always thought flash sales were the same amount as the daily deals, i was wondering about the Skyrim legendary edition too.
So maybe i'll just give it a rest, and wait for it to appear on the daily deals.

I actually just updated the info. I thought I had remembered some of the FLash sales being cheaper. I was wrong, though.

[Urgash]

I See, So that's what i remembered from last years.
Flash or Daily, whenever a game you want is on sale, just buy it.
And use the encore sale, if you miss something.

Well in any case thanks for the information ;)

[Cyke]

By getting CS: Complete pack now for 7.50 I can lose the chance to get it cheaper later?

[dokapuff]

Whoa, thanks! I guess I'll be missing out for a bit though since I won't have money until the 16th...

[Insanity Claus]

Originally posted by Kuffoman:

By getting CS: Complete pack now for 7.50 I can lose the chance to get it cheaper later?

If it's not on a Flash Sale of Daily Deal, there is a chance it could go cheaper. I just checked and it's 75% off, so I doubt it, but you never really know.

Still, that's a really great deal.

[Nikaas]

Skyrim probably will be at best price at 18th.
The "main" daily deal follows the cards on the summer sale badge :P

[BinaryBleus]

I know this is an old thread but I need help. I missed a game on flash sale. is there a chance that it will be on the daily sale? thanks

[Valto]

It could show up again as some other sale (daily or monster game -unlocked), even as a flash sale; or if it was popular, then as an encore sale near the end of the summer sale. In all cases, always wait until the last day of the sale before you purchase to make sure you're not missing out on the best deal. (Although, from what I've learned, the new steam refund policy allows you to get a refund if you purchased a game just prior to it being discounted even more).