Why are these "sales" so expensive?

[.neo (っ◔◡◔)っ.]

In most cases, the games on "sale" are more expensive if I buy from other stores, what gives? What happened to the epic sales? What happened to steam actually being able to handle a few million users while they make billions per year? Why do sales crash the servers 4 times a year and nothing ever changes? WHY VALVE, WHY?

[ed]

Refunds happened.

Publishers adjusted sales prices to cover the cost of estimated/potential refunds. Notice bad sales/refunds coincided at basically the same time.

[Xaelath]

Other stores offers cheaper sale for competition.
Not because steam are expensive.
I've been here for 4-5 years the % sales remains the same.

They can't make it cheaper without authority from publisher.

You should blame the publisher not valve.

Flash sales was basically a hype , even during the flash summer sale people still complain about the game being expensive.

This kind of thread also exist in every major sales

[OneMore]

I have almost 1k games....the games I bought 3 years ago? amazing deals still....when you gobbled up all the cheap games it almost seems like all the sales are "expensive"