- A Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller buyer claims they were sent an original Switch 1 Pro controller in the box
- The item appears to have been previously processed as a return, suggesting that the controllers were exchanged by an unscrupulous customer.
- They say they were able to return it for a refund.
You may need to be very careful if you’re thinking of buying a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller online, as one buyer claims they were sent an original Nintendo Switch Pro controller instead.
“Buyer beware,” warned user ‘OutcastKatarn02’ in a post on the r/gaming subreddit. “People are returning the box with the Switch 1 controllers inside.”
The post contains a photo of a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller box and the Nintendo Switch Pro controller they allegedly found inside.
Article continues below.
“I bought what I thought was a new Switch 2 Pro controller from Amazon to give to a family member for their birthday,” the user explained. “They opened it today and found someone keeping a Switch 1 Pro controller inside.”
Buyer beware when purchasing Switch 2 pro controllers. People are returning the box with the Switch 1 controllers inside. from r/games
The white ‘LPN’ sticker visible on the product box pictured is used as part of the online retailer’s returns process, lending some credence to the idea that this was a returned item that was exchanged by an unscrupulous customer.
The two drivers are very similar, so it seems plausible that the replacement could make its way through the return process.
Image 1 of 2
This type of return scam is relatively common in online retail, especially for expensive technology products. Corsair recently made headlines by changing the packaging of its DDR5 RAM to a transparent design with a “tamper-proof” label to try to combat it.
Despite the visual similarities, the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller is more expensive than its predecessor, starting at $84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95. It also has some features exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, including remappable rear inputs, a dedicated GameChat button, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Luckily, the story has a happy ending, with the user adding, “Luckily Amazon let me return it for a refund.”
Of course, as believable as the story is, this post should be taken with a grain of salt, as there is no guarantee that events will unfold as the user claims.
I have also been unable to find credible evidence that this is part of a larger trend and not just an isolated incident. Still, if you pick up a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller in the coming weeks, it’s worth doing a thorough inspection to make sure you’re getting what you paid for.
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