'Buyer beware' — Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller shopper reportedly finds old model inside the box in nasty repeat of common RAM scam

• A Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller buyer claims that they were sent an original Switch 1 Pro Controller in the box
• The item appears to have been previously processed as a return, suggesting the controllers were swapped up by an unscrupulous customer
• They say they were able to return it for a refund

You might need to be extra careful if you are thinking of buying a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller online, as one shopper claims they were sent an original Nintendo Switch Pro Controller instead.

"Buyer beware" warned user 'OutcastKatarn02' in a post to the r/gaming subreddit. "People are returning the box with Switch 1 controllers inside."

The post contains a photo of a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller box and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller that they purportedly found inside.

"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 only to find someone packed a Switch 1 Pro Controller inside."

Buyer beware when buying Switch 2 pro controllers. People are returning the box with Switch 1 controllers inside. from r/gaming

The white 'LPN' sticker visible on the product's box in the photo is used as part of the online retailer's returns process, giving some credence to the idea that this was a returned item that an unscrupulous customer swapped out.

The two controllers do look very similar, so it seems plausible that the substitution would be able to make its way through the returns process.

Image 1 of 2

This kind of returns scam is relatively common in online retail, especially with pricey tech goods. Corsair recently made headlines by changing the packaging of its DDR5 RAM to a clear clamshell design with a 'tamper-evident' label in order to try to combat it.

Despite the visual similarities, the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is more expensive than its predecessor, with an asking price of $84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95. It also has some exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 features, including remappable rear inputs, a dedicated GameChat button, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Thankfully, the story does have a happy ending, with the user adding that "Thankfully 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's no guarantee that events played out as the user says.

I also haven't been able to find credible evidence that this is part of a wider trend rather than just an isolated incident. Still, if you do pick up a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller in the coming weeks, it's worth giving a thorough inspection to make sure that you're getting what you paid for.

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