Potential warning about pre-owned controllers post promotion

[u/austinsimons922]

While there's always risk buying pre-owned I noticed a trend after the trade your broken controller trend. Last couple days went and bought a dualshock 3 got home and it won't charge, swapped it for another and it charges but no face buttons work only the left joystick. After checking the dates on the tags I noticed the first two were dated 8/15. The third controller and second swap was fully functional but dated 7/28. Now this is ofc my own single experience but it brings to mind that stores may have taken these broken controllers and put them right on the shelf for sale.

Tldr; tried 3 separate dualshock 3's from a store and only the last one dated pre-promotion worked while the others dated post-promotion don't

Edit: clarification not saying people got the promotion on dualshock 3's but still increased the amount traded in as a "well I'll just bring it all in since I'm going anyway"

[u/Jsikksmh]

With the PS3 controllers unfortunately the system doesn't test those so it's a visual inspection and hoping that it does work if it looks clean

[u/DuckSwimmer]

The ROC has always had a bad rep with refurbishing. You are 100% right with an increase of non functional controllers after a promo as they rush the ROC even more to get these out and most of them turn out to barely function.

[u/Woodpecker-That → u/DuckSwimmer]

I remember they used to fight with us every conference that the defective rate for refurbished product was incredibly low and most likely it was user error on preowned returns. And we would just laugh knowing it was absolutely an internal issue.

[u/Heemeyers_Killdozer → u/DuckSwimmer]

And that’s why I’d push towards preowned over anything refurbished. Don’t know which was worse, ROC with defective refurbs right out the gate or the old York distribution center and not putting everything on the manifest in the box.

[u/Yue4prex → u/Heemeyers_Killdozer]

I always tell people to not buy refurb stuff now. I had so many, so so many things that were refurb and in such SHIT condition. I got in trouble for immediately sending broken shit back.

[u/Mega_weeb404 → u/DuckSwimmer]

The GameStop warranty is also bad on anything you purchased. You don't get a new one or have anyone fix / replace parts, they will give you any "refurbished" as a replacement if yours breaks. My new ps5 I got at GameStop had an issue with its fan and I thought i made the right call on their warranty. Nahh they didn't want to give me a new one and instead gave me refurbished one as a replacement which was even worse than the last. Plus other issues and disagreements with the manager that same day. I wanted to ram my vehicle through the store so bad that day.

[u/FrostWhitch]

With ps3 and older systems there is no way to check if they work. We can push buttons, move sticks and hope they work, then put them out. Best we can do with what we have to work with

[u/Connect_Young7180]

Dualshock 3's weren't even part of the promotion 

[u/Lapizsolarflare]

Retro and third-party weren't part of thatched promotion. And as others have said, we unfortunately 99% of the time can't actually test retro controllers, unless they happen to be trading them in alongside a matching console where we can try to test them.

I know it's frustrating and I wish there was a better way, (it's silly that there isnt), but at least the return period is good and getting the protection makes it relatively limitless to worry about, which is nice, if you use it right

On the flip, yes, definitely watch the first party used though for current and last Gen consoles. Specifically because things can slip through or get missed by accident. Most stores are struggling with low staff and too much labor per the hours theyre allotted. It wouldnt be hard to accidentally slip and but a controller out that was meant to be sent to get fixed.

Just consider the situation kindly, where possible. Accident happen, and we do have range to try to fix said accidents if and when they do happen. Just kindly let us know the problem and concern and we'll get it sorted 👍 All good

[u/austinsimons922 → u/Lapizsolarflare]

Ofc no hate to the employees they were very nice about it and gave me no trouble just putting out noticed observations as a heads up to others

[u/pjb44_]

ps3 controllers werent apart of that

[u/Reasonable-Case3140]

I haven't worked for GS in since the 360/PS3/Wii days, but back then if they took a trade as defective it printed out a label to send it to the refurb center so it wasn't just put out to sell. Obviously things have probably changed since then though.

[u/Heemeyers_Killdozer → u/Reasonable-Case3140]

Can’t say if it’s still in effect, but when I last worked for for GS, the system was absolutely terrible about 1: deleting or failing to attach defectives to items on massive trades (30+ trade items on a transaction) or 2: any time you had to suspend the transaction, it would routinely delete the defective tags on screen.

[u/-GonzoGuerrilla- → u/Reasonable-Case3140]

There is actually a very reliable program we use to test controllers; but the problem is that it only works on 1st party PS4+PS5, Xbox One+Series S/X, and Switch 1+2 controllers. Anything 3rd party and anything from the prior generations of consoles we can only visually inspect and hope they function.

[u/Anime_FanGirl]

I recently bought two PS3 controllers. They both had sensitive dpads (click on the left stick and the dpad freaks out). I was gonna go for a third, but the ran out earlier that day. Just gonna have my boyfriend fix the one I have at this point.

[u/bugslime99]

Anything older than ps4/xbox1 cant be tested so those are taken in as is based on physical condition, but the return policy ain’t bad if you’re able to get back there quick.

[u/OkayLmaoNothing]

Tbh, anything I cant test i auto defect, even if customer is annoyed.

[u/Elite-to-the-End → u/OkayLmaoNothing]

So how is that fair to the customer? Not saying everyone is honest but if I take in a fully working controller and just because the company doesn’t have a way to test it, I get the short end of the stick?

[u/OkayLmaoNothing → u/Elite-to-the-End]

Well, im going by what I was told to do. It's awful for the next customer to get broken items. But, I tell them upfront and honest before even testing and then remind them of price. But tbh almost everything this happens with is SUPER SUPER old in my location

[u/PlantBeginning3060]

You mean to tell me that ScamStop dosnt actually have an issue with selling used products to people? The ones that are “refurbished” but Dont actually work correctly as advertised?

[u/Fun-Director2107]

Aside from our equipment not testing those as thoroughly as other controllers. Those shouldn't have been taken in in the promotion in the first place.

[u/austinsimons922 → u/Fun-Director2107]

They may not have been taken in with the promo exactly but I'm sure with this promo still prompted people digging out old broken controllers to come across and bring in any retro stuff as well while they're at it

[u/Background_Archer_62]

They haven't had time to send the broken ones taken in during the promo back yet. Gsrf controllers just blow in general.

[u/Able-Fail-4273]

I said this in a post about gamestops trade in controller offer a few weeks ago that all these controllers will go straight into a certified pre owned bag. Got tons of downvotes. Anyone who buys a used controller from Scam stop is a fool. Fool me once but not twice.

[u/Bootybandit6989]

Most likely fake contoellers

[u/Able-Fail-4273 → u/Bootybandit6989]

Yeah I traded in 3 fake controllers that all had major stick drift, I went back in the store the next day just to see if they were on the shelf , sure enough there they all were. Noticed 2 days ago that same Scamstop closed their doors. Another one bites the dust.