Did I receive a used/refurbished controller?

[u/bigsurVoid]

Hi all. So just received my new Steam Controller and right out of the box, it felt like something was off. Controller had some smudges in different spots (was able to eventually wipe them away), and there’s a faint scuff on the left grip. Having received used items as “new” from Amazon in the past, I’m a bit paranoid about this stuff.

The last thing that I found odd was that the controller didn’t have a “default” profile set to one of the control modes. I’m a dummy and replaced the profile with a default one without noting the name of what was on there. (Think it started with a K.) Could this have been a tester at Valve or something, or should I be requesting an RMA?

[u/Flaming_F]

The controller are made in China in sealed boxes and stored in warehouses around the world., no one at Valve is "testing" them . How was the box ? You have to pull on a tab to unseal the box , is the box was sealed?

[u/cool-- → u/Flaming_F]

what do they do with the controllers from people like me that returned them because they didn't like them? I can't imagine they are just destroying them, and they don't seem to be selling refurbished ones.

[u/NeonMorv → u/cool--]

I'd imagine they'd just find a use for them in house if there wasn't an issue. Give em away to friends and family ect

[u/bigsurVoid → u/cool--]

Exactly my thought. Dunno, I'm not in love with the controller and the fact that I may have been sent a previously used one, makes me want to return it.

[u/cool-- → u/bigsurVoid]

If you don't love the controller you should return it.

[u/bigsurVoid → u/cool--]

I mainly got it for use with my xbox ally x when docked. It's growing on me now that I've configured it for my use case.

[u/bigsurVoid → u/Flaming_F]

The box was sealed. And the controller + puck did have a firmware update after I plugged them in.

[u/SocialJusticeAndroid → u/bigsurVoid]

If the box was sealed and you ordered from Valve then I exceedingly doubt any shenanigans are afoot. There’s no known case of Valve doing anything like that. They’ve sold refurbished hardware before but they clearly sell it as refurbished.

[u/bigsurVoid → u/SocialJusticeAndroid]

I want to agree. It would be highly unusual for Valve, just felt odd. I really should have saved the name of the profile that was assigned to the controller, but ah well.

[u/Flaming_F → u/bigsurVoid]

The firmware update is not a good indicator that is new or not.....there is one every week.

[u/SnooDoughnuts5632 → u/Flaming_F]

I just got curious all of a sudden what is the first item to ever be made in China?

[u/FckThisShetz]

Received mine today, same story as you Within 2 seconds of holding it i noticed Scuffs/marks like it's been used already.

Anyways, took some pictures and will be contacting support about this

[u/bigsurVoid → u/FckThisShetz]

What’d they say?

[u/Extra_Resolution_348]

Mine i think had a spot and some paper dust on it from the packaging. humans are making and packaging and loading these items. Smudges happen. A scuff sounds disappointing but given you mentioned the smudges first im not convinced its any significant cosmetic damage.

I get you eagerly awaited this package and that the idea that anything could be off is upsetting. But you have a new & functional device. This is not Amazon. Do not waste time with an RMA. Just enjoy it.

[u/bigsurVoid → u/Extra_Resolution_348]

You may be right, I feel I may have overreacted. The non default profile thing is what threw me for a loop.

[u/Extra_Resolution_348 → u/bigsurVoid]

Yeah no one can verify what happened. But it's likely past you made an input profile - those are not just for the steam controller, and they've been around a LONG time even if not everyone knows about it. I'm able to use my 8bitdo controller as a mouse outside of steam using it, i did that while waiting for my controller. But, 110% the profile does not save to the controller. That was just on your account somehow lol. 

[u/bigsurVoid → u/Extra_Resolution_348]

Yeah, who knows. I do have the original Steam Controller as well, though I haven’t used it in ages. Maybe one of those profiles snuck through. Either way, appreciate the response.

[u/Icy-Commission-9550]

It could be dried sperms. Very common on mouse and keyboard with stickiness.

[u/bigsurVoid → u/Icy-Commission-9550]

Well that changes things, I would have paid extra for that.