Original Post: [https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/11hwwqz/psa\_for\_second\_hand\_switch\_owners\_if\_your\_switch/](https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/11hwwqz/psa_for_second_hand_switch_owners_if_your_switch/)
So I thought it would be best to start a new post rather than add more to an already long post.
Nintendo have finally got back to me. (2 weeks after I asked for my case to be raised for those wondering where I’ve been)
Nintendo said the original purchase of the switch OLED bought from the my Nintendo store was fraudulent. However, the fraud was identified on the 17th of April LAST YEAR (2022). For a reminder I bought the switch in August 2022 and the ban happened at the end of February this year.
Email here: [https://imgur.com/a/eudFDlC](https://imgur.com/a/eudFDlC)
I’m so disappointed with them really I don’t even know what to say. The late ban, admitting I’m not at fault but refusing to help, the lack of care about my data. They’re admitting I’m not the one who committed fraud but are still happy for me to suffer because of it.
I get they have to protect their company from fraud. Comparing themselves and I as victims as fraud is not an equal comparison. This is a billion dollar company who have lost not even 1% of profits punishing a student who couldn’t even afford a brand new switch OLED. At this stage it’s not even protecting themselves from further fraud as they’ve made it clear I’m not the fraudster. The fraud has already happened.
I asked Nintendo if there was anyway of transferring my data at all as the seller has agreed to refund me for the console. Nintendo essentially just said no, not our problem. (For clarification the save data transfer tool is blocked on a banned switch) Emails here: [https://imgur.com/a/O5ENVqu](https://imgur.com/a/O5ENVqu)
(Emails are in chronological order so read bottom up)
Banning people so late after detecting fraud will just lead to more cases like this where fraudulent switches are sold on, fraudsters profit, and buyers get stung. No one wins except the fraudsters.
So yeah. Great to know Nintendos policy on helping a “victim of fraud” (their own words), is to admit I’ve done nothing wrong, but still block me from my data.
I’m still fighting Nintendo on this, not sure what my next moves are but I wanted to provide an update.
Update for people who are not reading the original post: the switch was bought from a reputable second hand retailer. If the person i bought it from was the fraudster I’d hardly be on at Nintendo about it.
Just a second update for clarity as it seems a lot of people have missed the original post: my main problem now is data. I transferred my data from a previous switch lite. There’s 1000s of hours and 4 years worth of data trapped on the old console. The save data transfer tool is blocked under the ban. I have tried it. Not every game supports cloud save so effectively that data is lost 🙁
by maeday101
27 Comments
Nintendo Customer Service is honestly really horrible. I had a different situation where they played the victim card and threatened to ban me for a mistake they made and it took so much back and forth to come to a resolution. I’ve never been a fan of “the customer is always right” because it means that customers will take advantage of you but Nintendo has a policy of the customer is always wrong which is not the right way to go either.
I just cannot ever recommend buying a second-hand console unless you know the previous owner well.
It kind of sucks Nintendo takes this long to ban the system. It still sucks to get a banned system but at least it won’t eat your account and saved games.
Companies have been banning consoles for modifications since the Xbox 360 but Nintendo got to Ninten do it their own special way.
If they didn’t ban it and disable the ability to transfer, anyone committing fraud would just say “oh, someone sold it to me.”
The person who sold it to you tried to cheat you. They’re the ones who fucked you over.
And while you may have not done anything wrong, customer service likely does not have any ability to do what you are asking them. They likely have a tool page with select common operations they’ve been authorized to do with accounts. They don’t have direct db access.
Sorry if I’m not understanding something but if you buy a new Switch direct from a retailer will you be able to recover your save data? If so, wouldn’t that be easier than continuing to keep spending your time on a lost cause?
If it’s a stolen Switch, it’s a stolen Switch. Credit card fraud or whatever. Yeah the timing sucks and maybe someone dropped the ball and maybe someone didn’t. (Perhaps they let it connect to services to collect info for their “case”?)
I once bought a computer at a yard sale that ended up being stolen. The police collected the computer and I lost what I paid for it. But the person who buys stolen merchandise is often left holding the bag legally.
You should tell us the retailer—that’s pretty dope that they’re offering a refund six months after purchase
Yeah big N creates great games but they’re a shitty company. Sorry this happened to you chief
If it’s not cfw what fraudulent activity were they doing? Was the switch stolen or did they use a stolen credit card with it. I’m just more curious on what happened
But the issue still is you or others buying from a second hand party whether it be a friend or retailer. What are the odds that a business is going to verify a ban? I wouldn’t expect Gamestop to do anything more than just to turn it on to ensure it’s working functionally but nothing more than that
I’m really not sure what Nintendo is supposed to do here. It doesn’t matter whether it’s consoles or cars or stereo speakers. If you purchase stolen property you have zero rights to claim any ownership of that property.
Your grievance is with the seller, not with Nintendo.
Why wouldn’t save data transfer work for OP? It shouldn’t require online connection.
https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Support/Nintendo-Switch/How-to-Transfer-Your-Save-Data-To-a-Nearby-Nintendo-Switch-Console-1549113.html
Just need to comment that none of this would even be a problem if they just allowed cloud saves for everything. You could just ask for a replacement switch from the seller and be on your way.
At this point, I would really consider looking at the more grey areas of the internet for a way to transfer your saves to a new switch without Nintendo Online. Or just give Nintendo the middle finger and ask your CC/Bank for a refund of your Nintendo Switch online subscription in full (because service bought and paid for are not provided) and just start over from scratch.
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This is why it’s iffy buying a used console.
This is why I only buy consoles new, in store unless they are classic consoles. Too much risk of getting a system used for something sketchy, one reported stolen or one with issues.
Not defending Nintendo, just playing devil’s advocate.
It could be possible that Nintendo doesn’t believe that the console was sold second-hand and that it’s the same person who originally committed fraud making up a story to get the console unbanned.
Nintendo should be banning these consoles, but blocking the save data transfer seems unnecessary as many stolen consoles will be resold to unknowing users.
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Was this at CEX Tottenham Court Road? Cuz I think I remember this situation recently in the store I work at
Copy/paste my response to this same post a few weeks ago:
One of the main reasons I never buy used or refurbished on most items. You just never know what the previous owner has done. Not worth the potential savings. My time is more valuable if/when an issue develops.
From the email it says that the ‘device’ is banned from accessing online services, however you are still able to access your Nintendo account and re-download your purchased games.
Aren’t the saved games stored on the cloud if you have an active subscription? or is it stored locally on your banned console?
I don’t really see an update. It just seems like you’re still arguing with them.
It’s not really surprising… If someone steals something from a business and then sells it to someone else to make money, the business that was stolen from has no legal responsibility to supply any sort of service to the receiver of their stolen goods.
It’s not your fault nor is it Nintendo’s fault. It’s the fault of the store you bought it from, however they can’t fix your data issue.
I think there’s a couple lessons here:
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it & You get what you paid for.
And this is why the first step of buying any nintendo console is hacking it so you have control over your own data.
“We’re sorry that you, like Nintendo, are a victim of fraud”
Comparing a billion dollar company losing $300 on one console to a person possibly living paycheck to paycheck losing $300 is pathetic.