3rd party SNES controllers on Ebay - any of these decent ?

[WCP]

Has anybody ordered any of the cheapo knockoff SNES controllers on Ebay that go for about $5 or $6 per controller if you order two or more ?

Do these controllers suck ? Are they basically 95 percent as good as the real thing ? Or do they just feel slightly off, and it's just not the same thing ? It seems that authentic Nintendo made SNES controllers are about $15 or more each, used. These knockoffs are about 1/3rd the price brand new.

Do you guys think the Knockoffs are good enough ? I'd hate to pay triple the price and "hope" that I actually get a used SNES controller in good shape.

[Gunstar Hero]

I used knockoffs and they really just feel cheap and crappy. I bit the bullet and got two really nice official controllers for about $30 and they have been outstanding in performance compared to my friend's 3rd party controllers. He noticed such a difference when playing my controllers that he decided to get first party controllers too :)

[wiggyx]

^^^ 2nd.

Bite the bullet.

[sloan]

The newer SNES controllers for sale are cheaper plastic and will break easier.

[Xander]

Same as everyone so far, tried a few 3rd party controller for the SNES, none of them got it right so far.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

Don't be fooled. Do not buy. The knock off controllers that are made to fool retro gamers are often on the same level as typical Famiclone controllers.

[recorderdude]

The only standard controller clone that feels genuinely good is the interact superpad (INTERACT, NOT PERFORMANCE), but seeing as those are all old anyway you might as well get a real one.

[WCP]

Damn... I was afraid this was the case.


See, I have maybe 3 original, authentic SNES controllers. I'd like to keep two of them with the one SNES that I'm keeping. I have about five extra SNES systems that I want to sell off (eventually), and I figured that I would just track down a controller to include with each of them, but if I have to spend $15, just so I can sell my SNES, not sure if that's worth it. I wonder if I would be better off just selling the SNES systems sans controller?

Would I be guaranteed to get an extra $15 to cover the cost of buying controllers ?

If I include a cheapo $5 controller with it, yeah, I'm not really doing the guy that's buying it any favors, but at the same time, I know I'd recover that $5 investment back.

The other concern is buying used SNES controllers for $15, and while they might be authentic, you can still get some that will have issues here and there. Like I was saying before, I have 3 SNES controllers right now, and I think one of them isn't 100 percent ideal. It still works fine, but doesn't feel quite as good as the other two. Who's to say the ones I get from Ebay won't be like that ?

I'll have to try to buy them locally somewhere so I can test them out and make sure they are legit.

[Gameguy]

Aren't official controllers somewhat easy to find locally? I used to pick them up for less than $5 each whenever I found them, I didn't know they're going for $15 each or I would have kept picking them up.

[sloan]

My suggestion is to hit charity thrifts early and often.

I have picked up many SNES controllers for $2-$4 a piece over the years. Take them apart and use isopropyl alcohol to clean all the buttons and carbon contacts, and they are normally good as new. Once or twice, I have had to repair broken wires in the cord, but nothing too difficult.

[wiggyx]

Since you're in need of a handful, why not check for lots on eBay? I JUST picked up a lot for a buck that included 2 Ascii pads, which may as well be original controllers, plus a handful of other random name brand and generic aftermarket controllers.

[WCP]

I used to hit the thrifts and flea market back in the days, but it seems that collecting has gone way too mainstream now, and there are just too many people looking for the same shit. At least in my neck of the woods. Either that, or Ebay resellers.

I could try checking out a few thrifts here and there to see if I get lucky.