I know this is not a 100% ESPhome question but I think many people here have used these type of sensors. I want to use mine for bed occupancy sensor. However, fresh order from Amazon arrived completely bent like this:
Is this normal?
Functionally, is this 100% acceptable or does it affect accuracy?
Asking before starting to connect/solder if I should return them.
They should not be bent. It can damage them. I'd contact the seller and get them to send a replacement that is rolled rather than bent.
Thanks a lot for confirming!
I was thinking so but also didn't make a fuzz or a non-issue (and also was excited to get started with the project).
I contacted the seller.
In the meantime you can lay it flat and check with a multimeter if there is a connection/closed circuit or not:
no connection -> no (not enough) pressure
constant connection -> broken
I had several of these and they were also pretty badly bent and never had a broken one.
But like tom said: they shouldnt be bent.
A bit offtopic:
I also used them as presense detection for my bed, but I replaced them for these mats for better results.
I used those mats before I tried FSRs. Both mats failed short circuit after a few months.
using them almost a year and no issues here....crazy how it fails on some and doesnt on some 
Mine failed as well 
My one experiment using a mat instead also failed — due to the mat.
As for the strip, it should be rolled up and not folded (if it's long like that). You should return it, as suggested.
