GameStop Raises $15,000 for a Stapled, Broken Switch 2

Console drops — they’re kind of like those rare comet sightings, right? Everyone gets hyped. Especially places like GameStop. Folks living for the thrill of a new gadget will swarm these shops before even considering the vanilla offerings at basic retail giants. So, imagine the pandemonium when whispers started fluttering about GameStop selling Switch 2 consoles that had seen better days. I mean, disaster time, right? But somehow, GameStop took this potential PR train wreck and turned it into… something else entirely.

It was make-or-break for them from the get-go. Like, did anyone think people would just brush it off if they believed their almost-$500 gizmo might come with its own paper accessory? A receipt on the screen? Yikes. Would-be buyers must’ve been pondering if a trip to their local GameStop was worth it after all. And sure, the whole thing went ballistic when news surfaced from Staten Island in NYC. Only a few souls got hit, but it was the talk of the town, like whispering neighbors sharing the juiciest gossip.

GameStop was quick on the scene, hustling extra units from nearby outlets to trade in botched consoles. Social media exploded with GIFs and memes, trying to laugh it off. “Staplers on lockdown,” one post declared with flair, showing a clip from Office Space. They owned it — kinda charming, actually.

And get this, they rolled out a promo the very next day. Bring in your Switch 2 receipt from elsewhere and—bam—a 20% trade-in bonus. It’s like GameStop turned into a receipt-obsessed detective for a day. Usually, receipts are just for pre-orders or keeping tabs on returns, but here, they seemed to be trying some weird SEO trickery with terms like “GameStop” and “receipt.” Or maybe it was just a big “oops”?

Now, a month later, instead of sweeping it under the rug, GameStop’s having fun with “Staplegate.” They’re auctioning off the notorious stapler and the first defective console — box and all. Proceeds are for a good cause, supporting Children’s Miracle Network hospitals. Oh, and as of now? They’ve already snagged $15,000 for the stapler alone, with days to go and bids still flying in.

A tongue-in-cheek note from GameStop head honcho Ryan Cohen reads: “While the incident itself was unfortunate, we hope its legacy serves a greater purpose.” Guess they’re finding humor (and a heart) in something that could’ve just been disastrous.