Nintendo Switch 2 Stapling Scandal Ends in $250K Settlement
▼ Summary
– The Nintendo Switch 2 launch was chaotic, with some consoles in a Staten Island GameStop ruined by staples piercing their screens.
– Employees stapled receipts to the boxes, damaging the screens, but customers were able to exchange the defective units.
– GameStop auctioned the stapler, damaged console, and staple for charity, calling it a result of “launch night excitement and misjudged enthusiasm.”
– The auction ended with a winning bid of $250,000, far exceeding the console’s $450 price, with proceeds going to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
– GameStop hasn’t confirmed if it will match the donation or hold more auctions, despite potentially having more damaged consoles.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launch took an unexpected turn when a bizarre stapling mishap led to a massive charitable donation. What started as a routine retail procedure spiraled into a viral incident, ultimately benefiting a children’s hospital with a staggering $250,000 windfall.
At a Staten Island GameStop, employees inadvertently turned the console release into a PR nightmare by stapling receipts directly to the packaging. The sharp staples pierced through the boxes, leaving tiny but visible holes in the screens of several Switch 2 units. While affected customers received replacements, the damage was done, both to the consoles and GameStop’s reputation.
In an effort to spin the mishap into something positive, the retailer auctioned off the infamous stapler, along with the first damaged console and its punctured box. Dubbed “Staplegate” in the eBay listing, the auction framed the blunder as an overzealous employee’s mistake during the chaotic launch. Bidding closed at an astonishing $250,000, far surpassing the console’s retail price. All proceeds went to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, transforming an embarrassing gaffe into a meaningful contribution.
GameStop hasn’t confirmed whether it will match the donation, but with potentially more stapled consoles in inventory, another charity auction isn’t off the table. For now, the incident serves as a reminder that even retail mishaps can have a silver lining, especially when they raise a quarter-million dollars for a good cause.
(Source: GAMESTOP)
