GameStop’s “Staplegate” raises $250,000 for charity

When the Nintendo Switch 2 launched in the U.S., things went south for those who pre-ordered via GameStop, resulting in the infamous Staplegate incident. Now, a piece of gaming infamy has turned things around as GameStop raised $250,000 for charity via auction, by selling the stapler in question and one of the affected Switch 2 pre-orders.

GameStop launched an eBay auction last week, pledging all proceeds to the Children’s Miracle Network. The charity listing featured items tied to the infamous Staplegate controversy, including the “infamous stapler” that damaged numerous Switch 2 pre-orders during the midnight launch, the “first Stapled Nintendo Switch 2” refurbished by GameStop, the damaged box with staple holes, and even the original staple that started it all. The bundle also came with a Certificate of Authenticity, verifying its legitimacy. Bidding for this piece of gaming history closed at 2:52 AM AEST on Thursday, with a final price of $250,000 USD (~$383,000 AUD).

“Staplegate” refers to a GameStop incident on Staten Island, where an employee stapled receipts to Nintendo Switch 2 boxes after the tape wouldn’t stick to the packaging. Unfortunately, the staples pierced through the boxes and damaged the consoles’ screens. After multiple reports of ruined devices, GameStop began offering replacements for affected orders.

When the auction first launched, GameStop’s CEO, Ryan Cohen, raised the stakes on Twitter/X, promising that if the auction raised seven figures, he would “fly the winner to Miami, take them to McDonald’s for lunch” and personally give them his underwear, signed by him. At the moment, the identity of the winning bidder has yet to be revealed. But hopefully, they enjoy a piece of gaming infamy in their collection, and maybe at least get a personal visit by GameStop CEO without the promised perks.