GameStop Auctions Off the 'Staplegate' Stapler (and Maybe Underwear?) – Bidding's Gone Bonkers!
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
GameStop is auctioning off the stapler responsible for damaging Switch 2 screens at launch, with bids reaching over $100,000 and including some *interesting* extras (ahem, underwear). The auction aims to raise money for charity, but also highlights concerns about the Switch 2's flimsy packaging.
Right, so remember that whole 'Staplegate' fiasco where a GameStop employee got a *little* too enthusiastic with a stapler on the Nintendo Switch 2 launch night? (IGN South Africa covered it, bless 'em). Turns out, said stapler is now up for auction, and the gaming community's gone absolutely wild.
We're not talking pocket change here, mate. Bidding is currently over $100,000! And the reason? Apparently, this humble office supply became a console-puncturing legend when it was used to affix receipts directly to the *screens* of brand-new Switch 2s. Ouch.
GameStop, in a stroke of PR genius (or maybe just a desperate attempt to spin straw into gold), decided to auction off the offending stapler for charity, with the proceeds going to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Fair play, I reckon. But here's where it gets truly bonkers.
Along with the stapler (described by GameStop as an "authentic relic from the now-infamous 'Staplegate' incident"), the lucky winner also gets a certificate of authenticity and... wait for it... the *first* Switch 2 to fall victim to the stapler's pointy wrath. It's been refurbished, thankfully, but still bears the battle scars. The original box, complete with puncture wounds, is also included. A collector's item, for sure, though maybe not the kind anyone *wanted*.
But that's not all! GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen, clearly enjoying the absurdity of it all, promised to throw in his *underwear* if the auction hit six figures. And, well, it did. (I'm not even going to speculate on the hygiene implications here). He confirmed this on his Twitter account last month, promising to include it if the auction hit six figures.
The whole thing raises some serious questions about Nintendo's Switch 2 packaging. Apparently, the screen sits directly against the thin cardboard box, protected only by a flimsy plastic sleeve. It's a recipe for disaster, really. IGN reached out to Nintendo for comment but hasn't heard back yet. Hopefully, they'll beef up the packaging before any more stapler-wielding employees go rogue.
Look, it was clearly a bad situation for anyone who wanted to pick up a new console and found a stapled screen when they got there. The consoles were replaced, and now the mishap is at least going to help a good cause. And at least GameStop leaned into the silliness after the fact. I guess there's no point crying over stapled screens if you can make a quick buck out of it!
Tags: Nintendo Switch 2, GameStop, Auction, Stapler, Gaming News
Original article: IGN South Africa