The GameStop stapler that punctured a Nintendo Switch 2 has sold for $250,000
"Let's consider this GameStop's version of 'corporate accountability,'" a GameStop spokesperson told Business Insider.
The saga — dubbed "staplegate" — began last month when the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 became available to the public. It had been a long road for fans, who were introduced to the original Nintendo Switch eight years ago and were forced to weather a tariff-related delay on the newest version of the popular gaming console. The Nintendo Switch 2 sells for $499.
While many fans received their Nintendo Switch 2 orders without fuss, some said their consoles arrived damaged with puncture holes on the screen.The culprit was a lone stapler at a Staten Island GameStop used to secure the receipts to the console boxes.
Although GameStop replaced thedamaged consoles, the company spokesperson said it wanted to "turn the snafu into something for a good cause."
The winning bidder receivedfour items: a stapled Nintendo Switch 2 (now fixed), the console's box with stapler marks, the stapler, and the "carefully extracted" staple.
GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen said in an X post this monththat he'd include his underwear in the auction if bids surpassed six figures. They did. After the auction closed, Cohen posted a "sneak peek" of his underwear on X.
According to the GameStop spokesperson, the decision to auction the items was a no-brainer.
"It pitched itself, honestly. Once the story took off, the stapler basically demanded an agent," they said.
Fortunately, tracking down the stapler wasn't difficult.
"We asked nicely and it was surrendered peacefully to our social media and marketing team," the spokesperson said, adding that the response has "exceeded our expectations."
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