GameStop is poking fun at itself by auctioning off the infamous Nintendo Switch 2 stapler, and the proceeds are going to a very worthy cause. Though the retail chain caught some initial flak for the stapler incident, GameStop is now using the office supply implement's infamy to raise money in support of a major charity dedicated to improving the health of sick children across the United States and Canada.
The release of the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5 has been one of the most-talked-about subjects in the gaming world this year, and for good reason. Now more than a month after its launch, the hybrid console is still a hot commodity, with many retailers struggling to keep it in stock, and its internal component upgrades over the original Switch and new features like GameChat and mouse controls have been drawing the attention of a lot of gaming fans.
'More Elusive Than the Console Itself' Switch 2 Gamers Are Having a Hard Time Finding One of Its Most Useful Accessories
While the Nintendo Switch 2 is hard to come by for some gamers, others report that one of the system's accessories is even harder to find.
But GameStop suffered a PR disaster on the console's launch date after it was discovered that one location damaged Switch 2 consoles with a stapler, perforating their screens while attaching receipts to their boxes. Though a nightmare for customers who received the damaged products, GameStop is now putting a positive spin on the incident by auctioning off the notorious stapler on eBay, and proceeds will be used to fund Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, the largest organization of children's hospitals in North America. The non-profit organization operates 170 different hospitals in the United States and Canada and reportedly provides more than 32 million treatments a year to more than 10 million children.
GameStop's Infamous Switch 2 Stapler is Up for Charity Auction
The auction will be running through July 16, and it's already attracting a lot of attention. At the time of this article's writing, more than 125 different bids have been placed, and the current price stands at $16,900. That's more than 37 times the price of a Switch 2 console, not counting the ones bundled with Mario Kart World, and the winner of the auction will be getting a Switch 2 as well. Both the stapler, which is listed on eBay as "used," and the Switch 2 are displayed on the auction page in a decorative, transparent case, along with a receipt that is wisely and cheekily not stapled to the box.
Along with the recent charity announcement, GameStop has vowed to do right by the customers affected by the stapler incident from June, stating it would replace every Switch 2 console that was damaged before being delivered. That's not an easy order to fill, as multiple professional analysts have predicted Switch 2 supply shortages will persist through spring 2026.
