One infamous story that emerged from the Nintendo Switch 2 launch in early June came from the Staten Island section of New York City, where a GameStop employee stapled a receipt for the console to its box--which damaged the Switch 2's screen in the process. Now, GameStop is turning this blunder into a boon for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, as the company is auctioning off multiple items from the incident--including the staple itself--for charity.
The eBay listing for the charity auction includes a letter from GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen, confirming that all four items included in the auction are "authentic relics from the now-infamous 'Staplegate' incident." Cohen's message also says that, "while the incident itself was unfortunate, [GameStop] hope its legacy serves a greater purpose."
The four items included in the auction are as follows:
The auction--which is raising money for Children's Miracle Network, per the eBay listing--has surpassed $8,000 in bids as of this writing, with the most recent bid currently sitting at $8,110. The listing also confirms that bids on the lot will be accepted until July 16 at 9:51 AM PT / 12:51 PM ET.
Source
The eBay listing for the charity auction includes a letter from GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen, confirming that all four items included in the auction are "authentic relics from the now-infamous 'Staplegate' incident." Cohen's message also says that, "while the incident itself was unfortunate, [GameStop] hope
The infamous Switch 2 Stapler is now available for auction. Proceeds benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.https://t.co/n7LMqFzKjz pic.twitter.com/XPqjijM1WE
— GameStop (@gamestop) July 9, 2025
The four items included in the auction are as follows:
- The staple used in the incident, which is described as "a retail legend born from a half-second decision"
- The Nintendo Switch 2 console itself, with a repaired screen
- The full retail packaging of the console, "with the staple mark clearly visible"
- The individual staple that damaged the console, which has been "carefully extracted and preserved" in an "individual display pouch"
The auction--which is raising money for Children's Miracle Network, per the eBay listing--has surpassed $8,000 in bids as of this writing, with the most recent bid currently sitting at $8,110. The listing also confirms that bids on the lot will be accepted until July 16 at 9:51 AM PT / 12:51 PM ET.
Source