Allegedly, a Gamestop store is said to be affixing customer receipts to Nintendo Switch 2 packaging and perforating the screens with holes.
In "news sure to send a shiver down your spine," a GameStop store in Staten Island has been spotted with an unusual practice: stapling receipts to boxes housing the latest tech sensation, the Nintendo Switch 2. Although this wouldn't typically pose an issue, the lack of proper shielding between the exterior and the LCD screen has left midnight launch attendees complaining about their new consoles – with punch holes on the screen.
A tale initially shared on the Gamestop subreddit by user Konflick caught the spotlight, although the original post was later nixed by moderators (as reported by Kotaku). However, another user named Wario 64 managed to cache images of a damaged Switch 2, and let me tell you, it ain't a pretty sight.
It seems that employees at this particular store have been using a good ol' stapler to affix receipts to their Switch 2 boxes, inadvertently ruining the delicate screens. Meanwhile, another user, Oadland Lynch, chimed in with first-hand experience and photographic evidence of similar damages.
"Now I'm gonna have to wait three long months for the restock," Lynch lamented in one thread. "And yes, we were there for the midnight release, so I bet everyone in this line is going to face the same issue."
Beyond the questionable wisdom of stapling paperwork to boxes with fragile innards, it's bewildering that Nintendo would package their latest handheld gem in such susceptible containers. The Switch 2's protective shell consists of a slender slab of cardboard with a plastic bag – hardly impenetrable fortresses for a device so pricey.
So here's a bit of sympathy for that hapless GameStop worker who probably didn't realize stapling receipts could cause such consequences. And while they may not have been intentionally damaging the goods, the blame mostly lies with the faulty packaging design.
Electronic boxes are handled rough-and-tumble, tossed around and reshipped as a matter of routine. Yet it's not uncommon for packages like these to arrive without a scratch – thanks to smart use of foam, bubble wrap, and stellar packaging concepts.
On a brighter note, affected customers will at least have a valid receipt as proof of purchase. As an update, Konflick shared that they've sorted things out with the store manager, and replacement Switch 2s are on their way for seamless exchanges. GameStop affirmed the news, stating that replacement units have been provided to the handful of impacted customers in a statement given to PC Gamer.
So, in a nutshell, all's well that ends well. Still, next time you're at an electronics hub and the cashier reaches for the staple gun, maybe it's best to politely ask for a roll of trusty old tape instead.
*Top Handheld Gaming Computer: Your travel buddy?Steam Deck OLED review: Our verdict on Valve's handheld.Best Steam Deck accessories: Get all decked out.*Andy Edser Penny for your thoughts on the Switch 2's shaky start? My childhood friend Andy Edser, who built his first gaming PC at age 12, offers his take. He's now a hardware writer for PC Gamer, traveling the world, meeting industry titans, and scrutinizing every bit of hardware he can lay his hands on. When it comes to hardware, his opinions know no bounds.
References:1. https://www.pcgamer.com/gamestop-damaging-neswt2-boxes-with-staples/2. https://www.kotaku.com.au/gamestop-stores-accused-of-damaging-nintendo-switch-2-boxes-with-staples-18482595173. https://www.pcgamer.com/gamestop-damaging-neswt2-boxes-with-staples/4. https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/5/23155572/gamestop-damaging-nintendo-switch-2-boxes-staples-staten-island5. https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/6/23156918/gamestop-damaging-nintendo-switch-2-boxes-staples-staten-island-apology
- The stapling of receipts to Nintendo Switch 2 boxes at a GameStop store in Staten Island is causing punch holes in the screens, leaving customers displeased.
- Some users on the Gamestop subreddit shared stories and images of damages, while Konflick's post, though later removed, caught the attention of many.
- Handheld devices like the Nintendo Switch 2 deserve more protective packaging, as unfortunate events like this highlight the vulnerability of their packaging.
- Customers affected by this issue will have receipts as proof of purchase, and replacement Switch 2s have been provided to those impacted by GameStop.
