Overview
- The retailer reported more than 80,000 trades on December 6 and highlighted unusual items such as taxidermied animals, a speed limit sign, VHS tapes and a can labeled “whoop‑ass.”
- GameStop confirmed participants received a $5 trade card for any accepted item, while standard trade-ins like games or consoles were processed under normal valuation rules.
- The company said customers brought a significant amount of canned food for local food banks and pet shelters, though the fate of many unconventional items remains unclear.
- Employees described customers pushing boundaries with explicit or provocative trade attempts, filming workers without consent and, in some cases, requiring police intervention.
- Staff also said corporate ran intentionally grating in-store audio and visuals during the event, and Polygon reported it appears the company may try a similar promotion again without a formal announcement.