Recently, we reported on an unfortunate incident involving several Switch 2 customers who discovered their console screens damaged by a misaligned staple upon launching their new devices at local GameStop stores. In an attempt to mitigate the backlash from this mishap, GameStop launched a lighthearted advertisement announcing restocks of the console. However, this effort has inadvertently exacerbated the company’s troubles.
The self-deprecating promotional campaign debuted with a tagline that read, “Staples not included.” Accompanying this announcement was a tweet featuring an image of a suspended Switch 2 with a red stapler labeled, “Do Not Use On Box” in the foreground.
While the humor attempted to address the earlier blunder—with some viewers finding it amusing—its tone may have been perceived as inconsiderate towards those affected by the damaged consoles. Many initially thought, “GameStop might be recovering from this mess…”
However, that optimism was short-lived. It was revealed that GameStop had used a photograph without proper attribution. The eye-catching image of the floating Switch 2, which attempted to deliver a punchline, was originally captured by photographer Janelle Jones for Bloomberg. The image prominently features in Bloomberg’s console review, and GameStop had crudely edited it by inserting a stapler over the original image without crediting the photographer. This lapse was highlighted in a Twitter post by Chris Welch of Bloomberg, indicating it might not be the best look for GameStop.
Currently, the promotional post remains on GameStop’s social media platforms, but it seems likely that it will soon vanish from public view. It’s unfortunate that GameStop has managed to entangle itself further in controversy while trying to address its previous error.