GameStop’s Trade Anything Day Pushed Some Employees to Their Limits

According to GameStop’s social media, their inaugural “Trade Anything Day” was a huge hit. Customers really took the concept to heart, attempting to trade everything from taxidermy to social security cards, which certainly made for some entertaining viral moments. While some employees found humor in the bizarre items being offered, many voiced their frustrations online, describing the event as a poorly conceived idea that led to harassment from customers eager to push the limits of the joke.

GameStop’s official channels highlighted some of the more outrageous trade-ins, including a surprising number of taxidermy items. However, the company clarified that they wouldn’t be turning these oddities into a new revenue stream; instead, they plan to donate such items to local charities. What those charities will do with a stuffed bird remains a mystery.

The event was arguably set in motion by an influencer known for pranking stores, who previously attempted to trade in a fake ‘Gamesphere 360.’ His antics often involve arguing with employees about accepting ridiculous trades, which likely inspired customers to get creative on Trade Anything Day.

As expected, some trades were harmless, like a broken plastic spoon or a piece of lint that earned a customer five cents. There were also the classic jokes, such as someone bringing in two pieces of paper with the numbers 6 and 7 written on them. One individual even tried to trade in a parking ticket, while another brought in actual grass—yes, real grass.

However, not all attempts were lighthearted. One customer presented a handmade Valentine’s card featuring President Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, which the cashier reluctantly accepted. Another individual walked in with a plush Sonic the Hedgehog stuffed with a Fleshlight, claiming, “It’s hard to give up, I use him every night.” When the employee refused the trade after realizing what it was, the customer retorted, “Is it because I’m gay?”

Items of an intimate nature were a recurring theme. One employee recounted being reprimanded for ejecting a man who loudly tried to trade in a dildo in a store filled with children. “I don’t care if I’m let go at this point,” the employee shared on Reddit. Others attempted to trade in adult content, seemingly testing the limits of employee reactions. “How absolutely disrespectful and disgusting,” one worker commented, noting that a customer laughed at their discomfort over a lewd trade-in.

It became common for employees to deal with “belligerent” customers. With the rise of “messing with people IRL” content, some individuals entered GameStop locations wearing Meta glasses to record interactions without consent. One employee reported a man in a politically charged outfit trying to embarrass them, leading to a call to the police, only for the man to return shortly after. Now, the store is grappling with how to remove the viral video that features their staff without permission.

“I am so exhausted…” one employee expressed on Reddit. “We already deal with so many scummy people in the store.”

Despite the chaos, some employees noted moments of unexpected kindness during Trade Anything Day. One store received a box of donuts, while another got an apologetic note from a customer who anticipated the influx of ridiculous trade-ins.

However, the corporate environment on such a hectic day seemed to show little regard for employee well-being. Multiple stores reported that the in-store TVs were set to play the most irritating sounds possible, with sped-up voices and alarms creating a chaotic atmosphere. Employees mentioned customers questioning if the devices were malfunctioning. Imagine having to explain to someone why you can’t accept a used adult toy while also enduring a barrage of annoying noise.

“I had to work 11 hours today, and it was horrible hearing this crap in the background while trying to process four dozen trade-in games,” one employee lamented.

“I clocked in for 20 minutes and [am] already losing it,” another added. “That ad is rage-inducing, and I was ???? this close to bashing my head in,” a third chimed in. “The sped-up part is like fingernails on a chalkboard.”

The kicker? It seems that corporate at GameStop was pleased enough with the outcome of Trade Anything Day to plan for a repeat in the future.