Over the past weekend, a user on Twitter had tagged GameStop’s help account to report that the GameStop in Astoria, New York, had been selling Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders in bundle-only packages on its website. The account responded by stating it would be “actively investigating” the situation.
If you were one of the unlucky people who had to go through GameStop to get your Switch 2 pre-order last week, you may have noticed a shady trend going on. While not every store was guilty of this, certain locations were selling pre-orders as bundle-only packages with a bunch of other nonsense included. This could have ranged from screen protectors to Pro Controllers or even an extra game, driving up the cost for people who may have only budgeted for the initial $450.
This tactic has become increasingly common in recent years as both a counter to scalpers setting up bots (which typically only look for the MSRP) and as a way to drive up the price for prospective buyers. With an item as hot as the Switch 2, a lot of people are likely to cut their losses and simply pre-order something at a higher price simply to acquire the console for launch. While it can work in your favor if you were planning on buying another game, it’s still a scummy marketing gimmick nonetheless.
While GameStop hasn’t explicitly stated that it will be looking into other stores engaging in this behavior, you can likely DM its help account to provide details or help. No one should be forced to spend even more money for a Switch 2, especially not with how the economy is going right now.
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Written by Peter Glagowski
Peter has been a freelance gaming and film critic for over seven years. His passion for Nintendo is only matched by the size of his collection.
