What Is Trade Anything Day?
GameStop is bringing back its trade in roots in the weirdest way possible. For one day only on December 6, the company is running a promo called Trade Anything Day. The idea is simple and kind of wild. Walk into a GameStop with almost any single item and walk out with 5 dollars of store credit.
In the old days, GameStop was known for letting you trade in used games for a small amount of credit. You would beat a game, take it back, and get a few bucks toward your next purchase. Digital downloads have eaten a lot of that business, so this new promo feels like a strange throwback mixed with a viral marketing stunt.
On Trade Anything Day, the rules are:
- You can only trade in one item.
- You get a flat 5 dollars store credit, no matter what the item is worth.
- The item has to be something they are allowed to accept according to a long guideline list.
The promotion is being pushed on social media, but many of the details actually surfaced first through internal documents shared on Reddit. The official GameStop site has not made everything as obvious as you might expect, which is part of why there is so much confusion and concern around the event.
What You Cannot Trade and Why Staff Are Dreading It
Despite the name Trade Anything Day, there are plenty of things GameStop will not accept. The internal guidelines say no to items like:
- Hazardous waste or anything dangerous
- Drugs, alcohol, or weapons
- Animals, whether alive or dead, unless they are properly stuffed and mounted
Yes, the taxidermy exception is real. That tiny detail alone gives you an idea of how bizarre this promo could get.
From a customer perspective, it might sound like a fun joke. Bring in some random thing from a junk drawer, get 5 dollars, maybe post a picture for social media. But from the perspective of people who actually have to run the store that day, it is a very different story.
On the GameStop subreddit, employees are already bracing for impact. One worker said they were not prepared at all and expected to handle some truly nasty items. They also pointed out that they would have to reject anything that might be a biological hazard, and that this would likely lead to arguments with customers who did not read the rules.
Other current and former staff chimed in with anxiety and frustration. A former assistant store manager said their heart hurt for the people still working there and described the corporate decision makers as dangerously out of touch. Retail veterans know exactly how bad this can get because many customers do not read signs or fine print. If people already ignore simple notices on the door, they are not going to carefully review a detailed list of forbidden items.
The important thing to remember here is that none of this is the fault of the people behind the counter. They did not design the promotion. They do not control the rules. They are the ones stuck explaining weird guidelines all day to annoyed or amused customers. If you show up on December 6, the minimum rule should be basic respect. Jokes are fine. Harassment is not.
Turning a Dumb Promo Into Something Actually Good
Beneath all the chaos and meme potential, there is a surprising bright side to Trade Anything Day. The internal documents say that suitable items traded in will be donated to local charities. That means some of the random stuff people bring in could actually help someone.
Some GameStop employees on Reddit are already trying to steer the event in a positive direction. They are encouraging customers to bring in things like:
- Non perishable canned food
- Boxed food items
- New or gently used toys
This way, customers can grab 5 dollars of store credit and also help stock food banks or holiday toy drives. One commenter pointed out that you could buy a cheap can of soup for under a dollar, trade it in for 5 dollars credit, and still help a family get food for the holidays. If you are going to take part anyway, that is a pretty solid move.
Of course, GameStop will likely get a tax write off from donating all those goods. Promotions like this are not just goodwill. They are also a marketing tool and a financial benefit for the company. Some people are understandably skeptical and annoyed that a messy promo doubles as a corporate charity win.
But you can separate the corporate angle from your own choice. You could skip the event entirely and donate straight to a local charity. That is still the most direct and efficient way to help. If you do want to join the circus on Trade Anything Day though, you can at least do it in a way that makes things a little better for someone else.
So if you head into GameStop on December 6, think about three things:
- Bring something clean, safe, and actually useful if possible.
- Remember that the employees did not design this event and likely hate it more than you do.
- Use the 5 dollars however you like, but maybe enjoy the fact that your joke trade in also put food or toys into the hands of people who need them.
GameStop’s Trade Anything Day might go down as one of those infamous retail horror stories. Or it might just be a weird blip in promo history. Either way, if you choose to participate, you can make it less of a disaster by being respectful and turning a silly stunt into an excuse to do a small amount of good.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/gamestops-trade-anything-day-has-some-employees-bracing-for-the-worst-were-probably-going-to-have-to-reject-some-of-the-things-because-theyre-a-biological-hazard/
