GameStop is kicking off the holiday season with one of its most unusual promotions yet. On 6 December, the retailer will host a nationwide “Trade Anything Day,” inviting customers to bring almost anything into their local store in exchange for store credit. The event is exactly what it sounds like, and while the name suggests total freedom, there are plenty of important rules and limitations to know before you show up.
Image Credit: GameStop
Below, we break down every key detail, from what you can bring to what is strictly off limits.
What Is Trade Anything Day?
Trade Anything Day is a one day event where customers can visit any participating GameStop store and trade almost any physical item for store credit. The company’s promotional banner spells it out clearly: “Bring Whatever Get Store Credit,” followed by the cheeky reminder, “Some Questions Asked.”
The goal is simple, get people inside stores during the busy holiday shopping period. It also taps into the long running joke about GameStop’s notoriously low trade in offers, but this time the company seems ready to embrace the chaos.
When And Where Is It Happening?
Date: 6 December
Location: GameStop stores across the United States
Availability: In store only, not online
All trades must be done in person, and staff will personally inspect each item before deciding whether it can be accepted.
What You Can’t Bring
Despite the anything goes branding, GameStop has outlined a very long list of excluded items. These include:
- Hazardous waste, chemicals, or any liquid
- Lithium ion batteries or items containing them
- Weapons or ammunition
- Live or dead animals, although taxidermy is allowed
- Alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or pharmaceuticals (legal or not)
- Most computers and smart devices, excluding certain MacBooks the store normally accepts
- Computer peripherals under 100 pounds, including monitors, keyboards, mice, hard drives, printers and scanners
- Small electronic equipment like DVD players, DVRs, digital music players, projectors and receivers
- Small scale servers or televisions
- Gift cards or any currencies
- Jewellery
- Explicit items
- Items resembling body parts
On top of all that, items must fit inside a 20×20×20 inch measuring box, and employees have full discretion to reject anything they deem unsuitable.
So What Can You Trade?
While GameStop didn’t publish an official list of acceptable items, the exclusions make it fairly clear what is safe to bring. Smaller items such as:
- Funko Pops
- Toys and figurines
- Spare game cases
- Cables
- Collectibles
- Odd trinkets
- Taxidermy, if you dare
Basically, if it’s small, harmless and doesn’t fall into the restricted categories, it’s likely to be considered.
How Much Store Credit Will You Get?
GameStop hasn’t revealed any pricing structure or estimates. It’s widely expected that most trades will result in very small amounts of credit, since stores already value traditional trade ins conservatively.
Still, as many gamers have pointed out, it’s an easy way to clear out clutter instead of sending it straight to the landfill. Even a tiny amount of store credit is more useful than holding on to old plastic cases or outdated knick knacks.
Why GameStop Is Doing This
Trade Anything Day is clearly designed to drive foot traffic as the holiday season ramps up. The event has already gone viral thanks to its bizarre rules, with gamers joking about what they might bring and GameStop employees joking about calling in sick to avoid the chaos.
The stunt might be unusual, but it’s definitely getting people talking, and that alone might make it a win for GameStop.