"Infinite Money Glitch" Discovered in GameStop's Trade-In System

YouTuber RJCmedia just fumbled what could’ve been the retail arbitrage opportunity of the year. Instead of quietly exploiting a legitimate GameStop pricing loophole that turned $415 into $472.50 on repeat, he posted a video exposing the whole thing and got it fixed within 48 hours. This is a textbook example of what not to do when you’ve figured out a clever way to make some money.

The method was straightforward. Buy a used Nintendo Switch 2 from GameStop for $414.99, then immediately trade it back along with the purchase of any pre-owned game. A promotional bonus kicked in that bumped the trade-in credit to $472.50, creating an instant $57.51 profit per transaction before factoring in the cost of whatever cheap pre-owned game you bought.

RJCmedia discovered and demonstrated the process at multiple GameStop locations over two days, accumulating around $150 in profit plus a stack of free video games. The YouTuber was visibly amused in his video, announcing “Infinite money glitch, people! If you buy a Switch 2, you can trade it for more than you paid for it.”

This really worked. While the profits seem modest at first, they could quickly stack up when chained across multiple stores. We say could, because the attention RJCmedia brought to the method that quickly killed the opportunity.

GameStop moved fast once the video started circulating. The company issued a statement that was equal parts damage control and corporate humor, acknowledging they were aware of the “GameStop Infinite Money Glitch” exposed by RJCmedia.

This is just the latest example of GameStop being used as anything over than the a used game retailer. From 2020’s meme-fueled bull run on GME stocks to the infamous 4chan greentext where a user detailed how they used the store “as a bank“, GameStop’s business model seems destined to be exploited by clever hustlers.

This situation highlights a critical lesson about information arbitrage. When you discover a legitimate exploit in a retailer’s pricing or promotion system, publicizing it immediately kills the opportunity for everyone, including yourself. RJCmedia made $150 and got some YouTube views. A savvy reseller who kept quiet could’ve potentially run this at dozens of GameStop locations nationwide before anyone noticed.

The smart play is always to submit tips about opportunities like this directly to communities that reward discretion. At Resell Calendar, we have a tip submission system where you can share finds like this and get rewarded in a big way without blowing up the opportunity for everyone.

Exploiting loopholes in store policies isn’t return fraud or illegal. Consumers are legally entitled to take advantage of pricing errors and promotional mistakes. However, retailers can and will retaliate by updating their systems, banning accounts, or blacklisting individuals from future purchases if they catch on.

GameStop has been experimenting with unconventional promotions lately. Last month they ran a “trade anything” event that reportedly accepted items ranging from old toasters to taxidermied animals for store credit. This Switch 2 glitch appears to have been an unintended consequence of overlapping promotional bonuses rather than a deliberate marketing stunt.

The GameStop infinite money glitch was real, legal, and profitable for exactly as long as it took someone to post about it online. GameStop has patched the exploit and no longer offers trade-in credit exceeding the retail price of Switch 2 consoles. While we appreciate RJCmedia’s transparency, this serves as a reminder that not every opportunity needs to be documented for views.

If you find something similar, consider whether $150 and some YouTube attention is worth more than potentially running a legitimate arbitrage play quietly across multiple locations.

It’s your life, but we strongly recommend bringing that information to us first. We’ll pay you better than any corporation will, and you’ll still be able to use the method yourself.