Last week, GameStop had a "Trade Anything Day" promotion. This meant the retailer would expand the types of items they normally accept for trade-ins, so customers can get cash toward video games, consoles, and other merchandise.
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That meant that in addition to that old Nintendo Wii that's been in your basement for years, you could also unload some unusual items like taxidermy or other items that have been collecting dust.
Apparently, Best Buy stopped by GameStop to participate. They traded in their spokesperson. Rilie Huntley, a TikTok influencer who went viral in the big box electronics store's ads. Earlier this week, she appeared in a new ad for GameStop.
Best Buy Didn't Actually Trade Huntley In; She Quit
Huntley became known for her online content and eventually appeared in Best Buy's commercials wearing the famous blue shirt to share information on laptops and other useful items.
The purple-haired influencer, who has over 700,000 followers on TikTok, had been employed by the company until July of last year. She wrote at the time: "This is my announcement that I quit by the way."
GameStop Swooped in and Stole Best Buy's Girl
Then on Dec. 10, GameStop shared its latest commercial on social media. The caption on the post read: "We stole your girl @BestBuy." It shows Huntley sporting dark hair and a black polo shirt.
"Hi, I'm Rilie, and welcome to GameStop," begins the video.
In the 28-second clip, Huntley then explains the chain's trade-in policy, which includes retro gear, Apple products, and other collectibles. It even uses the same upbeat music as the Best Buy commercials she starred in, a sharp contrast to the goth-like image she's cultivated for herself online.
For readers unfamiliar with the world of gaming, Huntley's move to GameStop is notable because of the longstanding rivalry between the two retailers. It stretches back years and is marked by price competition.
While GameStop once dominated physical game sales, Best Buy has directly competed with them over price matching, trade-ins, and discount programs.
Best Buy hasn't yet responded to the ad, but we can imagine what its social media interns are cooking up. You can watch GameStop's ad below.
