Reduced Price Game Guides: Thread XI

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First off, let me welcome you all to the new guide thread. Second, I'd like to ask you all to please keep conversations not pertaining to guide drops to a minimum to avoid cluttering the thread. It's not that I don't enjoy the chit chat, but that it may stop others from locating information on the newest drops.

That being said, let me thank Cheapy for creating this site, without which I would've spent probably 10 times what I HAVE spent on games and guides. Moreover, let me thank each and every one of my fellow CAGs for continuing to contribute to making this site a great place to find out about sales and clearances of the items we as gamers use most. Without a great community, NONE of this would be possible.


Now, with that out of the way(and before I get to rambling), let's get on to making this new thread.

Useful Information(and links):

Game Guide Trade Thread(KEEP ALL TRADE REQUESTS HERE OR IN PM'S):

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=175548

PLEASE keep ALL trade requests in there or PM's. Thank you.

Reduced Price Guide Discussion Thread(KEEP ALL DISCUSSION NOT RELATED TO GUIDE DROPS HERE!!!):

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169252

What is the purpose of this thread?

The purpose of this thread is to let our fellow CAGs know when a guide has dropped to a low price(it's NOT ALWAYS A PENNY), so they can go out and grab guides for themselves and for trading with other CAGs.

Anytime you have guide drops to report, post them here. Please specify at which store you found them and which guides you found and list them in alphabetical order. Thank you. Please, whenever possible, use RED font to make the drop info stand out. Thanks again.

What are penny guides?

Penny guides are guides which have been on the market for a while and the publisher(or store chain) decide that the remaining stock of these guides have little to no chance of selling, so they issue an order to pull them from the shelves and destroy them. At that time, they are also marked as .01 in their inventory system, except in the case of BBV, which marks them .01 only AFTER pulling them.

Most stores have an agreement with the publisher that states that if they destroy the remaining stock of those items, they will receive a credit for their value from the publisher. This is why many stores are usually annoyed when we CAGs come in and buy the guides AT the penny price, since otherwise they would've received a credit for those items.

According to an employee at a local BB, they also have a recycling program for the pennied stock, so as to not clutter landfill space with the guides. As to how true it is, I cannot confirm, but I would hope that the paper is at least recycled instead of just dumpstered.


Prior Reduced price game guide threads:

Guide Three:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...ighlight=guide
Guide Four:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/....php?p=1496376
Guide Five:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...ad.php?t=85976
Guide Six:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=116918
Guide Seven:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=131717
Guide Seven and a half:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=142400
Guide Eight:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=167157
Guide Nine:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=187222
Guide Ten:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219547

Finally, below is a list of website links, each of which goes to their respective guide page. Whenever possible, I will update the links with better ones(if available).

Amazon
Barnes&Noble
BestBuy
Gamestop
Overstock
Strategyguides.net
ToysRUs

Thanks to floormat, Guinaevere and anyone else who has created and maintained the guide thread before, as well as to all of those who find out either advance information on drops or provide a list of which ones dropped when we do have a drop.

The post below this one contains a list going back at LEAST six months of the more current guide drops, which stores they occured at and which ones dropped. Note that sometimes(Oblivion guide, Quake Wars: Enemy Territory)there are multiple versions of a guide, be it that there are Prima versions, Brady versions and the occasional Nintendo and Doublejump guides.

Please specify WHICH version has dropped when mentioning possible guide drops. Thank you.

Common Guide Drop Related Questions(FAQ):

FAQ - If you are new (or a vet with a few questions) look here SECOND! (After reading the above!)

Q: What Are Penny Guides?
A: Penny guides are guides which have been on the market for a while and the publisher(or store chain) decide that the remaining stock of these guides have little to no chance of selling, so they issue an order to pull them from the shelves and destroy them. At that time, they are also marked as .01 in their inventory system, except in the case of BBV, which marks them .01 only AFTER pulling them.

Most stores have an agreement with the publisher that states that if they destroy the remaining stock of those items, they will receive a credit for their value from the publisher. This is why many stores are usually annoyed when we CAGs come in and buy the guides AT the penny price, since otherwise they would've received a full credit for those items.

According to an employee at a local BB, they also have a recycling program for the pennied stock, so as to not clutter landfill space with the guides. As to how true it is, I cannot confirm, but I would hope that the paper is at least recycled instead of just dumpstered.

Q: Do all guides from all stores drop at the same time?
A: No. While most chains have nationwide drops within their own store (as in every BB will have the same drops coast to coast), not every different chain drops at the same time (what drops at BB is NOT necessarily dropped at GS). When in doubt, check post TWO for drop info.

Q: I found a penny guide and a clerk denied me! I'ma report 'em!
A: Whoa, hold your horses there, pardner! First of all, not a question. Second, just because something is on the shelf, the clerk does NOT have to sell you that item. Most stores are PRIVATE property and as such can deny you just about anything they want - including a sale. The best advice is to not be rude, not be arrogant, and just try hard to get them to have pity on you.

Q: Why don't the clerks want to sell me their penny guides? Aren't they just throwing them away?
A: As stated above, the stores are ordered by the publisher to trash the guides, and are then given credit for those guides. If they don't do this, the publisher won't give them the credit - it's like losing a sale. On the employee level, selling a penny guide can sometimes get them in trouble (or even fired!) I know it seems silly, but this is their job we're talking about! Respect the man (or woman) behind the counter and you'll get a lot more guides than otherwise!

Q: Should I just ask if the store has penny guides then?
A: No, since that denotes that you have some insider information as to the runnings of these businesses.

Q: What if the clerk wants to know how I know so much about guide drops?
A: If asked where you got your info about guides that pennied, simply say either 'the internet' or 'a friend of mine told me they're on clearance'.

Q: But clerks will know what a penny guide is, right? I can talk to them like anyone else here...
A: Never use the word pennied to ANY store clerks unless you have built up a good rapport with them. Even then, it may seem a little fishy if you know more about their shop than they do.

Q: Are guides labeled as a penny on the shelf?
A: Sometimes. Most times, no. GS seems to label everything that gets a price drop, so often times guides will be stickered. But even so, they most likely won't sell them to you. A sticker does not mean 'have to sell'.

Q: I tried to buy a guide that this thread said was pennied and it didn't ring up as such! What gives?
A: Either 1) Our source was wrong (this rarely happens and is usually verified a FEW times within maybe an hour of posting), or 2) The clerk changed the price. It's usually number 2.

Q: What's the easiest way to get penny guides? This sounds like TONS of work!
A: Best Buy is probably the best place to get guides, followed by GameStop, GameCrazy, Toys R Us and then Blockbuster. From what I've seen though, probably 95% of guides that people get are snagged at BB - the rest come from the other stores. But it never hurts to try!

Q: Has there been a drop recently?
A: If you are asking this question you didn't fully understand the OP - go back and read it once more. When a drop happens, it will be posted, and then placed in the second post - trust us.

Q: How do you guys know so much about penny guides?
A: We sometimes have inside sources with the information from the stores themselves; other times, fellow CAGS just like you or me simply take suspected guides to the register and ask them to ring them up, to check their prices. Feel free to do this yourself, and help give back to the community by telling us what you find! However, DON'T ask "Has anyone checked XXX lately?", unless you are in the right thread (discussion area).

Thanks to GrilledWitOnions for creating the above FAQ, which should eliminate the need for such questions popping up in the thread from this point on out.
 
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[quote name='irishsoccermbw']Man what are they doing over there? Gonna head back later for some new drops :)[/QUOTE]

I forgot to check Halo wars if someone wants to get an update on that
 
[quote name='Danxx777']I forgot to check Halo wars if someone wants to get an update on that[/QUOTE]

Based on the previous lists posted, I think the following should be re-checked:

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex
Champions Online
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (PSP)
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City
Grand Theft Auto IV
Halo Wars
Prince Of Persia
Prototype
Saw
Warhammer Online: Age Of Reckoning
WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2010
 
Well I just got tekken r&c
then I saw someone pulling a full cart of guides

gta4
halo wars
prototype
basically anything on above list except for gta episodes
 
Thank you so much everyone. I finally got the Tekken 6 guide I wanted for the hell of it. I already spent about $200 on this game I didn't need to sink any more in.
 
Well now that it is confirmed others have dropped, I am not sure if I remember seeing some of these in the stores around here or not... Might have to go check again tonight...

EDIT: Mysterio, Frosty I am going to check the Wesley Chapel one tonight again just in case. If i see any i will grab dem shits and offer them to you if you want them. All I really would want out of those are GTA Episodes or Prototype. I know for sure GTA wasn't there, but I dont know about Prototype and the others.
 
I can confirm WWE Smackdown v Raw2010 and Champions Online for a penny! :D

I also picked up 2 Brutal Legends and 2 Clone Wars! (and even found a Mortal KombatvsDC Universe guide ...
 
Crap, why didn't I take a photo of the rack at the local store I hit yesterday for reference? Guess I'll head over after work. I'll report back if I see anything that hasn't been reported.
 
[quote name='GLOCKGLOCK']Crap, why didn't I take a photo of the rack at the local store I hit yesterday for reference? Guess I'll head over after work. I'll report back if I see anything that hasn't been reported.[/QUOTE]
I always forget that my cell phone has a camera on it. Never have used them, so I always forget!
 
Went to BB today and finally found some of the latest drop:

1 x Ratchet and Clank
2 x MUA2
1 x Tekken 6
1 x Farcry 2

Saw a dissidia, prototype, smackdown vs raw, champions online and a wow atlas, but decided not to push my luck. Still had plenty MUA2 and Tekken 6. Had some trouble checking out, they had someone price check and look over everything. They relented and gave them all to me for a penny, but they'll likely pull the MUA2 and Tekkens.
 
If you still see any guide that you think it might have dropped, go grab it and bring it to the register.

I grabbed tekken, rachet and MUA2 and brought it to the register, checked out and left the store. Then I forgot that I have something to return so I went back in. I saw a guy pulling guides into a huge cart and taking the cart to the storage room. They pretty much pulled everything that we expected to drop.

So don't just grab the confirmed ones, or you'll be losing out on guides like me.
 
I can confirm Call of Duty Reflex Edition. I also picked up another Wolfenstein (older drop). Checked Kingdom Hearts 358 2 days for the hell of it and it came up full price.
 
Anyone able to check Halo Wars yet? If not I might just go ahead and try it when I go later tonight, along with the others from the list I tried yesterday.
 
[quote name='JediJames2']Anyone able to check Halo Wars yet? If not I might just go ahead and try it when I go later tonight, along with the others from the list I tried yesterday.[/QUOTE]

Yes, that dropped too along with Prototype. I think fox's list covers all the new additions.
 
[quote name='supaet']If you still see any guide that you think it might have dropped, go grab it and bring it to the register.

I grabbed tekken, rachet and MUA2 and brought it to the register, checked out and left the store. Then I forgot that I have something to return so I went back in. I saw a guy pulling guides into a huge cart and taking the cart to the storage room. They pretty much pulled everything that we expected to drop.

So don't just grab the confirmed ones, or you'll be losing out on guides like me.[/QUOTE]

Again, from this thread it seems just because they are pulling guides doesn't mean they have pennied. Many of the guides on the list were checked yesterday and hadn't pennied, and I've yet to see confirmation on many of them so far today.

Update: but it seems like they are pennying as time goes on... Thanks, Hellmutt!
 
This is really annoying. I have the one and only Dissidia guide tucked away at work. I just got the game and want the guide. All this random dropping sucks. By the time I get to work tomorrow everything will be confirmed pennied.

I'll check every time I work to see if the March list comes up anytime.
 
Picked up one of each of the following for 0.01 at BB:

Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
Halo Wars
Brutal Legend
COD:MW Reflex
Tekken 6
SW:The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
Prototype
Farcry 2
GTA: Chinatown Wars (PSP Edition)
GTA4
FF Dissidia
Saw
TMNT Smash Up
R&C Future:A Crack In Time
 
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Nothing in the Raleigh NC area...I checked 3 stores (didn't bother with Garner). If anyone was able to get an extra Ratchet and Clank or NGS2 guide, please let me know what you want for it.
 
[quote name='Dahk']I hope this is a one time thing with Best Buy and they dont continue to do this from now on.[/QUOTE]

I certainly hope so too cuz this is fuckin' annoying.:bomb: I'm just gonna add in the new guides that dropped(once I get done sifting through the eleventy bajillion posts since yesterday:roll:)to yesterday's list.

It's pissing me off too since I was at BOTH stores yesterday and both had a bunch of each guide.

Then again, wasn't it this drop last year where they said 'oops' and unpennied half of the guides that dropped, then dropped them again a week later?

EDIT: Second and third posts re-updated. fuckin' Best Buy.:bomb:
 
Looks like the last one from the list that needs confirmation is Prince of Persia. There was some there this afternoon, will head out and check in a bit if no one else has yet.
 
[quote name='Frosty The Batman'] All this random dropping sucks.[/QUOTE]

I suspect there were two drops, a small one Monday morning and the rest Monday midday. I'm only checking a little at a time so I don't raise suspicions or get someone asking me about what's going on. I've found at my store walking up with a stack of 20 is a much better way to get denied than walking up with 5 or so.
 
[quote name='JediJames2']Looks like the last one from the list that needs confirmation is Prince of Persia. There was some there this afternoon, will head out and check in a bit if no one else has yet.[/QUOTE]

I can confirm that Prince of Persia is 1 cent...picked up a couple earlier.
 
[quote name='JediJames2']Looks like the last one from the list that needs confirmation is Prince of Persia. There was some there this afternoon, will head out and check in a bit if no one else has yet.[/QUOTE]

If you could check Fallout 3 GOTY LE that would be cool.
 
I honestly don't think checking other guides other then the ones on the list will drop. Of course better safe then sorry. Hopefully I'll be able to find the March list. Also kinda hope not cause I don't want them to get pulled.
 
I tried to pick up 3 guides that were 1 cent, and they refused to sell them to me. Telling me I had to pay full price. WTF.
 
[quote name='caliblue15']I tried to pick up 3 guides that were 1 cent, and they refused to sell them to me. Telling me I had to pay full price. WTF.[/QUOTE]

That's one thing I find hilarious about BB. One time they tell me they can't sell them and have to destroy them, and another time they tell me that they can sell them, but only at full price.
 
[quote name='arsenalcrazy8']I can confirm Call of Duty Reflex Edition. I also picked up another Wolfenstein (older drop). Checked Kingdom Hearts 358 2 days for the hell of it and it came up full price.[/QUOTE]

Can confirm Tekken & Ratchet from today. Looks like most of the others people listed were pulled. Do we have confirmation that GTAIV pennied? There were about 30 copies at the store I was at.

Question: Is the CoD:MW2 Reflex edition that dropped a black hardback guide or ?

PS - I swear when I was checking out today the clerk muttered under his breath "fuckin' ridiculous" when he saw that every guide I had brought up was pennied. :lol:
 
[quote name='GLOCKGLOCK']Can confirm Tekken & Ratchet from today. Looks like most of the others people listed were pulled. Do we have confirmation that GTAIV pennied? There were about 30 copies at the store I was at.

Question: Is the CoD:MW2 Reflex edition that dropped a black hardback guide or ?

PS - I swear when I was checking out today the clerk muttered under his breath "fuckin' ridiculous" when he saw that every guide I had brought up was pennied. :lol:[/QUOTE]

The COD Reflex edition is a softcover Wii version guide.
 
[quote name='GLOCKGLOCK']
Question: Is the CoD:MW2 Reflex edition that dropped a black hardback guide or ?
[/QUOTE]

Its not MW2 its MW1 for the wii. They call it MW1:Reflex Edition. (It looks the same as CoD4 for the ps3 and 360.

On another note I was just wondering about Blockbuster and Game Crazy. Surely these must have had drops since the last time they were checked (last August). Are these places no longer pennying guides or something?
 
I missed out again on the majority of the drops. Only managed to get 1 Saw, a Prince of Persia, and a few Warhammers :(
 
[quote name='arsenalcrazy8']Its not MW2 its MW1 for the wii. They call it MW1:Reflex Edition. (It looks the same as CoD4 for the ps3 and 360.

On another note I was just wondering about Blockbuster and Game Crazy. Surely these must have had drops since the last time they were checked (last August). Are these places no longer pennying guides or something?[/QUOTE]

Well, we do have a few Gamecrazy and Blockbuster employees around on the forums. Now we just need them to let us know if they have dropped any or not.
 
I can confirm the ACTUAL GTAIV (and Chinatown wars and liberty city).

Found the motherload of all stores that had all th ones on the list (except ninja turtles smash up and Brutal legend). Too many to carry, so I got my favs (several copies of Halo wars, dissidia, several prince of Persia, etc, then went up and chatted with the cashier, and said I was going to grab a few more since they were 'such a good deal'. :D She didn't even bat an eye to rack up the pennies, LOL! Wish they'd had some Brutal legend guides though (I'm not complaining, just wishful! :) ).
 
Yesterday, they pulled all the NGS2 guides. Today, they not only left the newly dropped guides on the shelf, they placed 1 cent shelf price labels below them. These guys crack me up.
 
I usually miss out on these things, but I was able to get one Dissidia Final Fantasy guide. I was hoping to find the Tekken 6 guide.
 
[quote name='dabamus']That's one thing I find hilarious about BB. One time they tell me they can't sell them and have to destroy them, and another time they tell me that they can sell them, but only at full price.[/QUOTE]

I actually work at Best Buy and lame excuse for what they told me for not selling it just pissed me off. (don't work at this one.) I then proceeded to call customer service and complain, as I know all managers at this Best Buy are on their last leg and about to get fired.

Not my fault as a customer they left them on the shelf. They should have given me one of each game (only had 2) and then told me I can't have the duplicates as I technically wouldn't need them. That would have been how to handle the situation, save your company money and make the customer happy.

Eh, I'm over it now, I'll see if I can pick up anything at my real Best Buy, as I've never looked into these before.

(I found Call of Duty World at War and Ratchet and Clank A Crack In Time.)

(And no you don't get fired for selling them. The person who didn't take them down gets chewed out, but that's it. And yes I know they don't have to sell it to me, but as Best Buy's policy is to please the customer, like I said before, Its not my fault they didn't do their job.)
 
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