Reduced Price Game Guides: Thread XI

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IAmTheCheapestGamer

IAmTheCheapestGamer

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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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I stopped at a closing BBV that I found yesterday and came across 4 original FO3 CE guides brand new sealed... asked how much the discount on guides was and they told me that there was none. Apparently they are considered magazines. :(
 
[quote name='ANGELofHELL']I didn't know they did that to regular books too, but is there still a slight possibility they would be pennied? Or would they remain at a regular price?

And as for the Target stuff, would the guides be a penny or some other price?[/QUOTE]

A book store is trained not to sell penny books so you wont be able to buy the,

Target it would be like 75% off or something. If they are out of the system they will sell it to you at the last sold price.
 
[quote name='dabamus']I stopped at a closing BBV that I found yesterday and came across 4 original FO3 CE guides brand new sealed... asked how much the discount on guides was and they told me that there was none. Apparently they are considered magazines. :([/QUOTE]

That also happened with the closing BBV and HWV/MG stores around here. There were other things they didn't discount during the store closing sales, but I don't recall exactly what right now.

I just found it hilarious that even FYE allowed discounts on guides when they were closing some underperforming Sam Goody stores once they bought them out. A few stores out in NJ they were closing had them for $1-3 during the last week of the sale.
 
I scored a FO3 (non CE) & Tekken 6 guide today @ Best Buy. They must have done some spring cleaning & dug them up somewhere, because they weren't there the last time I was there, which wasn't that long ago.

The FO3 guide still had the plastic wrap on it too! I was gonna keep it anyways though, so I went ahead & opened it. The Tekken guide had a small rip on the front cover, but overall in good shape. It'll come in handy if I pickup Tekken 6 sometime.
 
[quote name='TheWooz']Quite a few post back someone mentioned penny guides at FYE. So I decide to try my luck at two different store in different areas of Connecticut.I tried Lost oddessy at one and riddick at another and both rang up full price. Was hoping to find a new source for penny guides. But it looks like a no go around here.[/QUOTE]

I was the one who posted that Wooz. Found about 10-15 guides for a penny at one certain FYE

Try any guide that looks older than a year or so. Almost all for me rang as a penny. I accidentally mentioned Lost Odyssey as a penny guide at FYE since I bought it anyway at full price (well 50% of at the one I was at). Lost Kingdoms seems to be the newest guide you can still find at FYEs. They do pull guides so you may find none but anything old looking is worth a scan.
 
[quote name='xDerekRx']I was the one who posted that Wooz. Found about 10-15 guides for a penny at one certain FYE

Try any guide that looks older than a year or so. Almost all for me rang as a penny. I accidentally mentioned Lost Odyssey as a penny guide at FYE since I bought it anyway at full price (well 50% of at the one I was at). Lost Kingdoms seems to be the newest guide you can still find at FYEs. They do pull guides so you may find none but anything old looking is worth a scan.[/QUOTE]
Ok thanks for the info.Next time I am by one I'll have to check again.
 
My Wal-mart has marked the COD:MW2 guide down by 50%. It's around $9.95 now. This is the shrunk down version that's the same dimensions as a game case. It had been $19.95. Both my local Wal-marts looked like they stocked way too many of these, almost 1 to 1 for each copy of the game. They probably had 150 copies out on the shelves on launch day.
 
Picked up two copies of Phantasy Star 0 from GS the other day. I was joking around iwth the girls there and noticed those in the guide racks, went to pick one up and one girl said "Hey this is pennied in the system, what do I do?" and the other said, "Just give it to him, do you want the other one too?" I told them why not and they rang me up and told me to not worry about the pennies, and reminded me to give them a good score on the survey. I didn't get the guide at the initial drop, but I have this one now!
 
in addition to the other suggested drops, I would check Fossil Fighters. So, full list of possible drops so far:

Army of Two 40th Day
Fossil Fighters
Lego Batman
Madden 10
 
can confirm:

Lego Batman
Madden 10

almost got to see the whole list, but didn't want to press it, got 2 of each. Didn't see any others mentioned. Pre-ordered Crackdown 2, all 10's on the survey, mission accomplished :D
 
[quote name='hellmutt']in addition to the other suggested drops, I would check Fossil Fighters. So, full list of possible drops so far:

Army of Two 40th Day
Fossil Fighters
Lego Batman
Madden 10[/QUOTE]

Can anyone confirm AOT: 40th Day and Fossil Fighters in store? I'll probably update a bit later tonight once we see if the other two dropped for certain.

Thanks to all those who have confirmed thus far.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Can anyone confirm AOT: 40th Day and Fossil Fighters in store? I'll probably update a bit later tonight once we see if the other two dropped for certain.

Thanks to all those who have confirmed thus far.[/QUOTE]

I can confirm those 2 from my source. All four pennied out.
 
[quote name='Estebon']You should have given them a preorder, followed by a 3some.[/QUOTE]

I second this notion and question the sanity of the person since he didn't do that to begin with.
 
[quote name='Devil May Cry']I second this notion and question the sanity of the person since he didn't do that to begin with.[/QUOTE]

He didn't specify if the girls were good looking or not...
 
[quote name='dabamus']He didn't specify if the girls were good looking or not...[/QUOTE]


Gbear will take whatever he can get.
 
[quote name='Estebon']Gbear will take whatever he can get.[/QUOTE]

One was cute, one was older. I would've been down with the cashier but not the manager. (are there cute female managers at any GS?)
 
My gamestop lost the cute grrl to a pharmacy across the street. That sucks cuz she was a cutie and always gave me sexy looks. I didn't like when she did the same with my bf, but I guess something good could have come from that :) I thnx she was dangerous young tho, like stupid 17 or something... but damn. lol
 
[quote name='boneless']Forgot to include one more pennied guide:

Codes and Cheats Winter 2010[/QUOTE]

Better late than never I suppose, but this is why I usually wait 2-4 days after a drop before updating usually, so I can get all the guides from a drop in one shot and not be editing/re-editing/re-re-editing and so on.:razz:

EDIT: Second and third posts re-updated.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Better late than never I suppose, but this is why I usually wait 2-4 days after a drop before updating usually, so I can get all the guides from a drop in one shot and not be editing/re-editing/re-re-editing and so on.:razz:

EDIT: Second and third posts re-updated.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, sorry about that. I completely forgot about it since most people don't trade for this. :dunce:

It appears since the beginning of the year, that Fri is the more reliable drop day with 1 Thur. Odd day #-o
 
[quote name='Velo214']My gamestop lost the cute grrl to a pharmacy across the street. That sucks cuz she was a cutie and always gave me sexy looks. I didn't like when she did the same with my bf, but I guess something good could have come from that :) I thnx she was dangerous young tho, like stupid 17 or something... but damn. lol[/QUOTE]

Now you have a reason to switch pharmacies...we expect updates :cool:
 
[quote name='Velo214']My gamestop lost the cute grrl to a pharmacy across the street. That sucks cuz she was a cutie and always gave me sexy looks. I didn't like when she did the same with my bf, but I guess something good could have come from that :) I thnx she was dangerous young tho, like stupid 17 or something... but damn. lol[/QUOTE]

It was probably just gas.
 
Saw a few clearance guides at BB. Only reason I note this is this BB seems to always be ahead of the curb on GZ coupons and penny guides.

They has Spirit tracks collect edition, New Super bros, and Halo ODST on clearcne 50% off.
 
[quote name='Estebon']BB seems to always be ahead of the curb on GZ coupons and penny guides.[/QUOTE]

I don't know if my wallet appreciates it, but my alignment sure does.
 
[quote name='jab1235']i've never bought a penny guide befor, im assuming the fallout 3 collecter editiong is gone by now?[/QUOTE]

Actually, I believe the Fallout 3 GOTY edition is still normal price at Best Buy and Gamestop, but it's probably due for a drop since I think the GOTY has been out for a while now.

Then again, look at how long it took for the normal Fallout 3 guide to drop.:roll: Guides for popular games take forever to drop and once they drop, they disappear quickly.
 
I'm at the airport right now, otherwise I'd try. Fingers crossed!
PS I checked a few guides saturday night and didn't find any drops at that time.
 
I'm stuck at work today. If there's a drop today it'll be the first time in a while we've seen one without all the build up hype. I just hope that they'll still be there when I get off tonight
 
make sure to scan again in the afternoon.

Last bb drop happened all rang up full price in the morning but pennied in the afternoon
 
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