Reduced price game guides, all stores. Thread 6

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3-17-07 Here should be most of the information that anyone would need in acquiring guides. please read ALL the information below before asking questions. most question are answered below. Again thank you 6669 for all your contributions to this thread and web site.



My wifes web site - Nice jewelry good prices.

www.ladieslovejewelry.com



For hopefully the latestest most current up to date guide drops please refer to the

"CAG Strategy Guide WIKI page"

recent drop section

http://wiki.cheapassgamer.com/index.php/Category:Strategy_Guides_(recent_drops)

master list section

http://wiki.cheapassgamer.com/index.php/Category:Strategy_Guides_(master_lists)

they will be filetered from the thread posts to the WIKI page as often as possible. Thank you for your contribution.




Listed in the wiki is the most up to date compiled list of all known guide deals from the posts of this thread and similar threads. I will update the wikis lists as people post new guide deals. Everything listed in this thread “should” be the price listed or lower. These prices are typically company wide price reductions and not YMMV. But just because the prices are typically universal does not mean that they are guaranteed to be sold to you. Most stores have a destroy clause with the guide companies. So whether or not you get these guides depend on many many factors from how diligent a staff is to how reasonable or friendly one is. Good luck on any you may find and good luck on acquiring them. Please dont have a fit if a store wont let you have them just move on. Causing trouble rarely gets guides and most of the time stops others from getting guides in your area. If anything is incorrect or missing please post so corrections can be made.


Now you can just cut, paste, print, and GO!!!



What is a Penny Guide:

To answer this question fully, one first has to understand the longstanding legal agreemenat which [book] publishers have with book sellers such as Borders, Barnes & Noble and other chain and Mom & Pop shops, as well as other retailers who similarly sell their books.

For several decades, publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Penguin, Random House, et cetera will send out X-number of a title to stores to be sold. After a time, when it is decided that those older titles have little chance of selling and the store shelf real-estate would be better used for newer publications, they issue a recall to the vendors to field destroy all remaining copies of titles A, B & C.

The stores then will pull those titles from their inventory to be field-destroyed, and in their systems mark the publications as 1¢. The 1¢ price is to indicate to the publisher that they are no-longer selling the pulled title, and it is also to serve as a Red Flag to any cashier who might ring up a title (on the chance that the titles were not pulled as legally they were required).

When the pull lists are sent out by the publishers, and the stores adjust the price in their inventory (and pull and field-destroy the books), the stores also are to report to the publisher the number of the books they pulled. (This is generally done at a corporate level.) The publisher then credits the stores full cost of the books.

So lets say, MegaChain orders 8000 copies of the Bread Baker strategy guide for their stores in North America for say, $4 a piece. They owe $32,000 to Publisher X. Bread Baker being a big seller and a hard game, then sells 6000 of those 8000 guides, leaving around 2000 guides on the shelves when Publisher X issues the pull demand. Publisher X then issues MegaChain an $8000 credit for the 2000 unsold copies of the guide.


According to IAmTheCheapestGamer, some retailers also have deals where each copy of pulled titles sent to their recognized Recycling Centers are additionally issued further credit for being environmentally responsible in the manner in which they field destroy each book.



How you can help: You can keep a printed copy of this list in your jacket, wallet, purse whatever and when you go to any store that carries guides look for guides for games that have been out typically around six months or more and ask for a price check or better yet use a store scanner if they are available. If they are anything less than cover price write it down for us. Also please when you post the info here if it looks like it’s a temporary sale, please post that as well otherwise it will be assumed to a be a permanent price reduction. If you scan a guide and it comes up a different price that what the master lists suggests please list the day and store that you had the guide scanned. Also please list if you physically saw a self-scanner’s price, physically saw a cash registers price or vocally heard a price from the store’s staff. This might sound like a lot and of course we will take what we can get but this will go a long way to having the best master list as well as ferreting out different store practices and policy’s. All help is appreciated and thank you.




Trading: I spoke with the post office and found out that the cheapest form of mailing to the 48 contiguous states would be to use “media mail” It will take a little longer but it will also allow the least amount of money per transaction when trying to acquire guides for your collection. For an average guide weight of about 9 oz its $1.42 cents. All you need to do is put it in an envelope and ship it media mail. He mentioned no one should have a problem if you use the same envelope several times to cut down on costs. He also mentioned that when shipping Media mail that you cannot have any personal correspondence in the envelope. Only books and an invoice are acceptable. If trading is in you interest you do whatever is most comfortable for you and your trading party this was merely a FYI and a good way to keep it cheap.



Helpful links to check for reduced priced guides or guides in general. You will likely never find one cent guides here but various discounted guides and possibly some that you have been searching for.


Best Buy

Best Buy guide search


Circuit City

Circuit City guide search


EB Games

EB Games guide search


Gamestop (babages,software etc,funcoland)

Gamestop guide search


Overstock

Overstock guide search


Toys R Us (uhh best link I could find)

Toys R Us guide search


strategy-guides.net (another large site of guides)

strategy-guides.net guide search


bookpool (guides typically 45% off or so )

Book pool guide search


Looking for assistance: I am looking for some staff from Best Buy’s, EB’s, Gamestop’s and stores of the like. When EB Games or Gamestop has a price reduction their shelves can be empty in a day or two to even as little as just a few hours. EB and Gamestop have daily price changes so all depending on the store’s staff they could be all gone almost immediately. If I could get some staff that can either post here first thing any day that they have a price reduction on guides or that might be able to text message me with such price reductions so that I might be able to inform CAG’ers ASAP. Whether or not us the end user would actually be able to get them from a particular stores staff is very much an YMMV but if there is anyone who can help this would greatly increase the chance’s of CAG’ers being able to pick up guides from these locations. If anyone is interested and able to help please e-mail me at [email protected]. Thank you all for your consideration.



Thank you all for making CAG what it is and for all your contributions.


Disclaimer: This list is intended to help all guide hunters. Please feel free to print yourself a copy and get what you can find. Please do not post this list on another site. {e-mail me please if for some reason you would want to. [email protected]} Please just link to this thread, add to this list and help it grow. Thank you





all guides are now listed in the wiki please go there. thank you.
 
some new penny guides dropping Jan 1 at TRU

Codes and Cheats Fall 05
Gran Turismo 4
Halo 2
Kameo
Pokedex Collecters Edition Guide
Pokemon How To Catch 'Em All
Quake 4
Shadow the Hedgehog
Splinter Cell 3(Chaos Theory?)
 
[quote name='benboxer']some new penny guides dropping Jan 1 at TRU

Codes and Cheats Fall 05
Gran Turismo 4
Halo 2
Kameo
Pokedex Collecters Edition Guide
Pokemon How To Catch 'Em All
Quake 4
Shadow the Hedgehog
Splinter Cell 3(Chaos Theory?)[/QUOTE]
wow thx
 
[quote name='shieryda']I checked 2 stores in MI today. Oblivion and Enchanted Arms were ringing up $9.99 and $7.49, respectively. Tomb Raider: Legend also rang up at $7.49. What gives, man?! I got a copy of Oblivion TR:L here in Chicago last week for free![/quote]
Last week, from 12/17-12/23, BB was running a sale on Prima guides that had them $9.99 off, which made any $9.99 guide free, any $16.99 guide $6.99, and so on. That sale ended on 12/23, and went to the current 25% off sale on any guide. So, the EA guide went from free to $7.49.
 
[quote name='benboxer']some new penny guides dropping Jan 1 at TRU

Codes and Cheats Fall 05
Gran Turismo 4
Halo 2
Kameo
Pokedex Collecters Edition Guide
Pokemon How To Catch 'Em All
Quake 4
Shadow the Hedgehog
Splinter Cell 3(Chaos Theory?)[/QUOTE]


Thanks for the heads up. Too bad very few of us stand more than a snowball's chance in hell of getting guides at TRU. Good luck to those who try!
 
[quote name='Zmonkay']Thanks for the heads up. Too bad very few of us stand more than a snowball's chance in hell of getting guides at TRU. Good luck to those who try![/quote]

What do you mean by that? Are TRU employees a bunch of jackassses and they don't let us walk out with penny guides?
 
TRU is tough to get guides for 0.01 (similar reasons 1&2 for GameCrazy) b/c

1. They pull the guides quickly, usually
2. Have very few price drops to 0.01 on guides. I think the last one was around the beginning of the year (2006) at TRU that I remember
3. Most employees will turn you down at the register stating that it's against policy and I've had a couple managers from different stores even tell me they review receipts at the end of the month and stores that sell 0.01 guides get penalized so management is more anal about pulling them.

Tough but not impossible. In my opinion, right place at the right time type of situation unlike BB or GS/EB where I feel it tends to be easier.
 
I will have to keep this in mind and make a point to go the TRU that didn't give me a hassle about buying their last 10 FFIII pouches for $0.01 each (hell, the kid even grabbed a few more from behind the register and tossed them out for me).

[quote name='jgamezcua']TRU is tough to get guides for 0.01 (similar reasons 1&2 for GameCrazy) b/c

1. They pull the guides quickly, usually
2. Have very few price drops to 0.01 on guides. I think the last one was around the beginning of the year (2006) at TRU that I remember
3. Most employees will turn you down at the register stating that it's against policy and I've had a couple managers from different stores even tell me they review receipts at the end of the month and stores that sell 0.01 guides get penalized so management is more anal about pulling them.

Tough but not impossible. In my opinion, right place at the right time type of situation unlike BB or GS/EB where I feel it tends to be easier.[/quote]
 
[quote name='Optical']So which Oblivion guide is 0.01? The original PC one or the 360?[/QUOTE]

Um, guide has always covered both. There aren't separate PC and 360 versions.

Anyways, the one that is 0.01 is the original (non Knights of the Nine) one but must also have a stickered UPC. Original ones without stickered UPCs still come up 9.99.
 
[quote name='benboxer']add Half Life 2 and Black to the TRU Jan 1 penny drops[/quote]

Thank you for all the heads up on these. I'm going to try my luck tomorrow morning.
 
[quote name='Gara']Thank you for all the heads up on these. I'm going to try my luck tomorrow morning.[/QUOTE]

I hope by tomorrow morning you mean the morning of Jan 1st :)
 
This doesn't really go here, but those Tony Hawk Project 8 DVDs at BB are now free.
Also, I saw that the guides there aren't a penny anymore, but they were labeled free. I thought maybe it was just an old sign, but right next to it was the Tomb Raider guide for $7.49.
 
[quote name='benboxer']some new penny guides dropping Jan 1 at TRU

Codes and Cheats Fall 05
Gran Turismo 4
Halo 2
Kameo
Pokedex Collecters Edition Guide
Pokemon How To Catch 'Em All
Quake 4
Shadow the Hedgehog
Splinter Cell 3(Chaos Theory?)[/quote]

btw, how do you know this or get this info?
 
If you work there, may I ask a question?

What is TRU's official stance on $0.01 items? Are they sellable? Are they trash? Are they supposed to be sent back? Is it a gray area?

I'm wondering because at 2 stores they sold me all their FFIII sleeves, but at a 3rd store they gave me the 3rd degree about how I knew about the deal, refused to sell them, and wouldn't say why. They also told me not to come back on Monday for penny guides as she (the manager) had seen the drops and was going to make sure they pulled them.

I'm guessing it's a gray area and I just ran across some eBay hoarders working at a TRU. That or it's just a case of dealing w/ people who really hate their jobs.

Oh, and no, I didn't get rude myself or flip the bird or anything. I probably won't be going back to that store anytime soon, but I suppose that is a given.
 
There is no official stance at TRU. It totally depends on who's working there.

If anyone gets extra half-life 2 guides lemme know. My results at TRU lately have been 50/50
 
[quote name='deallurkerguy']That or it's just a case of dealing w/ people who really hate their jobs.[/QUOTE]

I certainly can't speak for benboxer (or any TRU employee, really), but in my experience, there seem to be a great deal of TRU employees who seem none too pleased to be there. The R Zone in the closest TRU to me (ever since the store less than 5 minutes away was turned into a Babies R Us - what a waste) seems to be staffed by older folks who have absolutely no desire to be there or make even a half-hearted attempt to do their job. One guy there, according to his nametag, has been working there since 1989; at least in the 3 years I've been going there thanks to CAG, I've never seen him smile once - just the same old grimace.

For some reason, many (not all) TRU employees seem resentful about selling penny items. Within the last 6-9 months, I hit another area TRU after a round of drops; the R Zone droid said "nope, can't sell these." Personally, I'm of the mindset that if the items are still on the shelf when the store opens and someone comes to claim them, then that's the store's fault for not clearing them off. I called bollocks and was about to ask for a manager when one of the store managers happened to walk by. The droid explained the situation to the manager, who just said "they were out on the shelf? Eh, whatever *shrug* - sell them to him" and wandered off. The droid told me, as he was ringing me up, "if I was working here yesterday, these would have all been pulled" with a real snide attitude. I just smiled and said "well, it's a good thing you weren't working yesterday, then." Dumbass.

Not all TRU employees are sociopaths, though. At the aforementioned now-a-Babies-R-Us store, one of the gals who worked the R Zone on Thursday mornings (when drops used to happen) was very helpful with penny items. It got to the point where she sometimes learned about drops not from reading the new price sheets or whatever, but from seeing me walk in on Thursday morning. *sigh* I miss that store.
 
I've had both my local TRU stores tell me before they 'can't sell me penny guides because they have to be destroyed/sent back'. Then again, the last time TRU had a drop, I could've easily grabbed 50-60 guides, but my guide hoarding days are long over.

However, seeing as how the HL 2, GT4 and a couple other guides I want a 'personal' copy of are being pennied this week, I may grab a couple extra in case some CAGs have guides I'm desperately looking for(check my TL for the guides I currently have and those I want). This is assuming I get the same clerk who let me rummage through the racks and 'take all I want', if I wanted them.

LOL I shouldn't be worrying bout new drops though, when I still have 5-7 copies of the Stubbs The Zombie guide, 3-5 of the Ninja Gaiden Black guide and too numerous to mention other 'worthless' guides.

Now, if only some CAGs had guides that I want from my trade list thread available(2-3,4 of my wants per CAG, I could only hope for), I would easily part with chunks of my TL(and personal collection).
 
Would be great if someone could take over the OP and update it accordingly... thread dredging is the pits, I tell ya. :)

So what guides are actively still available (other than the TRU .01 tomorrow)? I plan on hitting the stores later today.
 
[quote name='AZPunisher']Would be great if someone could take over the OP and update it accordingly... thread dredging is the pits, I tell ya. :)

So what guides are actively still available (other than the TRU .01 tomorrow)? I plan on hitting the stores later today.[/QUOTE]



it is much better than it was when it started but of course it is no where near what it could be. if you have read the first page of this thread there is a wiki page for the most up to date drops. The wiki page is for ANYONE to update. so far no one else has had time to update the wiki. After you have updated the wiki it woiuldn't be such a bad idea to mention in this thread that the wiki has been updated. Thank you.
 
[quote name='lawdood']Anyone with any info on which guides will be pennied out at BB come the beginning of January?[/QUOTE]
My guess would be the 3 that are $9.99 now, and were free a few weeks ago. Hopefully KH2 does, I've been waiting for that one.
Someone on here has the inside scoop.
 
I think you're right. I went to another TRU this morning and got 22 more sleeves. This time the director popped out and said he would sell them for $0.50 (for all of them). He just said he had to get rid of them and wouldn't elaborate, so I figure it was something he decided on the spot.

I may just go back to that TRU tomorrow morning since at least that guy was willing to bargain. I'd pay $0.50 to get 1 each of a few guides. It's still a good deal.

[quote name='Brian9824']There is no official stance at TRU. It totally depends on who's working there.

If anyone gets extra half-life 2 guides lemme know. My results at TRU lately have been 50/50[/quote]
 
[quote name='6669']My guess would be the 3 that are $9.99 now, and were free a few weeks ago. Hopefully KH2 does, I've been waiting for that one.
Someone on here has the inside scoop.[/quote]

Yeah, I'm hoping it's more than just those 3 since I snagged them all the other week when they were free. KH2 would be quite nice as I just picked up that game a couple weeks ago.
 
[quote name='deallurkerguy']I think you're right. I went to another TRU this morning and got 22 more sleeves. This time the director popped out and said he would sell them for $0.50 (for all of them). He just said he had to get rid of them and wouldn't elaborate, so I figure it was something he decided on the spot.

I may just go back to that TRU tomorrow morning since at least that guy was willing to bargain. I'd pay $0.50 to get 1 each of a few guides. It's still a good deal.[/quote]

Sorry to ask a newbie question but i'm new to this penny guides thang....what are the sleeves you're talking about, what do they look like, what do you use them for, are they normally priced high or not usually for sale, etc, thanks!!!
 
Oh, sorry. I was referring to the FFIII DS Lite sleeves (slipcases) that were reduced to $0.01. They're also $0.01 merchandise so I figure if I could get them to sell those at a particular location I might have a chance at some penny guides at that store as well.

You can see them in the 12 Deals of Christmas thread, or just look them up on eBay. They were a giveaway item for FFIII and FFXII at TRU only. I think they might have been for sale w/o the games for $9.99 as well but probably not.

Sinistarr: I know what you mean. The younger guy who works at that same store is aces, seems like a real nice dude. And the rest of the employees at all the other stores have been great so far. It was just a bad experience at one store w/ 2 older ladies w/ no customer service or social skills that couldn't be bothered to answer a question.

[quote name='zodemere2k']Sorry to ask a newbie question but i'm new to this penny guides thang....what are the sleeves you're talking about, what do they look like, what do you use them for, are they normally priced high or not usually for sale, etc, thanks!!![/quote]
 
Codes and Cheats Fall 05(red cover book I think, as the one I checked has a copyright date of 2003 in the front cover at my local store, so that one is overdue to drop)(4)
Gran Turismo 4
Halo 2
Kameo(4)
Pokedex Collecters Edition Guide
Pokemon How To Catch 'Em All(thick book I think)(1-4)
Quake 4(4-5) 360 version
Shadow the Hedgehog(3)
Splinter Cell 3(Chaos Theory?)(they had 3-5 of these as well)
Black(4-5)

All guides marked in bold my local TRU had in doubles, triples and quadruples. If I manage to snag any tomorrow, I'll add them(and try to FINALLY update my TL to include all drops I've snagged guides from since creating it) and let people know what I have for trade. TRADE LIST WANTS for single guide trades only, except in the case of rarer guides(ICO for Dawn Of Sorrow or something to that effect).

Or, if you have good old American CASH, multiple guide purchases are welcome(5+ if possible).

Sorry for making this sound like an ad for my TL, but I REALLY wanna thin out the proverbial herd n well, no reasonable offer will be refused.

So, get PMing me already. LOL
 
has there been any confirmation that those three guides at best buywould be pennied out? btw when do they usually pennied out stuff;:is it during tuesday?
 
[quote name='scion of ys']has there been any confirmation that those three guides at best buywould be pennied out? btw when do they usually pennied out stuff;:is it during tuesday?[/quote]
No, and Monday.
 
I called my stores and TRU said they open at 9:30, best buy said 10. I plan to hit up both when they open and i'll scan every guide at best buy. usually i can get one of the employee's to just let me use terminal to do it myself.
 
Just got back from TRU, only guide i could find that was on the list was about 6 or 7 of the Pokedex How to Catch Em, they were sitting in a discount area. Had the guy scan one but came up 16.99. I then tried to hide them but the dude was watching me like a hawk. Not sure if it's gonna be worth it to go back for those? Plus he had a weird look on his face like either he was gonna buy them himself or gonna take them to the back to be destroyed/sent back. Oh, well, thanks for the post though
 
So is TRU really open today (1/1)? Their website seems to indicate that they are going to be closed (look up your store in the locator). I suppose it might still be showing Christmas hours, but it seems unlikely.

EDIT: OK, maybe those are the Christmas hours. The website is still showing their Sat-Sun hours as 7am-12am and I know that is wrong. Kind of odd that they were so prompt about updating the holiday hours for each store, and now are so lax about putting them back to normal.
 
[quote name='Brian9824']I checked at BB and couldnt find any new drops. I didn't really check the PC section though.

KH2, Xenosaga 3, Dead Rising, etc all still normal price. Its possible they didnt drop since its new year.

I did snag extras of
Halo 2
Black
Kameo
Splinter Cell 3

If anyone needs any send me a PM. Complete list of my available guides is posted here http://gametz.com/forum/Classifieds/topic/255817.html#new[/QUOTE]
Thanks for checking BB for us.
 
[quote name='Brian9824']I am REALLY wanting drops on KH2, Dead Rising, Dirge Of Cerberus, and Xenosaga 3.[/QUOTE]

Add Bully to that list & I'm right there with ya. ;)
 
Hit TRU and picked up:

Kameo
Shadow the Hedgehog
Half-Life 2 (Xbox)
Gran Turismo 4
Pokemon: How to Catch Them All (small rip on lower-right front corner, little larger tear on top of rear cover)

Scanned a bunch of guides at BB; only found Quake 4 for PC (also up for grabs). I don't know if the PC version is an old drop or not.

All of the above are available; see http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2528310&postcount=648 for info on what I need. The above guides may not be in the list available at that link, but they are up for grabs.
 
Went to TRU and they had a shitload of pennied guides so i took them all to the register. Probably over 20 guides and they would only sell me one of each. So i asked to see the manager and he came over and told me we can only sell one of each again. That these should be off the shelves and no for people to buy and I said "ITS NOT MY FAULT YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE TO LAZY TO PULL THEM OFF THE SHELF". That didnt really help me but o well. I got there at 10 AM on the dot. I got Halo 2, GT4, Half life 2 xbox, and Splinter cell CT. They had a swear 6 copies of each one. Can they really refuse to sell these to me. Its a bunch of bullshit to me. Well I Officially hate everyone at TRU now.
 
I'd check Best Buy in a week or so. IIRC, they dropped there guides a week late last year (or was it the February drop)? Sometimes they don't drop till a week in.

And I'm right there with those wanting the Xeno 3 and KH2 guides
 
I can now say the people at my TRU kick ass. Went up with one of each guide that I got to have them scanned and they came up, of course, as $0.01. The girl working there said to just take the rest (I still even left a few for her and others) but I came away with a great haul. Here's what I got and whats up for trade/sale:

Halo 2 (7, 5 for sale/trade)
Quake 4 (4, 3 for sale/trade)
Kameo (2)
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2)
Shadow the Hedgehog (1)

Interested in any, just send a PM
 
I've found, Ribbercage, that TRU employees are the worst to try and buy pennied items from. I was shocked the last time I went to my local one(one of them) and found a couple copies of the Yugi-Oh: Nightmare Troubador guide still on the shelves. Then, once I went to the other local one(20 miles away), I found most of the guides that were supposed to be pulled were still there.

That store told me I could 'take all I want', but I only took one of each n left the rest for them to yank. God knows I didn't need anymore copies of some of the prior drop. LOL

Anyway, I'm procrastinating today, so I doubt anything will be left at my local TRU this morning, but I can still TRY.

If I snag any from the list I made above, I'll let everyone know....
 
Hey RibberCage. I'm gonna hit up the same TRU tomorrow after work and see if they will let me buy more then 1. That is if they didn't toss them out already.
 
[quote name='Zmonkay']I'd check Best Buy in a week or so. IIRC, they dropped there guides a week late last year (or was it the February drop)? Sometimes they don't drop till a week in.

And I'm right there with those wanting the Xeno 3 and KH2 guides[/quote]

Thing is though, Zmonkay, many of the guides at BB that should be dropping this month were part of the $10 off any Prima guide sale two weeks ago when they rang up .00.

So, many stores don't have those guides IN STOCK already and I doubt they will be getting them back in stock if they DO penny them out at all.

I'm gonna check my TRU locally though, though I was being watched I think, cause I went there last night early to stash some guides.

But, I guess all TRU stores started putting their guide racks next to the registers now, which makes it SO much tougher to hide guides.

BTW, did The Warriors guide penny there yet, because there was ONE copy left of it on their shelves??
 
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