Reduced Price Game Guides: Thread Eight(MODS: Please lock, Thread Nine is up)

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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 or which ones you've grabbed 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.

Furthermore, I would like to thank our Wiki editors HeatDolphin and Rocko for updating the Wiki. Great job.

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 Trading Clearinghouse(old one, locked now):
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102021

Game Guide Trade Thread(current one):
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(please keep all conversation NOT related to guide drops HERE. Thanks.): http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169252

Guide Lists:

Master Drop List(by store, alphabetically):
http://wiki.cheapassgamer.com/index.php/Category:Strategy_Guides_%28master_lists%29

Recent Guide Drops(by date):
http://wiki.cheapassgamer.com/index.php/Category:Strategy_Guides_%28recent_drops%29

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.

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 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.

Prior Reduced price game guide threads:
Guide Three:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50515&highlight=guide
Guide Four:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1496376
Guide Five:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85976
Guide Six:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116918
Guide Seven:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131717
Guide Seven and a half:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142400

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
B&N
BestBuy
Borders
BookPool
CircuitCity
Gamestop
Overstock
StrategyGuide.net
ToysRUs

Thanks to floormat, who did threads 3,4,5 and 6 and provided me with the links to them.

Thanks to Gwen for allowing me the honor of giving something back to CAG by doing this new guide thread. I hope you all enjoy it and it isn't TOO hard to read.
 
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[quote name='Visc']I'm personally hoping there wasn't a drop this week - this BB has been starting to get a little more difficult to get things from because of mew management and a couple employees. That, and there are still orange hardcover Zeldas here that I friggin WANT.[/quote]

I hope there is a drop by tomorrow, else i won't be anywhere near a tan zelda.
 
[quote name='ets']I hope there is a drop by tomorrow, else i won't be anywhere near a tan zelda.[/quote]


I disagree - by proxy, you might be.
 
[quote name='ets']I hope there is a drop by tomorrow, else i won't be anywhere near a tan zelda.[/quote]

Why would expect a drop tomorrow though? It happens on Mondays
 
[quote name='Antic']Why would expect a drop tomorrow though? It happens on Mondays[/quote]

... i wasn't expecting there to be one I was hoping because I'm jumping on a plane on Wednesday and heading back to Oregon where it seems all the Tan Zelda are sold out.
 
[quote name='neocisco']Walgreen's has a coupon in their ad this week for Scotch envelopes for 3 for $1, limit 6. Just grab an ad in the store.[/quote]

What sizes? I'm assuming since you're posting it in this thread they are big enough for a Strat guide...
 
[quote name='detectiveconan16']I'm confused, everybody. Antic posted a listed, and I'm not sure if there is a drop today.[/quote]

I'm pretty sure there wasn't a drop. I was only able to check the ones I listed, but there are others to be checked on that list if you want to be 100% sure. The person I usually ask at the store every week took the day off, so I had to manually scan them. I've been trying not to do that though because they shut down scanners in the store if it happens a lot.
 
[quote name='TomoyoN']What sizes? I'm assuming since you're posting it in this thread they are big enough for a Strat guide...[/QUOTE]

Went down to Walgreens and checked. No these are not big enough for most strategy guides. The 3 for $1 only applies to 8.5 x 11" and smaller sizes. You need the 10.5 x 15" to mail guides. However these are still a good deal after coupon and I picked up 3. These of this size are still good for mailing games and smaller guides such as the Nintendogs or You and Wii guides.
 
Just a question about BBs penny guides. Can you buy the guide at full price, wait for the drop, then get the price adjusted to a penny? I am curious if anyone has tried it. I would think they would not allow a person to return/rebuy it either - but could there be a chance they would reshelve it or do they have a separate bin at the service desk for discontinued/drop items?
 
[quote name='slowdive21']Just a question about BBs penny guides. Can you buy the guide at full price, wait for the drop, then get the price adjusted to a penny? I am curious if anyone has tried it. I would think they would not allow a person to return/rebuy it either - but could there be a chance they would reshelve it or do they have a separate bin at the service desk for discontinued/drop items?[/quote]Nope. Tried it, didn't happen.

You could return them, though they immediately go back to media for disposal after being returned. They're certainly not re-shelved.
 
I got the following penny guides today at BB:

Sim City Societies
Advance Wars Days of Ruin
Dragon Quest Monsters Joker
Final Fantasy Revenant Wings

edit: oops, just saw these on the wiki...nevermind...
 
[quote name='Purkeynator']Went down to Walgreens and checked. No these are not big enough for most strategy guides. The 3 for $1 only applies to 8.5 x 11" and smaller sizes. You need the 10.5 x 15" to mail guides. However these are still a good deal after coupon and I picked up 3. These of this size are still good for mailing games and smaller guides such as the Nintendogs or You and Wii guides.[/quote]

I recommend just buying a 25 - 100 pack of boxes sized 9 x 12 or so. You can get them for .30 cents or so each + shipping.
Don't have to worry about a guide getting bent in a box. :)
i Get mine from uline.
 
I tried to score the Super Mario Galaxy hardcover GG at my local Best Buy - Sparks in Nevada. I took the softcover and Smash Brothers for a scan too. The girl at Customer Service (they are all incredibly nice, young and friendly there) scanned them all. They all came up as full price but the SMG Hadrcover showed as end of stock. She asked me if I would be willing to make an offer :shock: - that's never happened before - I said 5 bucks with a cheeky smile. She said it cost them $7.50 and I could have it for that. I snapped it up, it is a work of art with a glow in the dark poster to boot. My kids flipped over it when I got home.

Always worth your while to chat to the guys and gals on Customer service - you would not believe what I have got them to price match and discount for me in the past (like $1,400 worth of Canon SLR camera and equipment for $622 and free 3 year plan). It seems like nobody really tries to be nice to those guys and they just hear cr@p all day long.

Thanks for posting everyone - this whole site is a godsend for bargain hunters (I think I like the thrill of the deal more than playing the games :lol:)
 
[quote name='gripper']I tried to score the Super Mario Galaxy hardcover GG at my local Best Buy - Sparks in Nevada. I took the softcover and Smash Brothers for a scan too. The girl at Customer Service (they are all incredibly nice, young and friendly there) scanned them all. They all came up as full price but the SMG Hadrcover showed as end of stock. She asked me if I would be willing to make an offer :shock: - that's never happened before - I said 5 bucks with a cheeky smile. She said it cost them $7.50 and I could have it for that. I snapped it up, it is a work of art with a glow in the dark poster to boot. My kids flipped over it when I got home.

Always worth your while to chat to the guys and gals on Customer service - you would not believe what I have got them to price match and discount for me in the past (like $1,400 worth of Canon SLR camera and equipment for $622 and free 3 year plan). It seems like nobody really tries to be nice to those guys and they just hear cr@p all day long.

Thanks for posting everyone - this whole site is a godsend for bargain hunters (I think I like the thrill of the deal more than playing the games :lol:)[/quote]

Wait a second....so the SMG hardcover came up as .01 or something else entirely? I was just at a BB earlier tonight and I saw about 3-5 of them stashed behind MOUNDS upon MOUNDS of other guides.

If that's the case, then I may have to make a little trek back to BB tomorrow and hope the ones I saw there are still there.

Can anyone else confirm the guide?
 
sounded like it rang up full price but had a note on it saying End of Life.

Might be similar to what happened at Kmart last week with me. something rang up for $25 and i said i thought it was $12.
She said there was a note that said "Pending Price change" so i got it for $12(after some price gun magic)
 
Ahhh ok....so that may mean that if the SMG Hardcover didn't drop yet, it may be one of the prime candidates for the drop that may occur next week.

Interesting either way though.
 
Ever since my local BB started pulling guides I've stopped my guide hunting hobby... however, I've moved about 6 months ago and just today I've finally went to check out the BB near my new place... SCORE!

Giant Thanks to all that kept the wiki updated! You guys Rocks!

You know you had a pretty good run went you brought only penny guides and you had to pay tax!



BTW, where is the guide trade thread?

PS: What's with the Pokemon guides:
* Pokemon Battle Revolution
* Pokemon Pocket Pokedex
Nither were penny.
 
I think the Pocket Pokedex was released earlier this year, but as it is a Pokemon guide, there's not really a chance of it dropping. The Vol.2 version still sells for $20, and the lowest I've seen instore was at a Target for $10.
 
[quote name='detectiveconan16']I think the Pocket Pokedex was released earlier this year, but as it is a Pokemon guide, there's not really a chance of it dropping. The Vol.2 version still sells for $20, and the lowest I've seen instore was at a Target for $10.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, my point was these two particular pokemon guides were listed in the wiki as penny in BB but I've had both scanned to full price at check out.

* Pokemon Battle Revolution
* Pokemon Pocket Pokedex

BTW, talk about somthing that never dropped, I saw a copy of Animal Crossing (DS) in BB, still no go! How many years has that game been out?
 
[quote name='GuardianE']Golden Compass and Dragon Quest Monsters-Joker have been reduced to .01 at my local BestBuy in Maryland.[/quote]

Those were part of the one of the last drops actually. Check out the second post on this thread on page one if you want to see a complete list of drops going back to October of 2007.

Oh and speaking of drops, we never did find out which Wii guides supposedly pennied @ Gamestop. Someone mentioned the people at their local GS showing them that some Wii guides dropped.

Can anyone get us the info on the rest of that drop by any chance?
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Those were part of the one of the last drops actually. Check out the second post on this thread on page one if you want to see a complete list of drops going back to October of 2007.

Oh and speaking of drops, we never did find out which Wii guides supposedly pennied @ Gamestop. Someone mentioned the people at their local GS showing them that some Wii guides dropped.

Can anyone get us the info on the rest of that drop by any chance?[/QUOTE]

I will shoot my brother (works at a Gamestop) a quick text and see if I can get the story.
 
[quote name='gripper']I tried to score the Super Mario Galaxy hardcover GG at my local Best Buy - Sparks in Nevada. I took the softcover and Smash Brothers for a scan too. The girl at Customer Service (they are all incredibly nice, young and friendly there) scanned them all. They all came up as full price but the SMG Hadrcover showed as end of stock. She asked me if I would be willing to make an offer :shock: - that's never happened before - I said 5 bucks with a cheeky smile. She said it cost them $7.50 and I could have it for that. I snapped it up, it is a work of art with a glow in the dark poster to boot. My kids flipped over it when I got home.

Always worth your while to chat to the guys and gals on Customer service - you would not believe what I have got them to price match and discount for me in the past (like $1,400 worth of Canon SLR camera and equipment for $622 and free 3 year plan). It seems like nobody really tries to be nice to those guys and they just hear cr@p all day long.

Thanks for posting everyone - this whole site is a godsend for bargain hunters (I think I like the thrill of the deal more than playing the games :lol:)[/quote]

Damn, the new one in the shopping center??
 
[quote name='Rocko']My BB has two copies of Animal Crossing Wild World guides as well. Pretty strange.

Check this out.

Might want to snap them up.[/quote]

Look at Lego Star Wars: Complete saga guide also.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Those were part of the one of the last drops actually. Check out the second post on this thread on page one if you want to see a complete list of drops going back to October of 2007.

Oh and speaking of drops, we never did find out which Wii guides supposedly pennied @ Gamestop. Someone mentioned the people at their local GS showing them that some Wii guides dropped.

Can anyone get us the info on the rest of that drop by any chance?[/quote]

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see those.
 
[quote name='Rocko']My BB has two copies of Animal Crossing Wild World guides as well. Pretty strange.

Check this out.

Might want to snap them up.[/QUOTE]

Yea, there is a local BB that, for whatever reason, pulled all of the guides and kept them in the back. That went on for about a year, then all of a sudden, they popped up again recently. Sure enough, there were about 15 copies of AC:WW and NSMB. I've often thought about going and picking up a copy or two. There's no way I'll be able to get them for a penny.
 
I have never found $0.01 guides. I got a free spider-man 3 guide and a Manhunt 2 guide for free at Gamestop once, but thats it. The only other I have seen is a marked down LE Mass Effect Guide.
 
[quote name='GuardianE']I saw a Persona 3 guide at my Gamestop for 9.99. Is it worth it? I know Atlus guides can sometimes become hard to find later on.[/quote]

If you really want it you should get it now. I wouldn't take the risk of waiting for it go to $.01, not getting it, then having to find one online.
 
[quote name='GuardianE']Although I have yet to see a Persona 3 FES guide. I'd probably get it more because it's nice to have than its actual usefulness.[/QUOTE]

they didnt make a FES guide
 
[quote name='Purkeynator']I will shoot my brother (works at a Gamestop) a quick text and see if I can get the story.[/quote]

Thanks Purkey, since I'm trying like hell to get all of the info and make sure it's verified before I go putting something in the second post and finding out later on that I sent people on a snipe hunt for something that didn't drop.

As for older guides which popped back up without warning, the NSMB guides haven't as of yet, but NUMEROUS copies of Nintendogs have, as well as several copies of Final Fantasy XII.

I still remember about a year and a half ago when I went to Atlantic City with a friend of mine, we stopped in Springfield in PA and at the one Best Buy they still had copies of the guide for one of the Maximo games for PS2. On our last trek there about 6 months or so later, the guides were long gone.
 
[quote name='Purkeynator']I will shoot my brother (works at a Gamestop) a quick text and see if I can get the story.[/quote]

That was a dangerous place in that sentence to pause. :D
 
He hasn't responded back yet. I just called and left him a message. I'm not sure the last time he worked or if he works today but hopefully so. As soon as I hear I will relay the message.
 
[quote name='WeaponX2099']Look at Lego Star Wars: Complete saga guide also.[/quote]


I'm glad you mentioned that. I have one spare left, and I know where its going now.
 
[quote name='Visc']I'm glad you mentioned that. I have one spare left, and I know where its going now.[/quote]

I appreciate that as well.
 
Checked with my brother. There were no new penny guide drops at his store. How it works is that the list prints in the morning for penny guides to pull and if the store you are at has none in stock then they won't print. So basically it is possible there were drops but nothing at his store so unless there were guides that were not carried at his store that pennied out then there are no new drops.
 
Thanks Purkey, as I know someone did say that the last drop had some Wii guides that dropped too, but we never did find out what they were.

Ahhh well.....I guess someone will find one of them eventually and it'll be like a totally new bunch of drops.

Thanks anyway though, Purkey.
 
[quote name='RoninChaos']None of the places I go have penny guides. WTF.[/quote]

Generally, the drops are either bought by the end of day one of the drop or pulled. The only exceptions I've seen at my BB is Madden 08 and Thrillville still remaining on the shelf (despite dropping already).
 
[quote name='genfuyung']So we're thinking the mass effect guide will drop this week? Is it only the one that includes the art book?[/QUOTE]

Nobody has any idea. There's no way to know until Monday comes, or if Vahn gets advanced word.
 
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