Reduced Price Game Guides: Thread Nine

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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(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

Guide Lists(master drop lists and recent drops):

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

Recent Guide Drops(by date,also check the second post in this thread):
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
Guide Eight:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167157

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
BookPool
CircuitCity
Gamestop
Overstock
StrategyGuides.net
ToysRUs

Thanks to floormat, Guinavere 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.


 
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i dont usually do any more penny guide runs but i had the urge today since i saw halo 3 last night. anyway, all from best buy

- x8 Halo 3
- x2 Madden 09 LE
- x9 Wario Land Shake It!
- x5 Warhammer Online Atlas

Me: Are these all a penny? (i brought a small stack)
Cashier: Yeah.
Me: Awesome.
Cashier: Areeee you sure you dont want more?
Me: Can I have more?
Cashier: Sure.

i go back and take all of them
meanwhile.. she called a manager already, dont know why but i found out that she was overidding the guides to a penny. awesome cashier, awesome manager.
 
[quote name='phear3d']i dont usually do any more penny guide runs but i had the urge today since i saw halo 3 last night. anyway, all from best buy

- x8 Halo 3
- x2 Madden 09 LE
- x9 Wario Land Shake It!
- x5 Warhammer Online Atlas[/quote]

halo 3 was pennied at best Buy?
 
[quote name='BarbblerElf']halo 3 was pennied at best Buy?[/quote]

I'm wondering that too. This would be the first I've heard of it. I thought all the penny drops from Monday were Bradygames guides.

Looks like you can buy all 60 of those guides now. ;)

I'll be heading out on the weekend to see if I can find some if this gets confirmed.

Also, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a Prima drop at BB on Monday. There's loads of Spyro and Force Unleashed guides at my BB that are just waiting to be pennied (Also hoping for Fallout CE and PoP CE).
 
[quote name='Doomstink']I'm wondering that too. This would be the first I've heard of it. I thought all the penny drops from Monday were Bradygames guides.

Looks like you can buy all 60 of those guides now. ;)

I'll be heading out on the weekend to see if I can find some if this gets confirmed.

Also, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a Prima drop at BB on Monday. There's loads of Spyro and Force Unleashed guides at my BB that are just waiting to be pennied (Also hoping for Fallout CE and PoP CE).[/quote]
lmao I might if other CAGs need them. Realistically there are about 45 Halo 3 guides.:D

If it is indeed pennied I will grab them before I check out my sears tomorrow.
 
I hit the motherload at the BestBuy in Shortpump, VA - I picked up about 35 guides and the cashier didn't mind at all.

All of the recent drops are up for trade :)
 
oh, it hasnt been reported yet? sweet then. i will post a pic then


7e924924.jpg


and btw there was a sign that says "HALO 3 GUIDE, FREE WITH SOFTWARE PURCHASE"
 
[quote name='phear3d']oh, it hasnt been reported yet? sweet then. i will post a pic then


7e924924.jpg


and btw there was a sign that says "HALO 3 GUIDE, FREE WITH SOFTWARE PURCHASE"[/quote]

awesome. I know where I'm going tomorrow. Hopefully they didnt throw them out or anything since 2 days ago
 
[quote name='phear3d']i dont usually do any more penny guide runs but i had the urge today since i saw halo 3 last night. anyway, all from best buy

- x8 Halo 3
- x2 Madden 09 LE
- x9 Wario Land Shake It!
- x5 Warhammer Online Atlas

Me: Are these all a penny? (i brought a small stack)
Cashier: Yeah.
Me: Awesome.
Cashier: Areeee you sure you dont want more?
Me: Can I have more?
Cashier: Sure.

i go back and take all of them
meanwhile.. she called a manager already, dont know why but i found out that she was overidding the guides to a penny. awesome cashier, awesome manager.[/QUOTE]

Which guide was she overriding to a penny? Was it the Halo 3 guide? The others should have rang up a penny (Halo 3 is the only one that wasn't on the original drop list).
 
If Halo 3 needed to be overridden to a penny, then it's not pennied out, right? This would the first time in my recollection of this happening. I think we'll see some disappointed people who are making special trips to BB just to get the Halo 3 guide...
 
[quote name='royalbliss1']It's not a penny at my store. Im in Reno and it rang up as $10.00 even.[/quote]
The ones at my store have had that price tag for a long time now, I never scanned one though..
 
Every BB I have been to (and there are many) have so many Halo 3 guides that each store has set their own price from $2.50 to $10 for nearly 2 months. It sounds like some manager got tired of seeing the piles of them and made an executive decision to clear some space.
 
[quote name='PapaSmerf']Every BB I have been to (and there are many) have so many Halo 3 guides that each store has set their own price from $2.50 to $10 for nearly 2 months. It sounds like some manager got tired of seeing the piles of them and made an executive decision to clear some space.[/quote]

That sounds about right. At one of my Best Buys I saw Halo 3 guides marked ranging from $2 to $14 sitting right next to each other.
 
[quote name='Rollobobo']I can confirm the guides are now a penny at Game crazy...

I got about 15 guides.....WOOT!!!![/quote]

Well forget best buy, I know where I'm going tomorrow
 
Going to Game Crazy tomorrow as well. They were ringing up at full price yesterday; hopefully I'll get some guides.
 
[quote name='Josef']Which guide was she overriding to a penny? Was it the Halo 3 guide? The others should have rang up a penny (Halo 3 is the only one that wasn't on the original drop list).[/quote]she was overriding halo 3 and warhammer since it came up at $10 even. the cashier said its a penny so thats why she had to call the manager to do it for her.
 
i visited a new GC last night, and they had every guide from this drop plus another 10 or so from their last drop. i'm weighing my options on when to try and get them. do i go when a manager is working and hope he is nice, or do i go at night when a high school kid is working and hope i get them from him?
 
[quote name='perdition(troy']i visited a new GC last night, and they had every guide from this drop plus another 10 or so from their last drop. i'm weighing my options on when to try and get them. do i go when a manager is working and hope he is nice, or do i go at night when a high school kid is working and hope i get them from him?[/quote]

Go in after they close and lock up and you can get them for free!
 
I'm disappointed in Wooster, OH...
Went up to Best Buy, Gamestop, and Gamecrazy looking to score some penny guides...I left with only odd looks from employees...

sigh...Any tips other than locking myself in after closing, to finding these things successfully?
 
I stopped by the GC today, two managers working. All the guides were still there, I just didn't know what the managers would do if they were ringing up for a penny. I just don't feel like getting the sale denied :(
 
[quote name='perdition(troy']I stopped by the GC today, two managers working. All the guides were still there, I just didn't know what the managers would do if they were ringing up for a penny. I just don't feel like getting the sale denied :([/quote]

You might consider talking to them. Think of an old guide that is not a penny, or that they don't have. Look around for it, when they don't have it ask them to look it up. Or at least ask what they do with the old guides. I don' think they will suddenly care about the penny guides that have been there for months.

Or better yet, head to another store then the one you want the guides from and either buy them, or ask questions.
 
So I've scanned the other threads and I just want to make sure. Tales of Vesperia and Final Fantasy XII have not dropped at Game Crazy correct?
 
I picked up Naurto Ultimate Ninja 2 for a penny today when it rang up at full price Wednesday.

Too bad they didn't have any more guides that are in the list. Perhaps they had pulled them before Wednesday. They had Oblivion GOTY edition guide though. It isn't the same as the revised and expanded version that is pennied, right?
 
[quote name='eau']...They had Oblivion GOTY edition guide though. It isn't the same as the revised and expanded version that is pennied, right?[/quote]

I would also love to know this. I believe it's different, but I'm unsure. Is it available at any stores for the penny price? I'm dying for a pennied guide for Oblivion.
 
[quote name='eau']I picked up Naurto Ultimate Ninja 2 for a penny today when it rang up at full price Wednesday.

Too bad they didn't have any more guides that are in the list. Perhaps they had pulled them before Wednesday. They had Oblivion GOTY edition guide though. It isn't the same as the revised and expanded version that is pennied, right?[/quote]

Now that's weird, I was about to post that as one of TWO guides that didn't penny for me. Hmm.

I picked up the following:

Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Medal of Honor Euro Assault x2
NCAA FOOTBALL
Rainbow Six Vegas x3
Naruto Uzumaki Chronicles 2
Sonic and the Secret Rings
Sonic the Hedgehog
Shadowrun
Kane and Lynch Dead Men x3
Videogame Achievements
Timeshift x2

So overall, not bad. Saw a stack of them in the back aswell, I'll hit up the dumpster tonight.
 
I finally found a BB store that had some of the newer stuff, as well as a few of the ones that dropped already but went back up in price, only to re-penny a week or two later.

I snagged:

Warioland: Shake It! x2
Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway x2
Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009
Spore Limited Edition x3
Silent Hill: Homecoming x2
Bioshock(new version) x1
007: Quantum Of Solace x2
Socom Confrontation
Midnight Club: LA

I left one each of SH: Homecoming, Socom and 3 or so Spore LE's, along with a couple Crash: Mind Over Mutant and a few others.

[quote name='thehoweller']I would also love to know this. I believe it's different, but I'm unsure. Is it available at any stores for the penny price? I'm dying for a pennied guide for Oblivion.[/quote]

You're about six months too late, as I had 10-12 copies of the Oblivion guide(the tan cover one), which covered 360 and PC mainly.
 
Just Scored -

Soulcalibur IV (soft) x3
Silent Hill: Homecoming x2
007: Quantum Of Solace x1
Socom Confrontation
Midnight Club: LA

Left Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway guides, even when they were wrapped nicely. This is the La Brea / Santa Monica Store in Los Angeles. Went there mainly for Bioshock...

Thanks for the update again!
 
I rang out someone who brought up Lost Odyssey, Silent Hill, and Battlefield.
I didn't know we had copies of LO or SH, but he said he had snagged the last ones. Good on him, I guess.
I didn't think to ask he was on cag before he left. But I hope he appreciate being rung up by a cashier who knew what was what.
 
tried to buy from a gc that's always been good about giving freebies... but today nothing.... even denied me trying to pick up ninja gaiden sigma.

sigh.... I really hate GC sometimes.
 
[quote name='thehoweller']I would also love to know this. I believe it's different, but I'm unsure. Is it available at any stores for the penny price? I'm dying for a pennied guide for Oblivion.[/quote]Twio ways to accomplish that:

1) The Oblivion GOTY guide, which covers the main game, the Wizard's Tower expansion, Knights of The Nine expansion, as well as Shivering Isles.
2) The expanded Oblivion guide which covers the main game, the Wizard's Tower expansion, Knights of The Nine expansion AND the Shivering Isles guide.

All of the above are pennied, though finding option #2 is much harder.
 
[quote name='Bezerker']Was the WarioWare ShakeIT guide rare? I'm just wondering why Circuit City has a SRP of $75 on it.[/quote]

Yes, but I can sell you one of mine for $65. All Sales Final.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']Twio ways to accomplish that:

1) The Oblivion GOTY guide, which covers the main game, the Wizard's Tower expansion, Knights of The Nine expansion, as well as Shivering Isles.
2) The expanded Oblivion guide which covers the main game, the Wizard's Tower expansion, Knights of The Nine expansion AND the Shivering Isles guide.

All of the above are pennied, though finding option #2 is much harder.[/quote]
Are you saying both versions are pennied at Gamecrazy?
 
[quote name='eau']Are you saying both versions are pennied at Gamecrazy?[/quote]I'm not sure about them being pennied at GC, though I know they've been pennied out at BB and GS, if I remember right from the first post.
 
I just picked up:

Soul Calibur IV: LE x 1
Midnight Club: Los Angeles x 2
Bioshock x 2

They had a bunch more like the Mario Galaxy Hard Cover and the Twilight Princess Hard Cover but I didn't even check those.

By the way, this was at Best Buy
 
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[quote name='dinobot']went to bb today and saw employee pulling down the penny guides.

they are still cracking down on things.[/quote]

Maybe at your store.
 
Went for some penny guides on wednesday. Struck out on naruto (oos), rogue galaxy (oos), bioshock (oos), and silent hill (oos). kinda sucked.

but I did find a full price guide that I went ahead and purchased.... Lego Star Wars Trilogy.

And some penny guides also. .Hack rebirth (x2), Phantasy star Universe (x1), Dragon Quest Heroes rocket slime (x1)

Found a Mint condition Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (all hidden items revealed) Prima guide the same day! FOR $5!


Shoulda bought a lottery ticket. :D
 
[quote name='Pootie Thang']I just picked up:

Soul Calibur IV: LE x 1
Midnight Club: Los Angeles x 2
Bioshock x 2

They had a bunch more like the Mario Galaxy Hard Cover and the Twilight Princess Hard Cover but I didn't even check those.

By the way, this was at Best Buy[/quote]

Should have picked up that TP hard cover, for me... obviously :)
 
[quote name='biggreenmold']
Found a Mint condition Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (all hidden items revealed) Prima guide the same day! FOR $5!


Shoulda bought a lottery ticket. :D[/quote]

If that qualifies as lotto winning luck, I should've bought six lotto tickets when I traded a penny guide for a Nintendo Power Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition guide at a local bookstore.
 
not familiar with which guide you are talking about.

I was just happy when I checked amazon to get a feel for the market value of the books I purchased that day; zelda (100), star wars (100- 140), plus numerous other guides that would push my estimated market value well over $300, for a $25 investment.

Maybe I should said Scratch-offs, lol
 
Nice find if it was the Complete Saga. You posted Lego Star Wars Trilogy. It is only worth extra money if you sell it.
 
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