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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Picked up the following today for 0.01 at BB:
Super Paper Mario (Nintendo)
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team
Animal Crossing DS


Scanned the following, all were not pennied out:
pokemon Pocket Pokedex Vol 1
Zelda Twilight Wii (Prima)
Pro Soccer 2008
Pirates of the Burning Sea
 
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Crysis has to be dropping soon. Ive seen at least 15 copies one week, the next week they are gone and then they are back again the next.
 
^^ I was thinking Crysis too. Possibly Dark Sector since it is not very popular. I also thought maybe assassins creed since its msrp has/will drop soon. Anyone check call of duty 4? -That seems like sure drop material.
 
[quote name='slowdive21']Anyone check call of duty 4? -That seems like sure drop material.[/quote]

Checked COD4 guide at BB a week ago; it was still $19.99. They only had one dog-eared copy left.
 
Also scanned the following today, all still regular price as listed on the website (instore and web):
Crysis
The Orange Box
COD4
Pokedex Vol 2
Fire Emblem
Assassin's Creed (with and w/o art book)
Mass Effect (with and w/o art book)
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl Guide Vol 1
Devil May Cry 4
 
I didn't scan anything because the guides I got all had .01 stickers on them.
Of course the Animal Crossing guide I've been watching was gone.
I managed to pick up:
Pups the official Nintendogs companion,
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon R/B (NP),
Twilight Princess (NP),
Pokemon Battle Revolution (NP) x2
 
[quote name='Visc']so now BB is dropping guides on a Friday? They trying to mess with us?[/QUOTE]

Are we sure these aren't just guides that dropped and were overlooked during the normal 1st Monday drop last time?
 
[quote name='Smeag']Just as I started picking up penny guides from BB they got rid of their guides case. :( :( :([/QUOTE]

Your BB has a case specifically for guides O.O

And your sig...it interests me >_>
 
[quote name='Link927']And your sig...it interests me >_>[/quote]

Agreed.

But yeah, i don't think COD4 will penny out soon. They just released the GOTY Edition but I don't think there is a guide for it. So the original guide by defualt becomes the new guide.
 
[quote name='Ubiiquitous']Are we sure these aren't just guides that dropped and were overlooked during the normal 1st Monday drop last time?[/quote]


Yes, at least for Super Paper Mario (Nintendo). Like I said earlier, I checked it on 6/30 and it was still 14.99.

At one BB, the clerk even told me he had pulled a bunch of guides earlier this week to be destroyed and Super Paper Mario was one of them.

At a second BB, the manager had to authorize the purchase the penny guides, including Super Paper Mario, and then said "I thought we pulled all these earlier this week. Go pull the rest." to the register clerk. First time ever, I've needed to get manager authorization to get a penny guide.
 
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[quote name='Visc']so now BB is dropping guides on a Friday? They trying to mess with us?[/quote]

I think these guides are actually a drop from 7/2 (Wednesday). See my earlier post.

GuardianE actually picked up Super Paper Mario and Animal Crossing on 7/3.

7/2 /08 BB Drop List so far:

Pups the official Nintendogs companion
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon R/B (NP)
Twilight Princess (NP)
Pokemon Battle Revolution (NP)
Super Paper Mario (NP)
Animal Crossing Wild World
 
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[quote name='animemaniac14']whats the twilight princess NP mean?[/quote]

NP = Nintendo Power

There's at least 5 versions of this guide:
Prima (Wii) - Collector's edition Tan Hardcover
Prima (Wii ) - Collector's edition Tan Hardcover, revised
Prima (Wii) - The white guide
Prima (Gamecube) - The silverish guide
Nintendo's version, silverish has both forms of link on the cover
 
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[quote name='jgamezcua']NP = Nintendo Power

There's at least 5 versions of this guide:
Prima (Wii) - Collector's edition Tan Hardcover
Prima (Wii ) - Collector's edition Tan Hardcover, revised
Prima (Wii) - The white guide
Prima (Gamecube) - The silverish guide
Nintendo's version, silverish has both forms of link on the cover[/quote]Revised version of the Collector's guide? :whistle2:s

I guess this is what is over the non-revised version:
http://www.primagames.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780761557852

Now, I'm going to have to check out the one I have and see which one it is. As it was during the $9.99 "sale" BB had, my guess is that it was the non-revised version.
 
[quote name='shrike4242']Revised version of the Collector's guide? :whistle2:s

I guess this is what is over the non-revised version:
http://www.primagames.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780761557852

Now, I'm going to have to check out the one I have and see which one it is. As it was during the $9.99 "sale" BB had, my guess is that it was the non-revised version.[/quote]

Yeah, exactly Shrike. The one I picked up during the $9.99 "sale" is the original, around Xmas time. The revised one came out I think about 6 months after the original. Most of the ones people are seeing around BB these days is prob the revised version.
 
Hrm. Guess i'll have to head to BB this week and grab the two AC:WW guides they have.

I'm waiting for the Phantom Hourglass and Galaxy hardcover guides to drop. That'll be nice.
 
Checked the (Richmond) Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, and West Broad BB's - nothing except for a couple of copies of Frontlines and Turok at the West Broad store.
 
The Twilight Princess Premiere edition rang up full price. Someone definitely picked the Super Paper Mario's, and GameCube TP at mine. I never have any luck with the LE's
 
Went to Mission Viejo, CA BB, picked up Hellgate: London and Twilight Princess (Nintendo Power).

Twilight Princess Hardcover and Oblivion still rang up full price, but Oblivion included KotN and Shivering Isles, so I guess it's a newer version.
 
Picked up at BB:

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon R/B (NP) x2
Super Paper Mario (NP)
Turok
Frontlines: Fuel of War
EA hard cover

Wanted AC:WW but they didn't have it.
 
As of 9:54PM CST, Tiger Woods 07 shows up on Best Buy's website at $0.01. That's the only one, but it's the first time I've seen a guide as a penny on their site. Is that new, or is it indicative of a drop tomorrow?
 
Looking at the Best Buy site, it doesn't look like it's going to be a big day. I'm going in to check Burnout Paradise in a little while, but I'm not going to bother with anything else.
 
just came out of best buy (was the first person in today as it happens). In regards to new drops, absolute bupkiss. Nothing scanned went below 9.99. I did however snag a few of the guides from last week's surprise drop, including that twilight princess guide from Nintendo Power, so I'm happy.

Oh, and this BB still has 55 of those 99 cent Ninja Gaiden II wall thingies.
 
[quote name='Visc']just came out of best buy (was the first person in today as it happens). In regards to new drops, absolute bupkiss. Nothing scanned went below 9.99. I did however snag a few of the guides from last week's surprise drop, including that twilight princess guide from Nintendo Power, so I'm happy.

Oh, and this BB still has 55 of those 99 cent Ninja Gaiden II wall thingies.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, Visc. Did you scan Burnout Paradise? Just wanted to save myself a trip, if so.
 
[quote name='kidrocklive']how long would it be before than Mass Effect Art Book/Guide combo pack would get marked down?[/QUOTE]

Not sure what you mean, exactly. There isn't a markdown timetable. Guides at Best Buy usually are marked down the first Monday every month. Looks like this month may be an exception.
 
[quote name='Ubiiquitous']Not sure what you mean, exactly. There isn't a markdown timetable. Guides at Best Buy usually are marked down the first Monday every month. Looks like this month may be an exception.[/quote]

I guess what I was asking is how long is it (generally) before a guide gets or starts to get marked down from it's suggested retail price.
 
[quote name='Ubiiquitous']Thanks, Visc. Did you scan Burnout Paradise? Just wanted to save myself a trip, if so.[/quote]

I certainly did - no dice :cry:

This is what I did grab though (all nintendo power related):

1 Twilight Princess
2 Pokemon Battle Revolution
3 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
5 Super Paper Mario
2 Pups (nintendogs guide)
1 Pups with Dalmation and Friends added
 
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[quote name='ozzymandd']Checked the (Richmond) Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, and West Broad BB's - nothing except for a couple of copies of Frontlines and Turok at the West Broad store.[/quote]

Yeah, I stopped in Midlothian Turnpike on Friday and got zippo. Sure wish I had known about the drops on Monday. (Not placing blame, maybe I missed a post, just saying I wasn't aware until the Thursday evening post).
 
[quote name='Visc']I certainly did - no dice :cry:

This is what I did grab though (all nintendo power related):

1 Twilight Princess
2 Pokemon Battle Revolution
3 Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
5 Super Paper Mario
2 Pups (nintendogs guide)
1 Pups with Dalmation and Friends added[/QUOTE]

Bummer....but thanks for checking and saving us all a ton of trouble!
 
[quote name='Ubiiquitous']Bummer....but thanks for checking and saving us all a ton of trouble![/quote]

I figured I'd owed you guys a checkup, no problem.
 
[quote name='kidrocklive']I guess what I was asking is how long is it (generally) before a guide gets or starts to get marked down from it's suggested retail price.[/QUOTE]

it could be a few months and it could be a year. Usually for popular games it will take longer
 
Did a check today and have very sad results.

The following are NOT pennied:
Twilight Princess Tan Hardcover
Pirates of the Burning Sea
Orange Box
Legend of Zelda Wii Priemere Guide
Condemned 2
Crysis

Did pick up a Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red and Blue... but that's it.
 
[quote name='MC Hampster']Hmm, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon still rang up $19.99 at my Best Buy. I did get an Advance Wars: Days of Ruin though.[/quote]The PMD Red/Blue is pennied, not the Explorer series.
 
I ended up getting the PMD Red/Blue NP and Hannibal Rising for $0 ($0.01 + $4.99 - $5 Reward Zone card), but two BB's and just one guide. :(

I saw a new guy bragging about alphabetizing the Xbox games; it looks like there's a new sheriff in town...
 
Didnt get anything at my local GS today, but I did find out a friend of my friends works there now, good to know for future guides ;)
 
When did Frontlines get marked down? Also, I saw an EA book that is black is that the EA hardcover that is now pennied? I picked up one of those 99 cent wall grafix at BB.
 
[quote name='JCNY23']When did Frontlines get marked down? Also, I saw an EA book that is black is that the EA hardcover that is now pennied? I picked up one of those 99 cent wall grafix at BB.[/QUOTE]

Yea, the black hard bound book with the EA logo was pennied out. Both it and Frontlines were pennied out a month or two ago.
 
I got Super Paper Mario and the EA hardcover over the weekend for a penny. I had no idea Advance Wars was clearance, that BB still had a shelf full of them.
 
I had a pretty good haul from to BB today:

3x Pokemon Battle Revolution
1x Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
1x Turok
1x Pups: Nintendogs Companion
1x Halo 2
1x World in Conflict

I'm just upset because some of those were being held by the manager of a store, who wouldn't let me buy them yesterday and told me to come back today to get them for free. BUT, I had set aside a Twilight Princess and a Super Paper Mario, which he for some reason didn't have today :( Oh well, he was doing me a huge favor (sort of, except I had to make an extra trip) so it's not like I was going to bother him to look for those.

Also, I scanned PES 2008, and it has not pennied.
 
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