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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Just a guess but maybe there was a rare misprint or some kind of second edition ( have my doubts about the second option). I remember when I first heard of that guide selling for so much and thinking how weird it was for such a new guide.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']I will have you know that I have NEVER dumpster dived for anything in my life. This is namely due to the fact that I'm a short lil mo fo and if I had to climb INTO the dumpster, there's no real guarantee I would be able to climb my fat ass back out. Otherwise, I might consider doing this.[/quote]
Confirmed!:lol:
 
[quote name='sacreddoctor']So did Fallout 3 penny at GS?[/quote]

Now that I look at the guides more closely I think my gamestop might have thrown out the fallout 3 guide by accident. It was the only one without a $.01 tag on it. All the other guides had a .01 price tag over the 19.99 one. Here is a pic of the fallout 3 guide. IDK if there are more than one. It says Gamestop exclusive Skill card included or something on the front.
Sorry for the crappy pic but my phone sux

Too bad the back cover was ripped off. >.<

2d2d8vb.jpg
 
I picked up about six guides at the Best Buy on Glenwood in Raleigh, NC. I had left three Final Fantasy guides there since Monday and then pointed it out on the thread and no one went out to buy them. I picked up all three of the FF guides, and three different codes and cheats books.
 
[quote name='karkyco']Thanks CAGGIES, picked up 4 or 5 pennied guides at the west LA Best Buy including Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, DragonQuest IV, Mercenaries 2 and a couple others.

They had plenty of Fracture and Battlefield: Bad Company but those came up at $14.99

They also had a variety of other penny guides, Crash Bandicoot and some other crap. No limited editions, though.

Left 1 FF: CC guide and 2 Ninja Gaiden DS copies on the shelves.

Note that Culver City didn't have jack shit earlier today as far as penny guides or Ninja Gaiden DS goes...[/QUOTE]

Hmm I saw a Fable II LE guide at the BestBuy near Pico and Sepulveda, hidden behind a pillar in the book section near appliances.

I didn't pick it up because I already had one, but I dunno if it's still there.
 
[quote name='BarbblerElf']Now that I look at the guides more closely I think my gamestop might have thrown out the fallout 3 guide by accident. It was the only one without a $.01 tag on it. All the other guides had a .01 price tag over the 19.99 one. Here is a pic of the fallout 3 guide. IDK if there are more than one. It says Gamestop exclusive Skill card included or something on the front.
Sorry for the crappy pic but my phone sux

Too bad the back cover was ripped off. >.<

2d2d8vb.jpg
[/quote]

LOL, an employee probably threw it out in hopes of picking it up after work. You probably ruined his day, Good Job.
 
[quote name='Sacsquash']LOL, an employee probably threw it out in hopes of picking it up after work. You probably ruined his day, Good Job.[/quote]

Thanks. :D
 
Does anyone know of any South Fla Best Buy stores that sell penny guides? I have never seen this done. Most curious about the Margate or Coral Springs locations. Also, is there a list of penny guides at Circuit city? I keep going every day to see if Mass Effect or Fallout 3 are pennied and they ring up 12 bucks and 20 bucks every time.
 
[quote name='outofthepark44']Does anyone know of any South Fla Best Buy stores that sell penny guides? I have never seen this done. Most curious about the Margate or Coral Springs locations. Also, is there a list of penny guides at Circuit city? I keep going every day to see if Mass Effect or Fallout 3 are pennied and they ring up 12 bucks and 20 bucks every time.[/quote]
lol everyday?
 
[quote name='outofthepark44']Does anyone know of any South Fla Best Buy stores that sell penny guides? I have never seen this done. Most curious about the Margate or Coral Springs locations. Also, is there a list of penny guides at Circuit city? I keep going every day to see if Mass Effect or Fallout 3 are pennied and they ring up 12 bucks and 20 bucks every time.[/quote]

Penny guides are gone at Circuit City. Since the liquidators took over the stores, everything is now being sold at a discount of msrp. Every day though, wow, thats dedication.
 
[quote name='xtreme_Zr2']Penny guides are gone at Circuit City. Since the liquidators took over the stores, everything is now being sold at a discount of msrp. Every day though, wow, thats dedication.[/QUOTE]

Well, penny guides still scan for a penny at CC, it's just that a lot of the cashiers are manually adjusting them. If you have a big enough order the cashier may not notice or care.
 
[quote name='Josef']Well, penny guides still scan for a penny at CC, it's just that a lot of the cashiers are manually adjusting them. If you have a big enough order the cashier may not notice or care.[/quote]

I just got these guides for a penny from my CC clearance last week.
Some of these have been on the shelf for years.

Super Mario Galaxy
Rainbow Six Vegas
Yoshi's Island DS Nintendo Power (mint)
Devil May Cry 4
Viva Pinata
Pokemon Ranger
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Red & Blue
You & Wii: Safe Sex for Kids

I slapped down the Mario Galaxy and he said "That's a penny", so he knew about penny guides. This was from the same store that the Mario Galaxy rang up as full price a month ago, after an efficient looking employee pushed a few extra buttons. I figured I'd try again just to see, and what do you know. So then I pulled out my handy list and grabbed all the penny guides.
 
I'm headed to a CC that had about 10 rogue galaxy guides the last time I was there. If there's still any (or other penny guides), I'll try to buy them and post about what happens in a few hours.
 
cc penny guides are very ymmv since they have it programmed to be purchased with the game. and even with the games now, it still rang up problem.

i tried to purchase some few days be4 and the manager override it to retail.

so stupid.
 
Well YMMV worked in my favor today. I got about 11 penny guides for free. The cashier rang them all up for me and then couldn't get the system to check out. She then called the manager over and he said "Give them to him for free, who cares, it's only a few pennies." My circuit city had the most ridiculous selection of guides that came out of nowhere. They actually had three Brute Force and Doom 3 guides as well as about seven Madden NFL 04 guides. Anyways, this is what I got (I think... I'm in class and the guides are in my car):

1x Viva Pinata
2x Army of Two
2x Mario Party 8
1x Rock Band
1x Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
1x Hellgate: London (I don't know why I bothered)
1x Zelda: Windwaker
2x Lego Star Wars II

I'll probably go back and scoop up whatever the hell else is left some other day. I'll probably do that on Friday when I go to Best Buy to get Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. I'm going to avoid the Madden 04 guides, though, those are the last things I need cluttering up my room.

Anyone know if the Prima Pokemon Battle Revolution guide was pennied at CC?
 
[quote name='SPELLPLAQUE']Stupid quest here but does
Barnes borders walden penny guides?[/QUOTE]

No, bookstores are trained to look out for pennied out stuff
 
[quote name='bgame2']I'm headed to a CC that had about 10 rogue galaxy guides the last time I was there. If there's still any (or other penny guides), I'll try to buy them and post about what happens in a few hours.[/quote]


I was successful but only after the 3rd person was called over. Cashier called over a second guy who called over a third guy (who appeared to be very unpleasant at first) but he had no objection to selling it to me for a penny.
 
[quote name='62t']No, bookstores are trained to look out for pennied out stuff[/quote]

do their guide get discounted after a long periods of time then?
 
[quote name='dinobot']do their guide get discounted after a long periods of time then?[/quote]

While we are asking, does Wal-Mart ever penny out guides?
 
[quote name='dinobot']do their guide get discounted after a long periods of time then?[/quote]

Judging by the guides that are on the shelves at my Borders and Barnes and Noble stores... no. There's still Final Fantasy VIII guides on the shelf at full price. Granted, it's had a few reprints, but it's still a 10 year old guide.
 
Went to a BB yesterday that generally had penny guides in abundance but didn't find a single penny guide. They must have pulled every single one :bomb:
 
^Sometimes you can find a really HTF guide at these book stores because gamers in general don't go there for guides. Most gamers get them at Gamestop/EB/GC etc. or wherever other stores carry games. Hell I saw a Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire guide recently.
 
[quote name='shiningslade']^Sometimes you can find a really HTF guide at these book stores because gamers in general don't go there for guides. Most gamers get them at Gamestop/EB/GC etc. or wherever other stores carry games. Hell I saw a Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire guide recently.[/quote]

Now that I'm thinking about it Barnes and Noble or Borders may be excellent places to check for the Lego Star Wars: Complete Saga guide.
 
I tried to get a guide for "Kingdom Hearts" (the first one) at a B&N before Christmas, and it was $14.99. That was the first and last time I tried to find a penny guide at that store.
 
OK.. Who lives in Rochester and tries to sell the guides on CL? :)

http://rochester.craigslist.org/tag/1029787076.html

Huge lot of Video Game Guides - $5

Reply to: [email protected] [?]
Date: 2009-02-10, 9:17PM EST



I have a large quantity of video game guides I am selling for $5 each. If you want any or all of them, let me know.

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (x5)
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Atlas (x3)
Lego Indiana Jones (x2)
Fracture (x3)
Battlefield Bad Company
Pokemon Emerald (x2)
Star Wars Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels and Jedi Alliance (x2)
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness (x2)
Rise of the Argonauts (x3)
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
Naruto: The Broken Bond
World of Warcraft Bestiary
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
Sonic Unleashed
007 Quantum of Solace
SOCOM Confrontation (x3)
Too Human
Pokedex (482 Pokemon)
Soul Calibur IV
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Atlas Bundle
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon
 
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Haha, so there are some Rochester CAG users...unless you live in buffalo and come out to rochester for deals

Though I dunno how they got all those guides, most of the stores around here are strict about penny guides
 
[quote name='Aznchaos3']Haha, so there are some Rochester CAG users...unless you live in buffalo and come out to rochester for deals

Though I dunno how they got all those guides, most of the stores around here are strict about penny guides[/quote]

BB employee?
 
I picked up my first penny guide during my lunch break at Best Buy: DMCIV Prima.

I was actually looking for Lost Odyssey, but that was OOS already. I probably would've skipped picking up DMCIV as I don't really need it, but since I was already there, I just said what the heck. It was worth it just for the expression on the cashier's (and the customer behind me) expression when they found out how much it cost. :)

I did see several DQIV guides, but they were not pennied. I believe it was an unadvertised 10% off, though.

Went over to a GS and they were OOS on LO, too. I'll try one more GS on my way home from work today before calling it.

Our one CC in the state was clearing out guides for 40% off MSRP--no thanks.
 
Hey guys,

I have some extra guides from the last few drops that I'd like to offer up as trade with other CAGs:

Fable II LE (x2)
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass: Hardcover (x2)
Bourne Conspiracy (x3)
Super Mario Galaxy: Hardcover (x1)
Condemned 2 (x1)
Frontlines (x1)
Xmen Legends 2 (x1)
Bully Scholarship Edition (x1)
Devil May Cry 4 (x1)
Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door (x1)
Crysis (x1)
Need for Speed Pro Street (x1)
GTA: Liberty City Stories (x1)
Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (x1)
Soul Calibur 4 (x1)

I'm open to anything you have in trade, so PM me with your offers. Specifically, I'm seeking:

Ninja Gaiden 2
Too Human
Viva Pinata:Trouble in Paradise
Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice
Disgaea Compilation
Far Cry 2
007 Quantum of Solace
Castlevania Order of Ecclesia
Final Fantasy III
The Worlds Ends With You
Ninety-Nine Nights
Okami (Wii version)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Rogue Galaxy
Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Those are just my interests looking back at the penny drops over the past few months. Let me know if you have anything else!

Thanks!
 
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[quote name='lyric706']Hey guys,

I have some extra guides from the last few drops that I'd like to offer up as trade with other CAGs:

Fable II LE (x2)
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass: Hardcover (x2)
Bourne Conspiracy (x3)
Super Mario Galaxy: Hardcover (x1)
Condemned 2 (x1)
Frontlines (x1)
Xmen Legends 2 (x1)
Bully Scholarship Edition (x1)
Devil May Cry 4 (x1)
Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door (x1)
Crysis (x1)
Need for Speed Pro Street (x1)
GTA: Liberty City Stories (x1)
Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (x1)
Soul Calibur 4 (x1)

I'm open to anything you have in trade, so PM me with your offers. Specifically, I'm seeking:

Final Fantasy XII
Ninja Gaiden 2
Too Human
Viva Pinata:Trouble in Paradise
Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice
Disgaea Compilation
Far Cry 2
007 Quantum of Solace
Castlevania Order of Ecclesia
Final Fantasy III
The Worlds Ends With You
Ninety-Nine Nights
Okami (Wii version)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Rogue Galaxy
Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Those are just my interests looking back at the penny drops over the past few months. Let me know if you have anything else!

Thanks![/quote]

This is NOT the TRADE THREAD. PLEASE KEEP ALL REQUESTS FOR TRADES THERE .

Thank you.
 
[quote name='shoe478']Hey man, give the girl a break.[/quote]

Hmmmmm...lemme think about that for a second....uh NO!!!

It's been said NUMEROUS, NUMEROUS TIMES about the PROPER place to put trade requests and it's getting really annoying now.

I mean, I can understand a total newbie pulling the trade request crap, but they've been around longer than me and should definitely know better by now.

Maybe I could've been a bit nicer, but a vet like him/her should KNOW where the trade requests go by now.
 
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[quote name='shoe478']Hey man, give the girl a break.[/quote]

...and CheapestGamer lays down the hammer. Also I believe Lyric is a male not a female.
 
Um, should I post information about a successfully completed transaction (not a trade)? So that other people can know that the person who I dealt with does his transactions honestly and promptly? Or is there some other thread for that?

Thanks!
 
[quote name='iamcool388']Um, should I post information about a successfully completed transaction (not a trade)? So that other people can know that the person who I dealt with does his transactions honestly and promptly? Or is there some other thread for that?

Thanks![/QUOTE]

you can just give the person a feedback
 
[quote name='62t']you can just give the person a feedback[/QUOTE]

Ok I didnt know that feature, i'll do it that way. Now off to figure out how to do that :newbie:
 
[quote name='Sacsquash']...and CheapestGamer lays down the hammer. Also I believe Lyric is a male not a female.[/quote]

With that hairdo on the gamertag? I doubt it.
 
[quote name='iNFiNiTE HORiZON']Lol. They are all wiseasses at the bestbuy i go to too.

which is why i dont go there very often, if i do I just bring my shit to the register and pay. i avoid any conversation. but i have yet to buy any penny guides there. i just get in and get out.[/quote]


It helps if you know how to handle people as well.I run a business and know how to communicate.In the situation where he limited you,you could have at least put up a bit more resistence.There was no sign limiting you and since the guides were ringing up .01 and had already been totaled,I see no way he could force you to put them back.It was your purchase.i would have bundled my guides and left the store.Even if he were to do something drastic such as call the police,which he wouldn't,they would do little.Especially after explaining the situation...I don't know,just seems shoddy and like you need to be more assertive.
 
[quote name='lyric706']Hey guys,

I have some extra guides from the last few drops that I'd like to offer up as trade with other CAGs:

Fable II LE (x2)
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass: Hardcover (x2)
Bourne Conspiracy (x3)
Super Mario Galaxy: Hardcover (x1)
Condemned 2 (x1)
Frontlines (x1)
Xmen Legends 2 (x1)
Bully Scholarship Edition (x1)
Devil May Cry 4 (x1)
Paper Mario and the Thousand Year Door (x1)
Crysis (x1)
Need for Speed Pro Street (x1)
GTA: Liberty City Stories (x1)
Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (x1)
Soul Calibur 4 (x1)

I'm open to anything you have in trade, so PM me with your offers. Specifically, I'm seeking:

Ninja Gaiden 2
Too Human
Viva Pinata:Trouble in Paradise
Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice
Disgaea Compilation
Far Cry 2
007 Quantum of Solace
Castlevania Order of Ecclesia
Final Fantasy III
The Worlds Ends With You
Ninety-Nine Nights
Okami (Wii version)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Rogue Galaxy
Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Those are just my interests looking back at the penny drops over the past few months. Let me know if you have anything else!

Thanks![/quote]

Please post in the dedicated trade thread. Come on dude, join date 2003??? :roll:
 
[quote name='cblakerobinson']Hey guys, I came across a few guides at a used bookstore today and was going to check here to see if anyone knew if any of them were rare or not before I purchased them...here's the list:

Final Fantasy 9
Final Fantasy 12
Dirge of Cerberus: FF XII
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
Pokemon Yellow
Mario And Luigi Partners in Time
Shining Force EXA
Dragon Ball Z Legacy of Goku II
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3
Yu Gi Oh Destiny Board Traveler
Yu Gi Oh Nightmare Troubadour
Pariah
Super Mario Advance
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II
Crysis
Mario Advance 4
Naruto Uzumaki[/quote]

I don't mean to be the jerkstore here, but let's not turn this thread into Strategy Guide Antiques Roadshow. If you want the guides buy them. If you want to research aftermarket "values" there are plenty of venues on the nets for that.

Let's just stick to current guide drops, and no more than one or two degrees of off-topicness. What authority do I have? NONE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
 
It's pretty bad it still had gears of war1 guides. Will be posting my finds. There were tons of guides from last years drop still there. I'm tempted to go back and empty the store. In fact I dare to wager the store had more penny guides than regular full price ones. Best haul I've ever had.
 
[quote name='Wolve11']It's pretty bad it still had gears of war1 guides. Will be posting my finds. There were tons of guides from last years drop still there. I'm tempted to go back and empty the store. In fact I dare to wager the store had more penny guides than regular full price ones. Best haul I've ever had.[/quote]


stop bragging and start posting your finds so we can make some trade offers...:bouncy:
 
[quote name='jimijumper']stop bragging and start posting your finds so we can make some trade offers...:bouncy:[/quote]In the right thread, of course.
 
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