Reduced Price Game Guides: Thread X(Ten)

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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 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/...d.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. Please, whenever possible, use RED font to make the drop info stand out. Thanks again.

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/...ighlight=guide
Guide Four:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/....php?p=1496376
Guide Five:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...ad.php?t=85976
Guide Six:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=116918
Guide Seven:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=131717
Guide Seven and a half:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=142400
Guide Eight:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/...d.php?t=167157
Guide Nine:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187222

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
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.

Common Guide Drop Related Questions(FAQ):

FAQ - If you are new (or a vet with a few questions) look here SECOND! (After reading the above!)

Q: What Are Penny Guides?
A: 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.

Q: Do all guides from all stores drop at the same time?
A: No. While most chains have nationwide drops within their own store (as in every BB will have the same drops coast to coast), not every different chain drops at the same time (what drops at BB is NOT necessarily dropped at GS). When in doubt, check post TWO for drop info.

Q: I found a penny guide and a clerk denied me! I'ma report 'em!
A: Whoa, hold your horses there, pardner! First of all, not a question. Second, just because something is on the shelf, the clerk does NOT have to sell you that item. Most stores are PRIVATE property and as such can deny you just about anything they want - including a sale. The best advice is to not be rude, not be arrogant, and just try hard to get them to have pity on you.

Q: Why don't the clerks want to sell me their penny guides? Aren't they just throwing them away?
A: As stated above, the stores are ordered by the publisher to trash the guides, and are then given credit for those guides. If they don't do this, the publisher won't give them the credit - it's like losing a sale. On the employee level, selling a penny guide can sometimes get them in trouble (or even fired!) I know it seems silly, but this is their job we're talking about! Respect the man (or woman) behind the counter and you'll get a lot more guides than otherwise!

Q: Should I just ask if the store has penny guides then?
A: No, since that denotes that you have some insider information as to the runnings of these businesses.

Q: What if the clerk wants to know how I know so much about guide drops?
A: If asked where you got your info about guides that pennied, simply say either 'the internet' or 'a friend of mine told me they're on clearance'.

Q: But clerks will know what a penny guide is, right? I can talk to them like anyone else here...
A: Never use the word pennied to ANY store clerks unless you have built up a good rapport with them. Even then, it may seem a little fishy if you know more about their shop than they do.

Q: Are guides labeled as a penny on the shelf?
A: Sometimes. Most times, no. GS seems to label everything that gets a price drop, so often times guides will be stickered. But even so, they most likely won't sell them to you. A sticker does not mean 'have to sell'.

Q: I tried to buy a guide that this thread said was pennied and it didn't ring up as such! What gives?
A: Either 1) Our source was wrong (this rarely happens and is usually verified a FEW times within maybe an hour of posting), or 2) The clerk changed the price. It's usually number 2.

Q: What's the easiest way to get penny guides? This sounds like TONS of work!
A: Best Buy is probably the best place to get guides, followed by GameStop, GameCrazy, Toys R Us and then Blockbuster. From what I've seen though, probably 95% of guides that people get are snagged at BB - the rest come from the other stores. But it never hurts to try!

Q: Has there been a drop recently?
A: If you are asking this question you didn't fully understand the OP - go back and read it once more. When a drop happens, it will be posted, and then placed in the second post - trust us.

Q: How do you guys know so much about penny guides?
A: We sometimes have inside sources with the information from the stores themselves; other times, fellow CAGS just like you or me simply take suspected guides to the register and ask them to ring them up, to check their prices. Feel free to do this yourself, and help give back to the community by telling us what you find! However, DON'T ask "Has anyone checked XXX lately?", unless you are in the right thread (discussion area).

Thanks to GrilledWitOnions for creating the above FAQ, which should eliminate the need for such questions popping up in the thread from this point on out.
 
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[quote name='zincsterio']Hey guys, I'm pretty new at this. So how do you guys usually find out about these penny deals? I checked the wiki linked in the first post, but seems to be down or something.

Is it too late for the BB penny guide deals? Are these online or B&M deals?

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

READ THE FIRST POST IN ITS ENTIRETY!! That should answer some questions you may have.

As for whether these are online or B&M deals, the guides WERE listed as a penny online on Monday morning and part of Monday afternoon. However, even though they were online for a penny, they were constantly fluctuating between that penny price and the normal MSRP price.

As for if it's too late to get these, it may be depending on how many other CAG's and deal hunters you have in your local area. But it never hurts to try, since I didn't expect to find ANYTHING left by Tuesday evening or so when I did.
 
I just called the 1-888 number for BB and got my Spore guides set to ship to me, but it wanted to charge me full shipping for the FO3 guides that weren't in the store. :(

So I just had the guy cancel that order.

I also asked him to check the sku of the FO3 CE to see if it was in the warehouse, but it wasn't. :(
 
[quote name='Zmonkay']No it didn't, they just released a version covering the PSP version of the game. Tricked me too, haha.:bomb:[/QUOTE]

Is there a difference in guides then? I figure they didn't add any new content so just the control scheme would be changed.
 
[quote name='boneless']Is there a difference in guides then? I figure they didn't add any new content so just the control scheme would be changed.[/QUOTE]


PSP Version has 3d graphics
 
[quote name='badramen']DS version has 3d graphics.[/QUOTE]


"The biggest difference is in the definition of the in game graphics though, instead of a pixely 8-bit era looking game we have a game that is clearly 3d with full dynamic lighting. Little touches like street lights and headlamps on the cars add so much to the game world, that when comparing it side by side with the DS version I was pretty astonished."

PSP has 3D graphics and DS has 8 bit graphics.


http://www.co-optimus.com/article/2841/GTA__Chinatown_Wars_PSP_Mini-Review.html
 
[quote name='boneless']Is there a difference in guides then? I figure they didn't add any new content so just the control scheme would be changed.[/QUOTE]


Rockstar added a bit more content to the game including new Rampage missions and a few additional narrative missions to the PSP version.
 
I was lucky today. I hit a GS and talked to the manager for a bit and I noticed Infinite Undiscovery on the back counter as well as some other pennied guides. I asked how much it is and he explained the penny process to me and he told me I could have the guide. I had my brother with me and said "You probably want that Last Remnant guide, right?" and the guy gave us that one as well. Good times.
 
[quote name='slowdive21']I asked how much it is and he explained the penny process to me and he told me I could have the guide.[/QUOTE]

Sometimes it is so hard to play dumb during these conversations. ;)
 
[quote name='kell']Sometimes it is so hard to play dumb during these conversations. ;)[/QUOTE]

It's impossible for me usually. I'll be standing there, listening to them tell me about how the pennying out procedure works and then I'll just bluntly ask if they still have any of those guides.:D

A couple of times, I'll start telling them how I've got them for .01 before and how as long as they're scanned out of the system, then it doesn't matter if they give them to me or not.

That usually only works about 10% of the time anymore, since most of the local GS stores have had the same employees for a couple of years now.:cry:
 
[quote name='loxthefox']Just so you all know, Lego Batman pennied at Best Buy earlier this week.[/QUOTE]
fuck I saw this on Monday and wondered. Should have check I guess.
 
Went back to the BB I got my guides from earlier this week to get some for people that wanted to trade...Got to the register, but this time they called a manager who told me I could only buy 2 guides total (not 2 of each) out of the 7 I had. Oh, well guess I will have to wait until the next drop.
 
[quote name='kell']Sometimes it is so hard to play dumb during these conversations. ;)[/QUOTE]

What's even harder is when you get the same conversation from the same clerk drop after drop. :lol:


Yesterday, I went to a GS looking for a game and noticed that they had a DQV guide. I wanted so bad to try to purchase the guide but I knew the clerk on duty would deny me the guide. In the past, he insisted that Edge didn't stack with the weekly coupon so I didn't want to take any chances. I went back today and the "nice" clerk was on duty. I had no problem buying the guide along with the game I was originally looking for.

Thanks loxthefox. I'll pass by BB and see if I can find a copy. I don't think the BBs in my area had many LBM guides in stock, though.
 
Scored a bunch of penny guides at GS on friday (Infinite, LBP, Kof XII, X-Men, SvR 09, Legends of Wrestlemania)

Also the Pokemon Stickedex is pennied out as well. I got that for my little cousin. It really is not a guide but figured in case anyone is a Poke fan that it should be posted
 
All the Gamestops in the Herndon, VA area except one pull their penny guides the day of the drop. I went there yesterday and they had their regular rack of new games and another rack full of nothing BUT pennied guides; guides that dropped around June. They had Infinite Undiscovery, Oblivion: GOTY, RE5 - Hardcover, Dragon Quest V and Last Remnant. I thought I was in heaven. (My version of heaven is kinda weird)

I get to the counter and the manager says, "You gonna resell these?" I chuckle and say no. He says, "Meh, it's ok. I don't care." Then he scans them, "Oh these are a penny? I can't sell them to you. New store policy. Nothing i can do."

I practically beg him to let him walk out of the store with just TLR, he says there are cameras in the store and there's nothing he can do. It was such a tease. He seemed like a nice guy, I doubt he was lying to me so he could sell them (but still could have been I guess). So, just something to warn everyone about.

(If this 'new' GS policy was talked about earlier in the thread and I skipped it, sorry.)
 
If anyone is in the Beaufort, SC area...check out the best buy on robert smalls parkway. I got 6 guides that held interest for me and others as potential gifts. They had FO3, Ghostbusters, UFC, NCAA 10, Infamous, Transformers, Wolfenstein, and EA sports active. multiple copies of each one, except for FO3. only one of those was left.
 
Scanned the Bioshock guide at Gamestop for 0.01. I was told the guide was "pennied out." I had to quickly mask my disappointment and ask with a straight face "What does that mean?" He explained to me that they had to be pulled and couldn't be sold after that point. Bummer.
 
[quote name='DeathBringer']"The biggest difference is in the definition of the in game graphics though, instead of a pixely 8-bit era looking game we have a game that is clearly 3d with full dynamic lighting. Little touches like street lights and headlamps on the cars add so much to the game world, that when comparing it side by side with the DS version I was pretty astonished."

PSP has 3D graphics and DS has 8 bit graphics.


http://www.co-optimus.com/article/2841/GTA__Chinatown_Wars_PSP_Mini-Review.html[/QUOTE]

Hyperbole doesn't count. Regardless of opinion, Chinatown Wars for DS was 3D.
 
Sonofabitch!! I was looking right at multiple copies of the guide and I passed them up cuz I figured it didn't penny yet. I'll add it to the second and third posts.

Thanks lox.

EDIT: Second and third posts updated with Fable II being added to the Best Buy drop list.

Please someone check Batman: Arkham Asylum and tell me it pennied there, so I can go back and grab it tomorrow.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Sonofabitch!! I was looking right at multiple copies of the guide and I passed them up cuz I figured it didn't penny yet. I'll add it to the second and third posts.

Thanks lox.

EDIT: Second and third posts updated with Fable II being added to the Best Buy drop list.

Please someone check Batman: Arkham Asylum and tell me it pennied there, so I can go back and grab it tomorrow. [/QUOTE]

Also checked that one, didn't drop.
 
Ahhhh crap. Thanks for checking though, lox. Mind ya, I just added Batman:AA to my TL of games, since I'm pretty much done with it. I don't feel like backtracking through 3/4's of the game world to find shit I couldn't access till now due to not having the gadgets you don't get till late in the game.
 
mother trucker damnit!!!! I was at my gamestop looking thru pennied out guides and there wasn't a damn infinite undiscovery there but then my manager called me saying that he found one but it was trashed and looked like a used porno mag so i passed but damnit thats the last RPG guide I need. Oh well :(
 
I just left the SPringfield Il store, as of 9pm this evening there where

1 - Call of Duty WAW

1 - Fallout 3

at least

12 - Street Fighter 4

12 - Mortal Kombat vs Dc

1 - Gears of War 2 ( i think it is the right version )
 
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[quote name='blitzbllmstr']I just left the SPringfield Il store, as of 9pm this evening there where

1 - Call of Duty WAW

1 - Fallout 3

at least

12 - Street Fighter 4

12 - Marvel vs Dc

1 - Gears of War 2 ( i think it is the right version )[/QUOTE]

Hmm guess I should try my BB and see if I can pick up Fallout 3. This will be my first penny guide! Here's hoping!
 
Stupid question but I read through the FAQs but I'm still a little confused. Is this mostly a YMMV thing?

If I walked into my BB and grabbed a Fallout 3 guide (non GOTY I'm assuming) and take it to the counter, is it going to absolutely be .01? Or is there a chance it's not pennied out everywhere? Can you have them price check it or does that run the risk of them seeing .01 and saying no deal?

Just curious

Thanks!
 
[quote name='CombatCraig']Stupid question but I read through the FAQs but I'm still a little confused. Is this mostly a YMMV thing?

If I walked into my BB and grabbed a Fallout 3 guide (non GOTY I'm assuming) and take it to the counter, is it going to absolutely be .01? Or is there a chance it's not pennied out everywhere? Can you have them price check it or does that run the risk of them seeing .01 and saying no deal?

Just curious

Thanks![/QUOTE]

If it's listed in the second post, then it's been verified and will ring up for a penny...not YMMV. Now them selling it to you for a penny is a whole other matter. Usually, if they don't care enough to pull them, they'll usually sell them.
 
[quote name='180husher']If it's listed in the second post, then it's been verified and will ring up for a penny...not YMMV. Now them selling it to you for a penny is a whole other matter. Usually, if they don't care enough to pull them, they'll usually sell them.[/QUOTE]

Got it! Thanks! I'll give it a try after work
 
[quote name='shoe478']You are new so I'll go easy on ya. ...

Your post is useless. You didn't say which store you got them at or if there were any left. Nobody really cares what you bought.[/QUOTE]

That was taking it easy??? :hot:

BTW does anyone else think CAG needs a surprised/frightened smilie in its primary smilie box? Like eliminate one of the smiling smilies, and jam a scaredy smilie in its place.
 
[quote name='shoe478']You are new so I'll go easy on ya. Use this link for bragging about what you bought.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169252

Your post is useless. You didn't say which store you got them at or if there were any left. Nobody really cares what you bought.[/QUOTE]

I don't blame the newbie for not wanting to share their location they got the guides from, since it's nice to just go back and cherry pick whatever you want from what's left at your own leisure without wondering if someone is going to 'grab all them shits' from YOUR store.:roll:

Of course, I was the king of 'grabbing all them shits' for the longest time when I first joined CAG, so I shouldn't talk about invading other people's areas for guides/deals since I used to do it all the time.
 
[quote name='shoe478']You are new so I'll go easy on ya. Use this link for bragging about what you bought.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169252

Your post is useless. You didn't say which store you got them at or if there were any left. Nobody really cares what you bought.[/QUOTE]
Newington ct and yes they did have some of each left except little big planet. and I don't see many other people listing ther locations either.
 
My assumption is they meant which store as in which chain (Best Buy, Gamestop, etc). No, you don't need to state which specific location of that store you got them from :D Welcome to the wonderful world of penny guides. Best of luck in future endeavors!
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']I don't blame the newbie for not wanting to share their location they got the guides from, since it's nice to just go back and cherry pick whatever you want from what's left at your own leisure without wondering if someone is going to 'grab all them shits' from YOUR store.:roll:

Of course, I was the king of 'grabbing all them shits' for the longest time when I first joined CAG, so I shouldn't talk about invading other people's areas for guides/deals since I used to do it all the time.[/QUOTE]

it's funny cause I checked out my Best Buy after I posted here and like 70 percent of them where gone when I checked at 4pm the next day on the way home from work.

personally I think it was the employees because they where all shocked and calling each over for my order consisting of a total 15 cents.
 
[quote name='ackbar7']I am starting to think lox is just BSing us.[/QUOTE]

Whassa matta wit chu?

Seriously, it's amazing what RSS access and boredom waiting for shipments can do to one.
 
I can confirm that Fable 2 softcover is pennied at BB. I'll check Halo 3 and (hopefully) LBM tomorrow.

I went in to pick up a used copy of FO3 GOTY and found another FO3 Broken Steel/ Point Lookout guide. I gave the guy a pre-order since this GS always pulls their guide drops.
 
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