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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$10 is too much for guides, a penny would be nice!

My gamecrazys act crazy for anyone attempting to find a penny guide. They will kick you out of the store, or make you pre-order something it's so stupid!
 
[quote name='DeathBringer']$10 is too much for guides, a penny would be nice!

My gamecrazys act crazy for anyone attempting to find a penny guide. They will kick you out of the store, or make you pre-order something it's so stupid![/QUOTE]

No way is $10 too much for a guide. In fact, if that was the standard price, I'd probably buy ALOT more. The last one I bought at full price was Valkyria Chronicles because it was a Gamestop exclusive and I don't regret it. Still debating on Dissidia.
 
[quote name='DeathBringer']$10 is too much for guides, a penny would be nice!

My gamecrazys act crazy for anyone attempting to find a penny guide. They will kick you out of the store, or make you pre-order something it's so stupid![/QUOTE]

I had a face to face confrontation with the district manager of my local Gamestops about two years ago as I was salivating over the overflowing guide rack at my closest GS store. Thing is, I was hitting MANY stores in his district(including ones an hour plus away)and he had reports of me walking out with stacks upon stacks of them(100+ at one store:lol:).

Funny thing is, the closest store denied me on a guide(a single guide outta the menagerie of older drops they had STILL on the damn shelf), so I wrote a 'complaint email' to him saying "I'm never gonna shop in your stores again, blah blah blah".

Looking back, it was a real dick move on my part and I've definitely learned to be a little more quiet in how I argue my point anymore.

Anyway, funny thing was he says my name, I turn my head and get him eye to eye. Then he reviews my email with me, says he's seen tapes of me in many stores grabbing lotsa guides and 'I will never get another guide from one of his stores'(FYI I've managed to get 1-2 here or there, but no major hauls anymore :cry:).

Even funnier though, to be a complete dick, I told him that 'I wouldn't try for these guides if they weren't on the shelf' and then I proceeded to name and point out each guide on the rack next to me that was pennied and by pointing them out it let him know that his employees were lazy and not doing their jobs.

He turned beet red(thought he was gonna have a heart attack right then n there, while I'm chuckling to myself)and starts throwing these guides off the shelf and onto the floor. Then after mentioning all the ones I remembered off the top of my head, I told him he better have them scan all the other ones cuz I think there's more.:lol:

I'm surprised I wasn't lifetime banned for that little show.:lol:
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Then after mentioning all the ones I remembered off the top of my head, I told him he better have them scan all the other ones cuz I think there's more.:lol:[/QUOTE]
OWNED :lol:
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']
I'm surprised I wasn't lifetime banned for that little show.:lol:[/QUOTE]

What are you trying to take away my title?! :) Read the 'sig'!
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer'](100+ at one store:lol:).
[/QUOTE]

100 guides at a Gamestop???????? All in one run????? Thats INSANE. Im lucky if I find 20 -30 regular guides at gamestops, let alone 100 pennied ones...
 
[quote name='arsenalcrazy8']100 guides at a Gamestop???????? All in one run????? Thats INSANE. Im lucky if I find 20 -30 regular guides at gamestops, let alone 100 pennied ones...[/QUOTE]

This store had drops going back a year or longer still on the shelf, with multiples of many of those guides, so it was fairly easy to find 100+.

Even the time I got confronted by the DM at my closest GS, they had drops going back 2 years or so sitting on the shelf.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']This store had drops going back a year or longer still on the shelf, with multiples of many of those guides, so it was fairly easy to find 100+.

Even the time I got confronted by the DM at my closest GS, they had drops going back 2 years or so sitting on the shelf.[/QUOTE]

Since we're off topic anyway: That's how I found out (and how the employee and even store manager found out) that the register can only have 100 (I think that was it?) items on a single receipt. might have been 50 items. I know I walked out with over 150 guides... They not only had a huge number of guides on the shelf, but also let me raid their back room, which literally had a wall filled with just old guides... :drool: I had the entire penny list with me, and the employee thought it was a scavenger hunt, and helped me schlep it all to the counter. Easily my best haul ever, though this was years ago around when penny guides were first discovered/being discussed on CAG and before the crazy crackdowns. Ah, the good ol days.
 
Stopped by Best Buy today with almost 10 Prince of Persia Collector's Editions staring me in the face. I think there was the same number of them when I went last month. Damn things are torturing me.
 
woo hoo, found Pikmin Wii guide at GS for a penny. That must have recently come out of the backroom, because that is a pretty old drop, and I am sure it was not there before.
 
I'm new to this thread. Are the prices marked on the guides? Or is this like those Sears clearance games? You only know once you take it to the register.
 
[quote name='kk012']I'm new to this thread. Are the prices marked on the guides? Or is this like those Sears clearance games? You only know once you take it to the register.[/QUOTE]

Usually they are not marked
 
I went hunting for penny game guides today. I was not too successful. I went to 1 GameCrazy and didn't find any of the recent penny game guides:cry: I really wanted the ToV and FFVII:CC one.

I stopped by 2 BBs. At one BB, I was able to actually find and buy some penny game guides:) The other BB was annoying. They refused to sell them to me for a penny a piece. They mentioned something about they can't sell items at a penny

Has this happened to anyone else? An item drops to a penny and the store refuses to sell it to you?

I think I would have felt much better if these penny game guides weren't sitting on the shelf instead of me taking them to the check out counter and being denied the penny price. I'd pay $10 for the RPG guides, but not $20 for Dead Space, NFS:U and C&C:Red Alert 3. These 3 were the game guides that I couldn't buy for pennies. That's my rant. Thanks for reading!
 
Well, seems like my GC converted their wall of guides to a measly rack with about 20 different guides. I asked about the Vesperia guide, she looked it up, gave an interesting stare at the screen for about 10 seconds before telling me they dont have it in stock. Heck, I wouldnt have mind paying full for that guide if they did have it.
 
So i went to BB the other day and saw PoP collectors guide still in the wrapper i took it to get it scanned but it wasnt coming up in the system. Is there anyway i can get this guide for a penny?
 
[quote name='omega999']So i went to BB the other day and saw PoP collectors guide still in the wrapper i took it to get it scanned but it wasnt coming up in the system. Is there anyway i can get this guide for a penny?[/QUOTE]
Did PoP CE guide dropped at BB? I didn't see it on the first page though.
 
[quote name='causticpork']if they refuse to sell try adding a sode or something to bring the total over a dollar that may help maybe, but prolly not[/QUOTE]

I was buying a $10 PS2 game along with the penny game guides when I got denied the purchase of those penny game guides.

Did I have to buy a big ticket item to get the cheap stuff? =P
 
[quote name='kk012']I was buying a $10 PS2 game along with the penny game guides when I got denied the purchase of those penny game guides.

Did I have to buy a big ticket item to get the cheap stuff? =P[/QUOTE]

Honestly though, although buying another item sometimes does help in buying guides, other times they'll deny you either way. It may make the purchase a bit less awkward, but its not a guarantee that the will sell it to you.

Of course, threatening to walk away from the ps3 purchase might actually get you a guide, but you can only use that so many times, and you can only have enough funds before you run out from buying ps3s >_>
 
[quote name='kk012']Has this happened to anyone else? An item drops to a penny and the store refuses to sell it to you?[/QUOTE]

Happens to just about everyone, actually. They're really not supposed to sell them at a penny, so whether you get a guide just depends on whether the employee cares or not.
 
[quote name='Link927']Of course, threatening to walk away from the ps3 purchase might actually get you a guide, but you can only use that so many times, and you can only have enough funds before you run out from buying ps3s >_>[/QUOTE]

And you have to think long and hard "Is this Need for Speed guide really worth $300?"
 
[quote name='eau']Did PoP CE guide dropped at BB? I didn't see it on the first page though.[/QUOTE]


That would be why the guide scanned at regular price. No drop on that yet...
 
[quote name='Richard Longfellow']And you have to think long and hard "Is this Need for Speed guide really worth $300?"[/QUOTE]

If it was something like 3 mint condition Tales Of Vesperia guides(thanks again Pooky, cuz now I won't let it go for less than a newer game for PS3), then yes that purchase to 'mask' the guides would be well worth it, since the TOV guide goes for a bit right now on Ebay. :D
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']If it was something like 3 mint condition Tales Of Vesperia guides(thanks again Pooky, cuz now I won't let it go for less than a newer game for PS3), then yes that purchase to 'mask' the guides would be well worth it, since the TOV guide goes for a bit right now on Ebay. :D[/QUOTE]

Yeah I think I sold mine for around $40-50 a few months back. Just never know with guides. Sometimes they are worthless, sometimes a gold mine. Grab them shits.
 
I was in Blockbuster the other day and had the regular Fallout 3 guides, marked $12.50, scanned for additional markdowns. "These have actually been marked back up to $24.99." Uggh.
 
[quote name='crazedracerguy']That makes me laugh every time I see it...[/QUOTE]

Me too. It's started creeping into my regular vocabulary. I notice myself using it... and make a note to continue using it, because it's hilarious. GRAB THEM SHITS!

No drops this week, huh? Ah well, I've gotten most of the good ones from the last couple of drops...
 
I've unfortunately run into a brick wall at every store around here anymore. I think for a while I was known as 'the guide guy', since that was the ONLY time the clerks EVER saw me in their stores.

Then again, I don't exactly need/want anything else at these stores, so why would I need to be there besides deal hunt?
 
I don't know when it happened since I haven't been to GS in about a week, but I got a Halo Wars guide that was pennied out.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']You know, I'm shocked Blockbuster didn't beat Circuit City to the retail graveyard, since they've made some very stupid decisions just like CC did.[/QUOTE]

Hey, speaking of retail...we have a new store going in where CC used to be called hhgregg, any of you guys know anything about them? I hear they are another electronics type retailer, but we never had any in the Tampa Bay area before.

oh yeah...grab them shits...classic
 
[quote name='wrencrest']Hey, speaking of retail...we have a new store going in where CC used to be called hhgregg, any of you guys know anything about them? I hear they are another electronics type retailer, but we never had any in the Tampa Bay area before.

oh yeah...grab them shits...classic[/QUOTE]

We have 2 opening up in Richmond. Their website is weak, hopefully not a representation of their in-store stock. Almost nothing video game related, and their electronics are overpriced.
 
[quote name='Ziv']I don't know when it happened since I haven't been to GS in about a week, but I got a Halo Wars guide that was pennied out.[/QUOTE]

So just to clarify, you got a Halo Wars guide pennied at GameStop a week ago?
 
[quote name='wrencrest']Hey, speaking of retail...we have a new store going in where CC used to be called hhgregg, any of you guys know anything about them? I hear they are another electronics type retailer, but we never had any in the Tampa Bay area before.

oh yeah...grab them shits...classic[/QUOTE]

I actually found out that that chain is trying to take over many of the same currently empty storefronts that CC left wide open when they went under. Apparently, their plan is to 'move into already established markets' by going into the old CC stores.

Otherwise, I haven't heard anything about them. As for Halo Wars being pennied @ Gamestop, can we get a confirmation on that?
 
I picked up the Halo Wars guide today. It was the first time this week I had been to a Gamestop. So I don't know exactly when it pennied. But it is a penny. Sorry for the confusion.
 
[quote name='microchip2378']I picked up today at Gamestop the following...

Tomb Raider Underworld
Grand Theft Auto IV
Godfather II
Star Ocean: First Depature
Halo Wars[/QUOTE]
I'll check in to gamestop tommorow and see if I can score the GTA IV guide.
Some employees let me have a guide, some say they can't sell it to me, ect.
 
[quote name='microchip2378']I picked up today at Gamestop the following...

Tomb Raider Underworld
Grand Theft Auto IV
Godfather II
Star Ocean: First Depature
Halo Wars[/QUOTE]

These titles were on the website yesterday, but today, they are missing:
Halo Wars
Godfather II
Tomb Raider Underworld

Star Ocean First Departure was an old drop.

Grand Theft Auto IV still appears on the website, I wonder if you got that by accident.
 
I was at a Game Crazy today and noticed that there were Grand Theft Auto 4 guides with the cover torn off behind the counter, so I think they are pennied there too.
 
Wow. GTA IV finally pennied at a couple of places? Shocking. Normally it's Best Buy that pennies them first, then other stores usually follow suit about 6 months or so later.
 
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