Reduced Price Game Guides: Thread X(Ten)

Status
Not open for further replies.
IAmTheCheapestGamer

IAmTheCheapestGamer

Banned
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.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Upvote 0 Downvote
[quote name='gordojones88']At both of my BBs, the Fallout 3 CE hardcovers are no longer on the shelf. Last Friday there were a few semi-beatup copies that have been there for a long time, and on Tuesday they are all gone. So . . .[/QUOTE]
just got back from best buy and there was 3 of them but i didnt have time to find an employee and check the price. I wish they had a customer price check scanner or something.
 
Dang, I wish I saw these posts earlier. I was just at a BBY with about 10 of them but didn't check. They did pull all the pennied guides after the initial drop, though, so I'd think they may have pulled these, too. I may be able to check tomorrow, though.
 
[quote name='gordojones88']At both of my BBs, the Fallout 3 CE hardcovers are no longer on the shelf. Last Friday there were a few semi-beatup copies that have been there for a long time, and on Tuesday they are all gone. So . . .[/QUOTE]

At my BB, where there used to be about 30 Fallout 3 CE, there was a single lone guy left. I dutifully brought him to the counter, held my breath...

and...

It rang up for $34.99. sorry folks.
 
I check the Fallout 3 collectors edition guide every day I work, in the computer sadly cause my store doesn't have any copies. I didn't work today but I checked on Monday and it was still full price.

I'll be at work Monday at 930am est checking those Brady guides. All the ones listed earlier were the ones I was watching.

It's not to early for Infamous cause it's been discontinued. Pokemon Platinum and all the newest guides are still active so they won't be pennying. Fallout 3 CE, LBP and those listed in the discussion thread are next candidates for a drop.

On a side note RE5 guides are still active and my store has 56 copies.
 
I've got a good feeling that BB corporate is getting stores to send the F3 LE guide to the eBay outlet store. Every single copy in my area disappeared mysteriously. I checked the other store that had a copy and it was gone as well. :(

Guess I won't get one when it drops.
 
I'd actually prefer the softcover guide. I much prefer that cover's artwork to that... smiley face guy.

I wouldn't turn down the hardcover guide if it were available, though.

Thank you for the update, Frosty! Definitely looking forward to InFamous and Little Big Planet.
 
[quote name='Feeding the Abscess']I'd actually prefer the softcover guide. I much prefer that cover's artwork to that... smiley face guy.
[/QUOTE]

My avatar has a pretty big crush on Vault Boy.
 
Thanks,

Hey guys a few Best Buy's around me usually has guides still in stock. I usualloy go out for Lunch on thursdays and Fridays and check at least 1 BB in the area, let me know if there are any guides people are interested in.

I also have some for trade so please see my post in the Trading section
 
[quote name='Doomstink']I've got a good feeling that BB corporate is getting stores to send the F3 LE guide to the eBay outlet store. Every single copy in my area disappeared mysteriously. I checked the other store that had a copy and it was gone as well. :(

Guess I won't get one when it drops.[/QUOTE]Let's hope that won't be their choice of things to do with guides when they almost penny out, since that would kill the penny guide hunt.

They may be doing it because of the GOTY version edition of the guides coming out (normal and LE), with all of the DLC added into the new guides.
 
I think it's safe to assume there's also a GOTY edition for LBP's guide coming out as well, since the GOTY edition game is out now.

These GOTY editions really are starting to annoy the shit out of me, since I've bought at least one(LBP) and I refuse to trade my 'old' copy, get shit for it and then have to pay full price for a 'new' edition.
 
[quote name='Doomstink']Um, did anyone else notice that all the copies of the Fallout 3 LE have mysteriously vanished from the shelves at their BB? My store had 10+ copies two days ago, and now the store suddenly has none. I think it may have pennied today. Can I get a confirmation from someone since every single one of them has disappeared from my area?

I was suspecting this as the big guide for the next drop, but I smell shenanigans here. It might be going straight to the outlet instead of pennying...[/QUOTE]

there were about twenty of them left at my BB last night, i picked up the fire emblem guide, and brought the fallout 3 LE guide up to the register with me, but it still rang up at $35, so i passed.
 
A bit late to the party but went to 3 BB's last week and did pretty well:

Godfather II
LOTR
Mirror's Edge HC
Pikmin
PoP LE
Rise of the Argonauts
Sonice Unleashed
Terminator

Bummer thing is that I seemed to just have missed the ones I really wanted: Fire Emblem and RE5 HC. I went to a location that had stock according to the website and decided to go to other locations and got the above guides. I'll see if I can get one from the trade thread.

Thanks to all who contribute to this thread.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']I think it's safe to assume there's also a GOTY edition for LBP's guide coming out as well, since the GOTY edition game is out now.

These GOTY editions really are starting to annoy the shit out of me, since I've bought at least one(LBP) and I refuse to trade my 'old' copy, get shit for it and then have to pay full price for a 'new' edition.[/QUOTE]From a quick Google search, as well as searches on the Prima and Brady websites, there doesn't appear to be one.
 
About 30 FO3 Regular Edition guides are all marked at $12.49 at the Chapel Hill, OH BB.

That's the lowest I've seen the regular edition.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']I figured they would be releasing a new version to coincide with the GOTY, but I guess maybe for once they aren't. Weird.[/QUOTE]

To be honest, it doesn't seem like enough content was added to warrant a new book. Just some maps, some costumes, the Metal Gear Solid pack, and the Modnation Racers beta invite. It's not like the Fallout 3 GOTY guides, which have strategies for 5 decent-sized expansion packs.

Kind of off topic here, but I just got hired at Best Buy today! Hopefully I'll be able to help out come drop time.
 
I've been trying to get hired by Best Buy and Blockbuster(and I've even considered Gamestop) for like 2 years now, but I gotta shitty work history, so they probably figure I'll tell some manager to go fuck himself during the middle of the Christmas rush and walk out while the store is packed with customers.

Of course, the only reason I wanted in at any of those companies was to get an inside look at their procedures and maybe get first crack at some stuff when it goes super cheap/pennies.:lol:

Can't blame me for thinking like a CAG while looking for work, right?

Oh and lox, keep us informed but don't take too many risks. That goes for all of our inside informants on these drops.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']I've been trying to get hired by Best Buy and Blockbuster(and I've even considered Gamestop) for like 2 years now, but I gotta shitty work history, so they probably figure I'll tell some manager to go fuck himself during the middle of the Christmas rush and walk out while the store is packed with customers.

Of course, the only reason I wanted in at any of those companies was to get an inside look at their procedures and maybe get first crack at some stuff when it goes super cheap/pennies.:lol:

Can't blame me for thinking like a CAG while looking for work, right?

Oh and lox, keep us informed but don't take too many risks. That goes for all of our inside informants on these drops.[/QUOTE]

Gotcha.
 
[quote name='bob330i']A bit late to the party but went to 3 BB's last week and did pretty well:

Godfather II
LOTR
Mirror's Edge HC
Pikmin
PoP LE
Rise of the Argonauts
Sonice Unleashed
Terminator

Bummer thing is that I seemed to just have missed the ones I really wanted: Fire Emblem and RE5 HC. I went to a location that had stock according to the website and decided to go to other locations and got the above guides. I'll see if I can get one from the trade thread.

Thanks to all who contribute to this thread.[/QUOTE]
PM'd
 
[quote name='Richard Longfellow']Who deleted my post about the Batman Lego guides at Best Buy???[/QUOTE]

You have no deleted posts, so......no one :lol:
 
[quote name='Richard Longfellow']Who deleted my post about the Batman Lego guides at Best Buy???[/QUOTE]

Were you going to say that they are $9.99? I picked up a ratty looking one and had it scanned last week. Dunno if it's been pennied this week or not.
 
[quote name='bob330i']Were you going to say that they are $9.99? I picked up a ratty looking one and had it scanned last week. Dunno if it's been pennied this week or not.[/QUOTE]

Last time I checked they were 9.99 and i picked up two of them for 80% off ($2 each). I haven't seen them at any of the other BB in the area.
 
[quote name='bob330i']Were you going to say that they are $9.99? I picked up a ratty looking one and had it scanned last week. Dunno if it's been pennied this week or not.[/QUOTE]

No, actually they were gone from my store this week, and they're gone from the BB website too. I swear I submitted that post and saw it displayed.
 
Pretty satisfied as I picked up every guide from this last drop at an out of town best buy... Mylocal store has been pulling the guides way to quickly this year... Maybe they will slack up around the holidays again... Was most excited to have the deluxe RE5 to go with the deluxe game.
 
all the fallout 3 hardcover guides were pulled from my local best buy as well but still managed to snag legends of wrestling X2, madden 09 X1, the godfather 2 X1 all for 4 cents. thanx again for keeping this thread updated!
 
Folks, I go through this thread and see pages of posts deleted by shrike. I am not as kind as he is; if you post want/need/PM me Posts in here, and I see him having to clean up after you more than once, I will silence you.

We have a trade thread. Use it. If you are unfamiliar with where it is located, read the first post of this thread.
 
[quote name='guinaevere']Folks, I go through this thread and see pages of posts deleted by shrike. I am not as kind as he is; if you post want/need/PM me Posts in here, and I see him having to clean up after you more than once, I will silence you.

We have a trade thread. Use it. If you are unfamiliar with where it is located, read the first post of this thread.[/QUOTE]

[quote name='Pookymeister']Still looking for a Fallout 3 LE guide, come on people[/QUOTE]

Hahaha...:applause::applause::applause::applause:
 
Ah, so now I understand why you're IMing me, Pooky. Two can play at this game...


Oh, and I still have those guides from ages ago that I held for you.
 
Is the Fallout 3 CE confirmed $0.01 yet? I know of a BB that had 2-3 of those left and I price checked them at $35 last week, I might go back there tonight and see whats up.
 
LOL Pooky

So YOU'RE the one who's been cluttering this thread? :razz:

And no freshzen, Fallout 3 CE hasn't pennied at Best Buy. Actually, people were reporting that it has disappeared from their Best Buy stores and I believe someone reported it being on BB's Ebay store now.
 
They're not on the BB eBay Outlet store yet. Some of us just expect that to happen.

The Halo 3 guides seemed to disappear without a drop also. Lots of Managers Specials on them, but none pennied, then they just disappeared. I never saw them on the BB eBay site, but another outfit was selling a bunch. I surmised BB sold them off to a third party.
 
[quote name='PapaSmerf']They're not on the BB eBay Outlet store yet. Some of us just expect that to happen.

The Halo 3 guides seemed to disappear without a drop also. Lots of Managers Specials on them, but none pennied, then they just disappeared. I never saw them on the BB eBay site, but another outfit was selling a bunch. I surmised BB sold them off to a third party.[/QUOTE]
Oh, I was at BBY on Tuesday and they had a bunch of guides in a big bin. I noticed some penny guides from the most recent drop and from the last drop in there, so I asked what the deal was with them, and the employee told me they were all a penny and I could take as many as I wanted. There were like 25 Halo 3 guides in there, but I've already got a few from CC, so I never bothered to take any to see if they rang up that way. I thought they were from a previous drop. I guess it's worth checking out if you're interested in the guide.
 
[quote name='KillSwitch DV8']all the fallout 3 hardcover guides were pulled from my local best buy as well but still managed to snag legends of wrestling X2, madden 09 X1, the godfather 2 X1 all for 4 cents. thanx again for keeping this thread updated![/QUOTE]

Same with the stores I checked. The mother store had at least 30, and now they're all gone. Whats also changed is that they rearranged the guides by giving them a new shelf above the games.
 
[quote name='cheapbastard']Went in & got a bunch of guides. But this one Cheats & Codes Summer 2009 didnt ring up as a penny.Oh well didnt really want it.[/QUOTE]

I bought this today for a penny. It has a red and black cover with the title "CODES & CHEATS." Underneath that big title it says "summer 2009" written very very small. It also says "prima games" in the upper left corner and it has "18,000+ Tested codes" written really big vertically on the front cover. Hope that helps.

Here's some pics

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780761560838.html

http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQcpidZ1390285698QQprZ70938068


I dont even know why I bought it. I'll probably never use it. I just didn't want to leave BB empty handed.
 
[quote name='SonictheHedgehog1337']I bought this today for a penny. It has a red and black cover with the title "CODES & CHEATS." Underneath that big title it says "summer 2009" written very very small. It also says "prima games" in the upper left corner and it has "18,000+ Tested codes" written really big vertically on the front cover. Hope that helps.

Here's some pics

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780761560838.html

http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQcpidZ1390285698QQprZ70938068


I dont even know why I bought it. I'll probably never use it. I just didn't want to leave BB empty handed.[/QUOTE]

Mine looked different than the one on the pic. It had an orange cover I believe. All I know is that I went by the title Cheats & Codes Summer 2009 & it didnt ring up.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']I also checked Cheat Code Overload Summer 09 and I don't think that one is either. Can anyone verify which code book dropped?[/QUOTE]
I just read your post again and the cheat book that pennied is not Cheat Code Overload, but Codes and Cheats. The one Sonic posted. Mine has a $.01 price tag on it. The one you posted on the 2nd post is correct.
 
Something I noticed at BB today. They had a End Of Sale (I think that's what it was called) list,dated 10/2, containing a list of pennied guides. It had ones from the last drop or two, along with a few others, like Fable II, WoW Atlus, Tomb Raider: Underworld, Lego Batman, and Spore. I was unable to check the guides in-store as they were gone, but it's possible they may have pennied.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
bread's done
Back
Top