Reduced Price Game Guides: Thread XI

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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.


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 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

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 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/...d.php?t=187222
Guide Ten:
http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219547

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, Guinaevere 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='thebytewasbit']I forgot to take the penny guide list w/ me the last time I went to BB. I'll be close to a BB sunday morning helping a friend move, so I'll be sure to have it handy then. :twisted:[/QUOTE]

Cool. Hey IATCG, could you put this in the first post? I'm sure everyone was wondering what this guy was going to do on Sunday. :)
 
[quote name='confoosious']WHY THE fuck DOES THE STUPID PMED A PENNY GUIDE STORY HAVE TO COME UP AGAIN AND AGAIN.

STFU ABOUT IT ALREADY!

AND JOEMARTINEZ CAN GO EAT A DICK TOO

ok i feel better now[/QUOTE]

It could be worse. I could've also regaled everyone with how I used to get 100 guides from one store in one shot at stores way out of my area.:D

Oh wait. Ooops.:razz:
 
The thing is, if you keep posting that nonsense, you have no room to complain when this thread goes off topic. A trip down memory lane is just as useful as some dude telling us he's gonna help someone move so he's gonna be near a best buy. So the fuck what? Nobody gives a shit.

And yet here we are.

I don't want to hear any complaints about people cluttering up this thread when the OP does just a good a job cluttering it up as anyone.
 
[quote name='confoosious']The thing is, if you keep posting that nonsense, you have no room to complain when this thread goes off topic. A trip down memory lane is just as useful as some dude telling us he's gonna help someone move so he's gonna be near a best buy. So the fuck what? Nobody gives a shit.

And yet here we are.

I don't want to hear any complaints about people cluttering up this thread when the OP does just a good a job cluttering it up as anyone.[/QUOTE]

People have told me I'm a hypocrite on here before(like bitching bout hoarders at Target n I hoard guides:roll:), so I guess this is another area where I have no room to talk, huh?:D

Like I said about 2 pages ago(50 posts per page), I gave up on people keeping the chit chat to a minimum in here, so let the mindless rambling continue.;)
 
[quote name='shoe478']Getting in arguments clutters up the thread too. :)[/QUOTE]

Apparently everything is fair game.

So I'm gonna take a drive tomorrow to help my friend eat a bucket of chicken and I might pass a best buy. And there might be some penny guides there. Maybe I'll make a youtube video of it.
 
[quote name='confoosious']Apparently everything is fair game.

So I'm gonna take a drive tomorrow to help my friend eat a bucket of chicken and I might pass a best buy. And there might be some penny guides there. Maybe I'll make a youtube video of it.[/QUOTE]

At least put effort into the Youtube video. :p

fire_thief or whatever the hell his name was didn't even put good effort into it. :p
 
Thanks. i was just asking for this in another thread.

But here's how you post it:

515samuelljacksonreadth.gif
 
[quote name='confoosious']Thanks. i was just asking for this in another thread.

But here's how you post it:

515-samuel-l-jackson-read-the-mutha-fucking-post.gif
[/QUOTE]

Oooh. The red X of joy!
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']It's coming up as a red X on my screen. :( And either you deleted that post asking for the .gif or one of the mods did.[/QUOTE]

nah, it was in the GS 50% thread. Some newb asked "what's the tiv for bioshock 2?" and deserved a dose of angry Samuel L.
 
I really should have someone post that about once every 20 posts in here, since there are quite a few noobs at times who keep repeating themselves, asking what's dropped n at what store even after the second post is updated.:bomb:
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']I really should have someone post that about once every 20 posts in here, since there are quite a few noobs at times who keep repeating themselves, asking what's dropped n at what store even after the second post is updated.:bomb:[/QUOTE]

someone needs to do a much better job but of this poorly edited gif by me:

samzw.gif
 
[quote name='confoosious']Maybe I'll make a youtube video of it.[/QUOTE]

But do you have a "signature drink?" This (along with being a tool) is a requirement for making a video like that.

The advantage of all these useless posts is you have to have the patience of a saint to wade through them to find the actual guide drop info, limiting the number of people hunting these guides.
 
[quote name='gantt']

The advantage of all these useless posts is you have to have the patience of a saint to wade through them to find the actual guide drop info, limiting the number of people hunting these guides.[/QUOTE]

That's definitely a silver lining.

God I wish someone had a copy of that youtube video. I'd like to see it again.
 
If it's a pennied guide that isn't worth having, I might just go in the bathroom @ Best Buy & use it to wipe my ass. I'll be sure to post pictures & video tutorials as well.
 
[quote name='confoosious']WHY THE fuck DOES THE STUPID PMED A PENNY GUIDE STORY HAVE TO COME UP AGAIN AND AGAIN.

STFU ABOUT IT ALREADY![/QUOTE]
Remember when he had the Demon's Souls import that he was trying to sell? He worked that into every single post he made on CAG for at least a month - good times!
 
[quote name='confoosious']Thanks. i was just asking for this in another thread.

But here's how you post it:

515samuelljacksonreadth.gif
[/QUOTE]
Hey, my old sig pic! Been meaning to google that after I lost it! Thanks for doing the work for me.

And OT, I got several of the already aforementioned guides at a store that hardly pulls them and has even stickered some with .01 price stickers in the past. The cashier asked if I worked at BB and then if I knew someone who did. Just asked why she asked and she said people could get in trouble, not menacingly, just like a friendly warning, but she had to get the manager. He was cool with it, maybe less concerned than she. I only had seven guides and got Batman Begins BR for 15 as well.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']I really should have someone post that about once every 20 posts in here, since there are quite a few noobs at times who keep repeating themselves, asking what's dropped n at what store even after the second post is updated.:bomb:[/QUOTE]

You're right about the noobs (and maybe I'm one of them by asking this), but aren't the first two posts about confirmed drops, not potential drops? Or did I miss that info? I did read both posts.

What I mean is that I've seen folks get slammed when asking about the list of items that were recently taken out of the system. That's the list I'm usually scanning the thread for, so I can help confirm/deny a drop. A helpful soul or two posts it, but it quickly gets buried by chatty posts. Is that info repeated somewhere up front? Something like a "watch list"?
 
[quote name='Zippon']You're right about the noobs (and maybe I'm one of them by asking this), but aren't the first two posts about confirmed drops, not potential drops? Or did I miss that info? I did read both posts.

What I mean is that I've seen folks get slammed when asking about the list of items that were recently taken out of the system. That's the list I'm usually scanning the thread for, so I can help confirm/deny a drop. A helpful soul or two posts it, but it quickly gets buried by chatty posts. Is that info repeated somewhere up front? Something like a "watch list"?[/QUOTE]
Loxthefox used to keep a list of guides missing from the website up to date in the same post in the old thread, but in this one, it seems the list just gets reposted as it develops. Frosty the Batman has posted the list based on guide status on BB's system. The latest is here:

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6837262&postcount=438

Unless someone decides to maintain a single post, you'll just have to use the search for posts by those two CAGs.

ASIDE: Frosty and Lox - If one of you two do wish to maintain a single post, perhaps IATCG could link it in the first post. Of course noobs still won't find it, but that way we would not need to maintain our own links as the thread renews. Appreciate all the effort!
 
[quote name='PapaSmerf']Loxthefox used to keep a list of guides missing from the website up to date in the same post in the old thread, but in this one, it seems the list just gets reposted as it develops. Frosty the Batman has posted the list based on guide status on BB's system. The latest is here:

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showpost.php?p=6837262&postcount=438

Unless someone decides to maintain a single post, you'll just have to use the search for posts by those two CAGs.

ASIDE: Frosty and Lox - If one of you two do wish to maintain a single post, perhaps IATCG could link it in the first post. Of course noobs still won't find it, but that way we would not need to maintain our own links as the thread renews. Appreciate all the effort![/QUOTE]

I still keep the list updated. It's on the second page of the thread. I tried to get it on the first page but by the time I noticed the new thread, it was too late.
 
[quote name='loxthefox']I still keep the list updated. It's on the second page of the thread. I tried to get it on the first page but by the time I noticed the new thread, it was too late.[/QUOTE]
Demonstrated my own point. I looked and could not find it. Thanks!
 
Thanks to you, both. I wasn't sure if there was a better way to search, PapaSmerf. And lox, that works perfectly. Now I know where to look. :D
 
[quote name='guinaevere']Cleaned up.[/QUOTE]

Good thing this priceless post was preserved...

[quote name='thebytewasbit']I forgot to take the penny guide list w/ me the last time I went to BB. I'll be close to a BB sunday morning helping a friend move, so I'll be sure to have it handy then. :twisted:[/QUOTE]
 
[quote name='guinaevere']Cleaned up. Keeping Samuel L Jackson, because he's awesome.

Neo, it was on the house.[/QUOTE]

That's classic. Put a smile on my face this morning.
 
Since I think it is a very useful tool, and the posts were deleted, Loxthefox has a list of the guides that have gone missing from the BestBuy website on the second page. These guides are good to check for potential drops. He keeps it current. Thanks again Lox!
 
Thanks for pointing that out, Papa. I put a link to Lox's updated post at the bottom of Post 2. That should help a little.

[quote name='gantt']Good thing this priceless post was preserved...[/QUOTE]Oh hush. So I missed a couple.


They're cleaned out, now. Satisfactory?
 
Stopped in at a way-out-of-the-way BB and was happy to find

COD:MW Reflex
Warhammer Online Atlas
GTA 4 (cover is fucked up but the guide is fine)
Lord of the Rings Conquest

There were several copies of the Warhammer Atlas and even the original Warhammer guide which dropped months ago but I left those. And LotR, that's an old-ass drop but I got it anyway since I forgot to grab one when it dropped.
 
[quote name='N3UROP0D']Stopped in at a way-out-of-the-way BB and was happy to find

COD:MW Reflex
Warhammer Online Atlas
GTA 4 (cover is fucked up but the guide is fine)
Lord of the Rings Conquest

There were several copies of the Warhammer Atlas and even the original Warhammer guide which dropped months ago but I left those. And LotR, that's an old-ass drop but I got it anyway since I forgot to grab one when it dropped.[/QUOTE]

Actually, it was the atlas/guide combo that dropped during that really f'd up drop last year, I think. The guide by itself just dropped during this drop. I wonder if that external upc sticker marked $24.99 on some Warhammer guides still comes up as $10k though.:lol:
 
I dunno Rocko, these threads have tons of posts and we hear the same questions and arguments and discussions over and over. Folks get sick of the same useless posts when they're hoping to see information which is actually new and helpful.

But you get a point for the predictable, over-used, cliche Nazi complaint.
 
[quote name='guinaevere']I dunno Rocko, these threads have tons of posts and we hear the same questions and arguments and discussions over and over. Folks get sick of the same useless posts when they're hoping to see information which is actually new and helpful.

But you get a point for the predictable, over-used, cliche Nazi complaint.[/QUOTE]

Especially the 'did anything drop' ones, those just show that whoever was posting them didn't wanna READ the last X number of posts since they looked at the thread last to see if anyone reported a drop.

Or....you know....look at the second post, where there's a nicely compiled list of what DID drop, when they dropped and where they dropped.

That's why I gave up on 'being a Nazi' about the discussion/scores posts in here and stopped saying 'use the discussion thread'. It seems like we go through one of these threads every six months with all of the yip yap that goes on.

I know I'm not helping it by posting saying 'shaddap', but unfortunately no one listens anyway and it relieves aggravation to go off on a tangent from time to time.:lol::D
 
[quote name='Rocko']Why is this the only thread that people find it necessary to be Nazis about?[/QUOTE]

With all the "ZOMG HOARDERS!!!" posts that pop up, it seems more like communists to me.
 
No, I'm going to be a Nazi in this thread when I move tonight and burn all the inferior guides I have triplicates of before departing.

Exterminate the Maddens.

I tried selling and trading the lesser guides away, as they are the cause of all of my collection's problems, taking up all that precious shelf space. Practically controlling media.

Since i can't get them relocated to someone elses collection, disposing of them is essentially my final solution.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Especially the 'did anything drop' ones, those just show that whoever was posting them didn't wanna READ the last X number of posts since they looked at the thread last to see if anyone reported a drop.

Or....you know....look at the second post, where there's a nicely compiled list of what DID drop, when they dropped and where they dropped.

That's why I gave up on 'being a Nazi' about the discussion/scores posts in here and stopped saying 'use the discussion thread'. It seems like we go through one of these threads every six months with all of the yip yap that goes on.

I know I'm not helping it by posting saying 'shaddap', but unfortunately no one listens anyway and it relieves aggravation to go off on a tangent from time to time.:lol::D[/QUOTE]

At this point I wish IATCG could either be a mod or have the abilities of mods to clean up this thread. This one's cluttered up and chock full of repititive questions, zomg hoarders and FTF comments.
 
LOL I wondered why when I went to reply to Gbear's post it wasn't showing me a quote of it.

Anyway....you wouldn't want me being a mod, Gbear. I would keep order around here.:twisted::evil:

And Slim, I saw your fire sale. I think I'm going to have one soon where I keep all of the 'zomg better' guides off to the side and toss the common shit into one big list again and just say $1 a guide plus Priority Mail Flat Rate shipping costs.
 
[quote name='Slim Gatsby']No, I'm going to be a Nazi in this thread when I move tonight and burn all the inferior guides I have triplicates of before departing.

Exterminate the Maddens.

I tried selling and trading the lesser guides away, as they are the cause of all of my collection's problems, taking up all that precious shelf space. Practically controlling media.

Since i can't get them relocated to someone elses collection, disposing of them is essentially my final solution.[/QUOTE]

Be cool. Find a nice used book store where people would happy to learn strategies for winning in madden 2004.
 
[quote name='WeaponX2099']Be cool. Find a nice used book store where people would happy to learn strategies for winning in madden 2004.[/QUOTE]

Or at least recycle. And maybe this is a hint that one of each guide is sufficient.
 
send them to the get well gamers - they appreciate any guides they receive, regardless of the game its for or how old the sports game is.
 
[quote name='Slim Gatsby']Since i can't get them relocated to someone elses collection, disposing of them is essentially my final solution.[/QUOTE]

Return them to BB and ask them to stock better guides next time! ;)
 
I found some updates in the system, where I found the Feb drop list, all the way up to April and it didn't have any "pull these guides" tasks. So maybe this time it won't get sent out. I'll continue to check every time I go in to work which is usually always the end of the week.
 
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