Reduced Price Game Guides: Thread XI

Status
Not open for further replies.
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.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
[quote name='Zippon']An exception that proves the rule, perhaps? :whistle2:k

How long has it been since the last successful drop?
How many areas still got pulled this time? (Only one store near me had a couple of guides--the remainder of which were pulled the next day.)

This is kind of like saying global warming doesn't exist because of one cold winter. LOL[/QUOTE]

February since the last successful drop for my stores. Other than that, they have prepulled almost perfectly.
 
My mom was able to find Mass Effect II CE for me at BB in Battle Creek, MI, on saturday. That was the only guide left from the most recent drop.
 
[quote name='sunnysky']Mass Effect CE at BB. They probably didn't notice it because it doesn't really have the name of it on the front cover.[/QUOTE]

I had the same hypothesis as well.
 
[quote name='iKilledChewbacca']How long do you think it will take for the Call of Duty Black Ops Collector's Edition guide to drop ?

I know its now available yet but I just would like to know before hand.

P.S. this guide looks kickass but there is no way I am spending $35 or $22(amazon) on a guide for Call of Duty lol[/QUOTE]
Keep an eye on GoHastings.com, since they get some LE/CE/SE ones in stock from I guess trades at times. The shipping sucks($3-4 per item), but the books are usually $7 at most.;)

I was considering them for Just Cause 2 and TF: WFC guides until this recent BB drop.;)
 
Hmmm, so i think my personal guide collection has gotten too large - can't fit all my new ones on my bookshelf. Maybe it's time to trim the fat with guides i'll never use/aren't really collectible/useless like Quake 4 and Rock Band. Or unnecessary dupes like having Bully and Bully : Scholarship Edition.
Guess my tradelist will get a little bigger and the basement a little more full once i do that.
 
[quote name='neocisco']I had the same hypothesis as well.[/QUOTE]

Yeah. A guy that I got to look in the back for the ME2 CE thought that it was a racing game guide due to the lack of saying Mass Effect 2 on the front.
 
[quote name='Pookymeister']Hmmm, so i think my personal guide collection has gotten too large - can't fit all my new ones on my bookshelf. Maybe it's time to trim the fat with guides i'll never use/aren't really collectible/useless like Quake 4 and Rock Band. Or unnecessary dupes like having Bully and Bully : Scholarship Edition.
Guess my tradelist will get a little bigger and the basement a little more full once i do that.[/QUOTE]
You might wanna check Amazon to see if any of those older ones are available to trade in as of yet cuz old ones are worth jack and shit.:razz:

Speaking of which I made a decent swap up today. I traded the one local shop 2 heavy shelfwear God Of War 3's, one ratty UFC 2010, a sealed Splinter Cell Conviction and :rofl: my last copy of NFL Head Coach 09(they now have them all:lol:) for Infinite Undiscovery, Jak 3 and the Joker cover version of the Batman: Arkham Asylum guide.;)
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']You might wanna check Amazon to see if any of those older ones are available to trade in as of yet cuz old ones are worth jack and shit.:razz:

Speaking of which I made a decent swap up today. I traded the one local shop 2 heavy shelfwear God Of War 3's, one ratty UFC 2010, a sealed Splinter Cell Conviction and :rofl: my last copy of NFL Head Coach 09(they now have them all:lol:) for Infinite Undiscovery, Jak 3 and the Joker cover version of the Batman: Arkham Asylum guide.;)[/QUOTE]

I wish there were a place in the Bay Area to try this with. Half Price books offers chump change for guides, really, it's like $0.10 apiece.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']You might wanna check Amazon to see if any of those older ones are available to trade in as of yet cuz old ones are worth jack and shit.:razz:[/QUOTE]

I would never say old guides are automatically worthless - but the ones I am thinking about taking out of my collection most likely are.
 
[quote name='hellmutt']I wish there were a place in the Bay Area to try this with. Half Price books offers chump change for guides, really, it's like $0.10 apiece.[/QUOTE]
The local shop went from giving me $1 a guide originally to $.25 each when I let them know how many I had. They took them all, but I kinda wish at times that I had kept all of those old ones, since some have become worth something since then.:bomb::whistle2:#

But most of the older ones are only good as kindling for a fire or tp if you run out mid wipe.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']The local shop went from giving me $1 a guide originally to $.25 each when I let them know how many I had. They took them all, but I kinda wish at times that I had kept all of those old ones, since some have become worth something since then.:bomb::whistle2:#

But most of the older ones are only good as kindling for a fire or tp if you run out mid wipe.[/QUOTE]

Was your local shop a gaming shop or a used bookstore?
 
[quote name='hellmutt']Was your local shop a gaming shop or a used bookstore?[/QUOTE]
Local game shop. I tried a local book store and all they would take in was actual books. I asked about the guides and they said no.:cry: Even then I would only get store credit for the books, so I said no thanks.
 
Well I managed to hit a gold mine at my old store. I'm currently going to school in Ames, Iowa and I haven't been home in months so I got the opportunity to go home this weekend and I headed up to Davenport and cashed in on a God of War CE and Zelda: ST CE. I wasn't able to pick up Alan Wake or Assassin's Creed II which were the two guides that I really wanted, but I also picked up Kane and Lynch, SSFIV, Iron Man 2, Singularity and a couple other guides.
 
[quote name='dabamus']Warning to Western PA CAGs: I'm coming to grab dem shitz on Wednesday. Make your time. Your end is near![/QUOTE]
Not if I get there first.;):booty::razz: If gas was still priced like it was in the early 90's, I might just consider a looooooong road trip like that too, but almost $3 a gallon= I have to think whether or not I even wanna hit up the 'other' BB in my area about 15 miles away.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']Not if I get there first.;):booty::razz:[/QUOTE]

You have a bit further of a drive. :p

I'm just messing. I saw a few stores near where I'm going Wednesday had some of the guides listed as in stock still, so I figured I'd drop by and check out the situation. :D
 
Seems like I'm getting guides at different locations each time at this point...like the ones that had nothing before have guides this time and then were I got them the last time are bone dry.

Anyway managed to grab:

Super Street Fighter IV
NCAA 11
Nier
God Of War Ultimate Edition (from last drop) showed up out of nowhere
Splinter Cell
POP Forgotten Sands
Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker
 
I was at a local used/new book store and found a bunch of older used guides on a shelf, but I haven't actually checked with them if they'll buy some of mine; I'm not in a hurry as trading would be preferable, but I'm not taking these with me if I move!
 
[quote name='dabamus']You have a bit further of a drive. :p

I'm just messing. I saw a few stores near where I'm going Wednesday had some of the guides listed as in stock still, so I figured I'd drop by and check out the situation. :D[/QUOTE]
I used to do that all the time when I was driving for a car lot constantly and gas was cheaper. But as of late anytime I go with them they run the car we take through the auctions and every store/mall is at least 4-5 miles away ONE WAY.

I've done a 10+ mile walk round trip before to a Best Buy and/or Target before when at an auction, but seeing as how the ONLY way to get to the malls up at these places would be to walk along the interstate highway I don't think I'd chance it.
[quote name='Readthepost']I apologize to all.

DarkRider23,

Are you getting my PMs? I know that your PM was broken before....so I got to ask thru this thread.[/QUOTE]
Actually you can also go to someone's profile page and start a 'conversation' with them(aka leave a message on their profile page) to get their attention as well.;)
 
hmm just had an unsuccessful trip to 3 GS in my area... all 3 said they pull all price dropped guides within 24hrs of price drop... =( so sad....

Did manage:
Super Street Fighter IV
[FONT=&quot]Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks LE
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Alan Wake
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
Splinter Cell: Conviction
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Dead To Rights: Retribution
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Iron Man 2
Kane & Lynch II: Dog Days

one of each. all at one local BB =][/FONT]
 
I have about 5 BB within 15 miles and had luck getting some guides. Most of the guides were pulled but the guy in the game department asked me what what guides I was looking for. I told him one was Batman and he said I got something for you. The guy came out with a stack of guides about 15. He told me I could buy these for a penny so I was game. He told me they have a stash in the back that gets lagged on getting shipped back. I wasn't expecting Alan Wake CE or AC 2 CE for a penny.

There are still guides on the shelf at a couple of the BB's.
 
I have a question on these penny guides.. I just found a number to a local best buy and asked if they had any guides for a penny, the guy responded with
"He's worked there for two years and has never once heard of penny guides"

So on that note, is this only at best buys that honor such a thing? Or do all honor it, just they don't know of it?


editing this now..

I called another one, and they looked into it actually, they responded with something like
"We have the insider, but we do not have any guides that are for a penny.."
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Read the first post. But to save some time, just the take the guides that match the ones on the list in the second post up to the registers and tell them you 'heard these are on clearance'. It's a 50/50 shot after that if you'll get them or if they'll call over a manager who will either allow the sale or mark them back up to MSRP and say they can't sell you them for the penny price.
 
[quote name='zergtillian']I have a question on these penny guides.. I just found a number to a local best buy and asked if they had any guides for a penny, the guy responded with
"He's worked there for two years and has never once heard of penny guides"

So on that note, is this only at best buys that honor such a thing? Or do all honor it, just they don't know of it?


editing this now..

I called another one, and they looked into it actually, they responded with something like
"We have the insider, but we do not have any guides that are for a penny.."[/QUOTE]
No, no, no, no, no. DO NOT CALL THE STORES ON THIS 'DEAL'!!!

Just go in and grab the guides you want, then take them up to the register to try and buy them. If they ask where you found out that they may be a penny, say 'the internet'. Do NOT say 'duhhhh cheapassgamer.com'. Moreover do not call them pennied guides, just call them 'clearance'.

fuckin' newbies.:roll:
 
lol, first rule of Figh.... um... deals.

DON'T CALL THE STORE.

Second rule of...I can't think of anything catchy like "Fight Club",

DON'T CALL THE STORE.
 
When I took my guides up the lady started to ring them up and says oh its that time of the year again? She says what a great deal for you and we don't have to send them back.

Oh ya Cheapest Gamer I was asked only by 1 BB when I walked up with the guides of how I knew. I told him every knows about this its called the internet. The assistant manger gave me a pissed off look. He was mad cause he had to ask his manager why they rang up for a penny.

There was another person behind me with guides also and he was getting denied the purchase. This guy said, "if they are on the store floor I can buy them right?" The manager was pissed because the guy said, "you guys are SLACKING on your job." The manager sold the guides and was pissed that 2 customers came back to back and got penny guides.

It was classic!
 
[quote name='Bumslie']When I took my guides up the lady started to ring them up and says oh its that time of the year again? She says what a great deal for you and we don't have to send them back.

Oh ya Cheapest Gamer I was asked only by 1 BB when I walked up with the guides of how I knew. I told him every knows about this its called the internet. The assistant manger gave me a pissed off look. He was mad cause he had to ask his manager why they rang up for a penny.

There was another person behind me with guides also and he was getting denied the purchase. This guy said, "if they are on the store floor I can buy them right?" The manager was pissed because the guy said, "you guys are SLACKING on your job." The manager sold the guides and was pissed that 2 customers came back to back and got penny guides.

It was classic![/QUOTE]
I think I've only ever bumped into one or two other CAG's in my travels when I was looking for guides at every drop. Now I just wait until I'm in the area of the stores near me and if they're there then I'll try for them. But the drop before last they either pre-pulled EVERYTHING(save for 1-2 Alpha Protocol and a couple others)or someone else snapped them all up, so I ended up coming out empty handed that time.

But I more than made up for it this time.;)
 
I was just out this last week and if I passed a BB I stopped to see if anyhing was available. I think its funny that 1 out 5 gave me a problem. I think I will just stay away from that 1 BB since they give you B.S. if you want to price match. They have to call the store to see if they have it in stock. I remember 15 years ago stores would do that but in these times it surprised me!

Thank you Cheapest Gamer for this thread you have helped a lot of us out!
 
[quote name='elessar123']lol, first rule of Figh.... um... deals.

DON'T CALL THE STORE.

Second rule of...I can't think of anything catchy like "Fight Club",

DON'T CALL THE STORE.[/QUOTE]

Yeah on that note, thought of a great way of doing it..

First rule of penny guides..
Don't call them penny guides

and so on and so forth =P
 
[quote name='zergtillian']I have a question on these penny guides.. I just found a number to a local best buy and asked if they had any guides for a penny, the guy responded with
"He's worked there for two years and has never once heard of penny guides"

So on that note, is this only at best buys that honor such a thing? Or do all honor it, just they don't know of it?


editing this now..

I called another one, and they looked into it actually, they responded with something like
"We have the insider, but we do not have any guides that are for a penny.."[/QUOTE]

i just started crying at my computer.

i am also expecting a video of the transaction on youtube.
 
readtheop.gif
 
Well, I picked up 4 ME2 CEs, a LoZ CE, a SCC, and a Lego Indy 2 at the Erie, PA BB today.

No dice at the Cranberry, PA store, even though the site and RSS showed them as having 3 ME2 CEs in stock. The girl who looked in the back for me only found CoD guides, nothing else.

On a related note, I think you guys are right about the ME2 CEs getting overlooked because of the lack of the game title on the front. These 4 were sitting front and center on the top row with nothing in front of them, and they were still there even though most everything else had been pulled.
 
Do the question is... is it even worth it to get some of the Mass Effect 2 LEs for trade? Seems to be a lot of them so I might not even bother grabbing extras if there are a lot in the wild.
 
[quote name='Chronis']Do the question is... is it even worth it to get some of the Mass Effect 2 LEs for trade? Seems to be a lot of them so I might not even bother grabbing extras if there are a lot in the wild.[/QUOTE]
I have 4-5 between the one I grabbed at GS when they dropped it and 3-4 from one or both of my local BB stores. But I know some folks were saying they left behind a half dozen or more at their stores.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']I have 4-5 between the one I grabbed at GS when they dropped it and 3-4 from one or both of my local BB stores. But I know some folks were saying they left behind a half dozen or more at their stores.[/QUOTE]

One bestbuy near me still has 7 of them on the shelves, noticed them when I went there before and they are still appearing as in stock online too. I keep wondering if I should grab them before they get pulled, but if they've been there this long I doubt they will be found. The 6 I have in the stack of guides in the corner of my room are plenty for me.
 
Damn, if only I could get my hands on one of those suckers. Anyways, I managed to hit up the Best Buy in Ames and managed to pick up some guides that I don't have. I picked up another Zelda ST LE, Modnation Racers, Splinter Cell Lego Indiana Jones 2 and Splinter Cell Conviction.
 
[quote name='dominator']Damn, if only I could get my hands on one of those suckers. Anyways, I managed to hit up the Best Buy in Ames and managed to pick up some guides that I don't have. I picked up another Zelda ST LE, Modnation Racers, Splinter Cell Lego Indiana Jones 2 and Splinter Cell Conviction.[/QUOTE]
If you don't want to try for your BB stores, you could always go onto GoHastings.com's current 5/$20 book sale(with a free shipping code currently) and grab the ONE copy of the ME2 CE guide I think they had in stock the last time I checked it.

They also had 2-3 of the WOW Atlases in stock and those would drop to $4 each with the sale as well.;)
 
Picked up a couple splinter cell convictions, modnation racers, nintendo DS pocket guide, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky.
Thanks IATCG

does anyone know what the Red Steel 2 guide looks like? I've seen a couple spiral bound and curious to know
 
[quote name='valo2027']Picked up a couple splinter cell convictions, modnation racers, nintendo DS pocket guide, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, and Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers Of Sky.
Thanks IATCG

does anyone know what the Red Steel 2 guide looks like? I've seen a couple spiral bound and curious to know
[/QUOTE]

If you've seen it, then don't you know? It's one of those.

Re: ME 2 CE, I've already trade one, but I picked up about a half dozen total and am not getting any offers on the rest, so yeah, there may be a glut of supply on that one :p
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
bread's done
Back
Top