[quote name='GrilledWitOnions']Hey IAmTheCheapestGamer - first of all, I wanted to commend you on the awesome new trade thread! I'm trying to keep this in discussion because it's discussion
I was wondering if you had considered putting a short FAQ at the top post of the other thread? You have a few very helpful hints on not asking and stuff like that, but I still see people say things like, "Are the guides labeled a penny?" to which a few people then respond, "No" and you say take it to the discussion thread. Although those questions don't belong in the thread, they are good questions that most n00bs have when it comes to penny guides, and since I don't think it's mentioned in the first post, well they ought to search the thread but honestly it is usually pretty big. So, why not have a FAQ section (could be in spoiler tags to save space I suppose) that answers the little questions that we all know by now but new people don't. I think the last 3 sentences on the OP of the thread would make good parts for the FAQ as well. Also, I find it MUCH easier to look at a list - maybe I've got a particular question about the labeling of the guides, and now I've gotta read the whole OP again to look for it! If you like, I will try my best to write out a FAQ section and you can just copy/paste it into the OP. (This is assuming it's at the end of the OP - also some (most?) questions are a copy/paste of stuff you have in the OP, but I think it would work well for a FAQ). IATCG if you like this feel free to use it - and if you do use it, and others have ideas for the FAQ post em here cause I think this would make a great resource for old and new alike!
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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).[/quote]
That's a great addition to the guide thread and one that I'll definitely add in there. However, many times it seems like people just ask the questions without even taking the time to read the first or second posts AT ALL. So, would it really stop those people from posting the questions? Probably not, but it couldn't hurt.
I'll cut/paste it and give credit where credit is due. Thanks GrilledWitOnions.