Reduced Price Guide Thread XIV (FAQ in 2nd Post)

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The Reduced Price Guide FAQ/OP has been moved to the SECOND post. Read this first!
[customspoiler="Disclaimer"]
All credit goes to IAmTheCheapestGamer, floormat, and guinaevere. They ran this thread for years, and I can safely say we would not have penny guides here without them. Thanks for your work!
[/customspoiler]

Private message me if there is something incorrect or needs to be changed in the non-wiki pages.
Below is two years or so of guide drop info. If you want to see the full list, please refer to the third post of the Reduced Price Guide Thread XIV that can be found HERE.

Note that date may be of confirmation, and not of drop.

CE/SE/LE=HARDCOVER GUIDE
Red=Gamestop drop
Blue=Best Buy drop
Pink=Toys R Us drop

 

Recent Drops (Last Six Months)

Dropped 3.23.16 at GameStop

Game Stop 1 Cent

Assassin's Creed: Syndicate

Assassin's Creed: Syndicate CE

Just Cause 3

Halo 5 CE



Dropped on 3.26.14
 

Gamestop

Battlefield 4

Disney Infinity

Grand Theft Auto V

Remember Me

Super Mario 3D World

Dropped on 2.26.14

Gamestop 

Assassin's Creed IV: CE

Battlefield 4 CE
Grand Theft Auto
 CE

Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds CE

Skylanders Swap Force CE

Wonderful 101

Dropped on 2.14.14

Toys'R Us

Rage
Tekken Tag Tournament 2

Mass Effect 3

Star Wars The Force Unleashed II

Dropped on 10.31.13

Gamestop 
 
Animal Crossing
Assassin's Creed 3
Borderlands 2 LE
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Cheat Code Overload: Winter 2013
Codes & Cheats Vol. 1 2013
Dead Island Riptide
Diablo III


Disgaea D2

Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Legendary
Epic Mickey 2
Final Fantasy XIII-2
Halo 4
Hitman Absolution
Injustice: Gods Among Us


Injustice: Gods Among Us LE
Last of Us


Last of Us LE
Lego City Undercover
Madden 25
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Ni No Kuni
Pokemon Black & White 2 Pokedex
Resident Evil 6 LE
Resident Evil Revelations


Wind Waker LE
Dropped on 9.25.13

Gamestop
Army of Two The Devils Cartel
Dead Space 3
Metal Gear Rising Revengence
Star Trek
Super Mario Bros. Wii U
Epic Mickey 2 Limited Ed
Halo 4 Limited Ed
Hitman Absolution Limited Ed


Dropped on 9.04.13

Gamestop
 
Call of Duty Black Ops II CE
DMC: Devil May Cry
Dishonored
Tomb Raider


Tomb Raider CE       
 
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[quote name='Game Rogue']Guides pennied @ game stop today...

Prototype 2
Gears of War 3 CE
Twisted Metal
Uncharted 3 CE[/QUOTE]*groan* I was at two GSs today and didn't notice if any of these were there.

I really need to get a smartphone. :wall:
 
any chance the OP can indicate what guides are sealed? I've tried to start finding penny guides but the poor condition ones I see in store dissuade me from checking the price.
 
[quote name='Gamer SDP']any chance the OP can indicate what guides are sealed? I've tried to start finding penny guides but the poor condition ones I see in store dissuade me from checking the price.[/QUOTE]

There's no way that could be detailed in the OP. It's a store-to-store situation and is extremely YMMV. I've picked up penny guides that range from being sealed to being beat to all hell with the cover torn off.
 
[quote name='Tsel']There's no way that could be detailed in the OP. It's a store-to-store situation and is extremely YMMV. I've picked up penny guides that range from being sealed to being beat to all hell with the cover torn off.[/QUOTE]
Exactly. I've found guides without shrinkwrapping on them before that were still in pristine condition all the way down to ones that looked like someone chewed on the damn covers.

It's really a crapshoot as to what the condition might be on some of the guides. Albeit I think BB and GS started doing this because people(like me back in the day) used to just browse the guide rack, find out what we had to to get past a difficult part of a game and then leave the store without buying the guides.:lol:
 
[quote name='gantt']OH YEAH!!! Potentially screwed 4-5 CAGs out of guides! They're not happy, but who cares?[/QUOTE]
It isn't like that. They were very well informed. They said that they had ran a sweep earlier and had missed these. Even if I had only taken one, the rest would have been pulled. If they hadn't known about procedure, I would have left them, as I'm sure that any CAGs would have grabbed them the next day. And you're wrong. I do care about if other CAGs wanted these guides, but they would not have gotten them if I left them on the shelf.
 
[quote name='Lord Izanagi']It isn't like that. They were very well informed. They said that they had ran a sweep earlier and had missed these. Even if I had only taken one, the rest would have been pulled. If they hadn't known about procedure, I would have left them, as I'm sure that any CAGs would have grabbed them the next day. And you're wrong. I do care about if other CAGs wanted these guides, but they would not have gotten them if I left them on the shelf.[/QUOTE]

First you said they were "so ignorant", now they're "very well informed." The circumstances weren't clear from your prior post. Now that you've made them clearer, sorry if I was a little harsh. In this scenario, I'd say it is a judgment call.

However, I'd still hesitate to "grab all them shits" in this scenario. First, they "ran a sweep earlier" and missed 8 guides? They don't seem too thorough. Who's to say they wouldn't have missed most of those again on a second sweep - if they actually remembered/bothered to do it?

Also, a pulled guide isn't yet a destroyed or disposed guide. In my experience, when GS pulls guides they often end up (intact) at the desk or in the back, and stay there until late in the day or longer. In this case, all it takes is a CAG talking to a flexible staff member (maybe one that wasn't there during your purchase) and it's possible they'll still get a guide.
 
Well I gotta say it was a good day of hunting for me today ! I got

2x twisted metal
2x prototype 2
3x uncharted 3 collectors edition
2x dragon age 2
1x ass creed revelations

I'm going to mop up my last 3 gamestop locations tommorow. As for other guides gears 3 vanilla edition is 4.99 and soul calibur 5 collectors edition dropped to 9.99 so we have to watch out for these two. I still can't beleave However that white knight chronicles 2 is still 19.99
 
[quote name='strait edge follower']Well I gotta say it was a good day of hunting for me today ! I got

2x twisted metal
2x prototype 2
3x uncharted 3 collectors edition
2x dragon age 2
1x ass creed revelations

I'm going to mop up my last 3 gamestop locations tommorow. As for other guides gears 3 vanilla edition is 4.99 and soul calibur 5 collectors edition dropped to 9.99 so we have to watch out for these two. I still can't beleave However that white knight chronicles 2 is still 19.99[/QUOTE]

Great haul! I've been in a bit of a dry spell lately, none of my local GS or BB has anything new or old. Still hunting for a Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One guide, but you know, SOMETHING would be nice...
 
i was at best buy to purchase modern warfare 3 and arkham city. i spotted a fallout new vegas guide and asked how much. it wouldn't ring up so the associate walked over to the manager and he said to give it to me free.

i also had them price check gears of war 3 collector's guide and it was marked $34.99 but rang up $16.99. gears 3 regular edition game is on sale for $14.99 so if you buy them both you save another 15% off the price of the guide, which would be $14.44. this means game and collector's guide for less than $30

EDIT: i just realized fallout new vegas is not part of the listed best buy penny guides in the OP. i got the regular edition. maybe we can have that added? do we add bb drops even though they don't "penny" guides anymore?
 
[quote name='gantt']First you said they were "so ignorant", now they're "very well informed." The circumstances weren't clear from your prior post. Now that you've made them clearer, sorry if I was a little harsh. In this scenario, I'd say it is a judgment call.

However, I'd still hesitate to "grab all them shits" in this scenario. First, they "ran a sweep earlier" and missed 8 guides? They don't seem too thorough. Who's to say they wouldn't have missed most of those again on a second sweep - if they actually remembered/bothered to do it?

Also, a pulled guide isn't yet a destroyed or disposed guide. In my experience, when GS pulls guides they often end up (intact) at the desk or in the back, and stay there until late in the day or longer. In this case, all it takes is a CAG talking to a flexible staff member (maybe one that wasn't there during your purchase) and it's possible they'll still get a guide.[/QUOTE]

Grab all dem shits hahahaha
 
[quote name='strait edge follower']I tried getting the fallout guide at bestbuy but I was denied so next time I'm there ill talk to the manager. If he doesn't give it to me than It's no biggie :)[/QUOTE]are you saying they didn't sell it to you and they just put it back on the shelf?!
 
[quote name='tribalnoise']i was at best buy to purchase modern warfare 3 and arkham city. i spotted a fallout new vegas guide and asked how much. it wouldn't ring up so the associate walked over to the manager and he said to give it to me free.

i also had them price check gears of war 3 collector's guide and it was marked $34.99 but rang up $16.99. gears 3 regular edition game is on sale for $14.99 so if you buy them both you save another 15% off the price of the guide, which would be $14.44. this means game and collector's guide for less than $30

EDIT: i just realized fallout new vegas is not part of the listed best buy penny guides in the OP. i got the regular edition. maybe we can have that added? do we add bb drops even though they don't "penny" guides anymore?[/QUOTE]

I was denied buying the Fallout New Vegas regular guide at multiple stores. It didn't ring up in the system so they wouldn't sell it to me. I finally found a store where the manager would sell the the "not found in system" guides for $9.99 each.

It's not a penny. The sku just isn't in their system anymore. ymmv.
 
[quote name='tribalnoise']are you saying they didn't sell it to you and they just put it back on the shelf?![/QUOTE]

Yep pretty much lmao. There are a bunch of copys on the shelf too. I'm gonna try to work my "magic" tommorow
 
don't forget to point out you have tried to buy it multiple times. i think they will be more inclined to give it to you after finding out you have wasted so much time trying to buy it.
 
[quote name='Tsel']There's no way that could be detailed in the OP. It's a store-to-store situation and is extremely YMMV. I've picked up penny guides that range from being sealed to being beat to all hell with the cover torn off.[/QUOTE]

I meant guides that are supposed to be sealed. I would think that nowadays all hardcovers are or at least were sealed. Not sure if softcovers or paperbacks are ever sealed in retail stores. I think they occasionally are if ordered online.

also I noticed some guides are sealed with stronger plastic while others have shrink wrap which just protects from dusts, dirt, and stains but not from physical abuse.
 
[quote name='Gamer SDP']I meant guides that are supposed to be sealed. I would think that nowadays all hardcovers are or at least were sealed. Not sure if softcovers or paperbacks are ever sealed in retail stores. I think they occasionally are if ordered online.

also I noticed some guides are sealed with stronger plastic while others have shrink wrap which just protects from dusts, dirt, and stains but not from physical abuse.[/QUOTE]

I have many softcover guides that were sealed in retail B&M stores.

As for the second observation, wow, you have a promising career ahead of you in videogame strategy guide packaging.
 
[quote name='strait edge follower']Well I gotta say it was a good day of hunting for me today ! I got

2x twisted metal
2x prototype 2
3x uncharted 3 collectors edition
2x dragon age 2
1x ass creed revelations

I'm going to mop up my last 3 gamestop locations tommorow. As for other guides gears 3 vanilla edition is 4.99 and soul calibur 5 collectors edition dropped to 9.99 so we have to watch out for these two. I still can't beleave However that white knight chronicles 2 is still 19.99[/QUOTE]


I don't know how you did it. I've called/visited several gamestops and these guides were either already sold out or tossed.

I've wanted the Uncharted guide since last year, I just won't pay $30 for it. Put it on sale for $10 or less and I'll pay it in a second but they choose to be assholes and would rather throw away a good guide instead of oh, I don't know, make money?
 
Odds are very good that they get more than that in credit for doing a field destroy. Books roughly have a 100% markup for their MSRP, so a $30 book most likely costs GS $15 to purchase from the publisher. Sucks for us but that's business.
 
I'm really hoping the guides are still there by the weekend so I can have 'em. I know for a fact if the manager was there and didn't want the guides himself, he would've gave them to me, so don't know why the employee hesitated. I know them all pretty well and never had any problems getting guides so long as they actually have them in stock.

Semi off-topic, I don't plan on playing Prototype 2 for a while so it's up for trade. I'd prefer a useful guide for a game I actually own or plan to own. It seems that I can never score penny guides for games I actually play.
 
[quote name='gantt']First you said they were "so ignorant", now they're "very well informed." The circumstances weren't clear from your prior post. Now that you've made them clearer, sorry if I was a little harsh. In this scenario, I'd say it is a judgment call.

However, I'd still hesitate to "grab all them shits" in this scenario. First, they "ran a sweep earlier" and missed 8 guides? They don't seem too thorough. Who's to say they wouldn't have missed most of those again on a second sweep - if they actually remembered/bothered to do it?

Also, a pulled guide isn't yet a destroyed or disposed guide. In my experience, when GS pulls guides they often end up (intact) at the desk or in the back, and stay there until late in the day or longer. In this case, all it takes is a CAG talking to a flexible staff member (maybe one that wasn't there during your purchase) and it's possible they'll still get a guide.[/QUOTE]
They were ignorant about one thing, and well informed about another. They knew that pennied guides had to be pulled if they could pull them, but they thought that if a customer tried to buy a pennied guide, they had to sell them.
 
Gamestop really did it today. I went to another one and saw Uncharted CE guides. Not only would he not sell them to me, but he proceded to destroy them (remove the cover) right in front of me. It was tough to watch. I got a copy of it, but the cover was removed. That guy also had that shit-faced look and it was clear that he was happy to destroy the guides. Made me want to punch him, but I refrained.
 
[quote name='Lord Izanagi']Gamestop really did it today. I went to another one and saw Uncharted CE guides. Not only would he not sell them to me, but he proceded to destroy them (remove the cover) right in front of me. It was tough to watch. I got a copy of it, but the cover was removed. That guy also had that shit-faced look and it was clear that he was happy to destroy the guides. Made me want to punch him, but I refrained.[/QUOTE]

I would've reported his ass, that's just going above and beyond to be rude and disrespectful.
 
[quote name='Devil May Cry']I would've reported his ass, that's just going above and beyond to be rude and disrespectful.[/QUOTE]
So you want him to report the employee for doing his job?:lol::applause:
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']So you want him to report the employee for doing his job?:lol::applause:[/QUOTE]Naw, I think he wants to report the employee for enjoying doing his job. :lol:
 
went to a gamestop - saw they had 5 prototype 2 guides so i grabbed one, took it to register and got shot down... :cry: pretty bogus. i think they are really sticking to their guns on policy so i'm not going to waste my time begging.
 
[quote name='Lord Izanagi']Gamestop really did it today. I went to another one and saw Uncharted CE guides. Not only would he not sell them to me, but he proceded to destroy them (remove the cover) right in front of me. It was tough to watch. I got a copy of it, but the cover was removed. That guy also had that shit-faced look and it was clear that he was happy to destroy the guides. Made me want to punch him, but I refrained.[/QUOTE]
I used to be a BBY employee and enjoyed getting guides at a penny and continued to monitor the stores for them after I terminated my employment with them about 3 years ago. I am frustrated that the Publishers decided to come down hard on the stores about this, but that was their choice. It is also our choice to buy them or not. I do blame the “one who will remain unnamed” for being greedy, selfish and moronic for having informed the Publishers, but we are all more the wiser for it.

Luckily we can still get some guides free from time to time and for the most part, CAGs will trade or give away guides to help out fellow CAGs. I was able to get two of the pennied guides from one of the Gamestop locations in my area. Twisted Metal and Prototype 2. The first thing I noticed at this particular store was that they had no guides out on shelves at all, which has got to be one of the most moronic things Gamestop could do. If they truly don't want to sell them, then why buy them from the Publishers? I will never pay $20 to $40 for these guides. They are NOT WORTH IT. Publishers would make more money on these things if they would reduce the wholesale cost to the stores, don't offer buy backs and allow the stores to do as they wish with the price and keep them until they sell. Imagine if game publishers did this with video games. If we all stopped buying the product, maybe, just maybe, the Publishers would change their practices.

Nevertheless, I anticipated not being able to either find them or the employees not offering to hand them over or sell them to me. So, I first asked if they still had a “new” copy of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (Hardcover). Note: Not a Brady Game Guide. The employee offered the guide for around $25. I said I would buy it and then started asking for the pennied guides. The employee did not have Uncharted 3, but indicated the other two were available and free since they were marked for destroy, and offered the standard GOW3 for $5. I said I would pay $5 for a guide and he then offered to give me the pennied guides. As I explained to the employee, I am willing to pay something for the guides, but not full retail. I purchase hundreds of games and few guides and I feel that they can pass over a couple of free guides to an excellent customer. I can understand that GS, BBY, etc. were tired of CAGs getting away with these things for free for so long, so I'm willing to pass them a bone once in a while for a couple freebies and it usually works if I’m nice, and not greedy. Establishing a good relationship with a store and its employees goes a long way. Of course the reverse of that is even more important for the retail stores.

As far as the employee intentionally destroying the guides in front of you, that was probably just one J _ C _ _S S who wants to feel good about himself by making his customers feel like S_ _ _. But rest assured, that employee will probably still be working there or at Wally World in 10 years and GS will be on its way out or gone. I for one am not shopping there because of the frequent bad attitude some of the employees have, the deplorable practice of selling open games for new prices and the lack of overall good deals. I do my best to support my GS friends I have made since beginning to shop there last year and becoming a PowerUp Rewards Member. The store nearest to me has a pretty good staff.

IMO, BBY has the best deals and Rewards program around for video games. However, I am growing concerned they won’t be around much longer either.
 
i always ALWAYS buy something (usually a game i already planned on buying) in addition to the guide. your odds of walking out with a free/penny guide are much better. i don't care to get to know the employees enough that they will just let me walk out of the store with only penny/free guides.
 
My BB had 10+ New Vegas guides, tried to buy one but was denied :/ They pulled all of them. My BB is so behind on things lol...
 
[quote name='tribalnoise']i always ALWAYS buy something (usually a game i already planned on buying) in addition to the guide. your odds of walking out with a free/penny guide are much better. i don't care to get to know the employees enough that they will just let me walk out of the store with only penny/free guides.[/QUOTE]
I've tried doing things both ways before and whether or not I bought a pack of gum or a soda or a game with the @Gamer coupons they always deny on the guides anymore.

So I usually just go to the register with whatever pennied guide I find in hand and try the ol' "a friend told me it's on clearance" bullshit line. If it works, then great. If not, oh well.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']So you want him to report the employee for doing his job?:lol::applause:[/QUOTE]

This is about the only thing I agree with IATCG on.

While not the coolest thing to do, he's just doing his job. He was gonna do it after you left anyway. If you're so bent out of shape about it, go ahead and punch him. :roll:

Listen up: you're not entitled to any of these guides. So if you don't them, don't act like a whiny bitch in-store or on here about it.
 
Man, you're a pain. I don't feel entitled to these guides at all since I have no interest in them. I give them to people who do. Besides, stop throwing around that word "entitled." As human beings, we feel entitled to whatever we want. Not feeling entitled is not feeling human.
 
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[quote name='Lord Izanagi']Man, you piss me off. I don't feel entitled to these guides at all since I have no interest in them. I give them to people who do. Besides, stop throwing around that word "entitled." As human beings, we feel entitled to whatever we want. Not feeling entitled is not feeling human.[/QUOTE]

you seem to have a lot of rage in this thread for someone who has no interest in the guides.
 
I'm not angry. I just don't like Gamestop. The other day, I tried to trade in NFS The Run which I bought for $5 at Best Buy for the sole purpose of trading it in. Only one copy too. I let it slip that I bought it just to trade it in. They denied me the trade in because I was classified as a "dealer." I don't like Gamestop.
 
[quote name='Lord Izanagi']I'm not angry. I just don't like Gamestop. The other day, I tried to trade in NFS The Run which I bought for $5 at Best Buy for the sole purpose of trading it in. Only one copy too. I let it slip that I bought it just to trade it in. They denied me the trade in because I was classified as a "dealer." I don't like Gamestop.[/QUOTE]Not to be a jerk, but what did you expect? What other kind of person buys a game just to trade it in aside from a "dealer" (technically "flipper", but whatever)?
 
[quote name='Lord Izanagi']Man, you're a pain. I don't feel entitled to these guides at all since I have no interest in them. I give them to people who do. Besides, stop throwing around that word "entitled." As human beings, we feel entitled to whatever we want. Not feeling entitled is not feeling human.[/QUOTE]

Here's a thought: people that do have an interest in guides will get them for themselves - if you've left them any.

[quote name='Lord Izanagi']I'm not angry. I just don't like Gamestop. The other day, I tried to trade in NFS The Run which I bought for $5 at Best Buy for the sole purpose of trading it in. Only one copy too. I let it slip that I bought it just to trade it in. They denied me the trade in because I was classified as a "dealer." I don't like Gamestop.[/QUOTE]

I'm suddenly liking GameStop a lot.

[quote name='Lord Izanagi']Nothing wrong with being a flipper.[/QUOTE]

As GameStop correctly pointed out, there's a name for people who buy things for the express purpose of reselling them. And there's a place for them to do it - and it's not called "retail." And there are probably places for them to brag about it - none of which should be associated with the word "gamer."
 
[quote name='strait edge follower']I dont like flipper arguments but Ill say this much. Gamestop flips as well. They buy a game off you for 15-20 $ and sell it for 50-55 lol. Ironic indeed :)[/QUOTE]

lol, excellent point! I'd been quite bored by this conversation until you chimed in.
 
I picked up an Ace Combat Assault Horizon Limited Edition Music Soundtrack yesterday from Best Buy for 1 cent. I know it isn't a guide, but it is a good price nonetheless.
 
[quote name='IAmTheCheapestGamer']So you want him to report the employee for doing his job?:lol::applause:[/QUOTE]

I can understand if it was just doing his job. Something along the lines of: "We aren't allowed to sell these" or even telling us the truth about destroying them. The phrasing made it seem as if the guy was just a complete ass about it though. Sure, he got the guide and in the end that's what matters, but the employee didn't have to throw it in his face like the post made it seem like he did.
 
[quote name='Devil May Cry']I can understand if it was just doing his job. Something along the lines of: "We aren't allowed to sell these" or even telling us the truth about destroying them. The phrasing made it seem as if the guy was just a complete ass about it though. Sure, he got the guide and in the end that's what matters, but the employee didn't have to throw it in his face like the post made it seem like he did.[/QUOTE]

I dont understand what the employee was supposed to do - go to the back, rip off the cover, then come back and Give it to him?

The employee at least gave him the guide while doing his job. It's not gamestops fault that he can't resell it now, which is ALL he wanted with the guide. Why is anyone feeling sorry for him?
 
[quote name='confoosious']I dont understand what the employee was supposed to do - go to the back, rip off the cover, then come back and Give it to him?[/QUOTE]

Not necessarily, although it probably would've come off better on the customer. The post made the employee sound like an ass about how he conducted his business. He could've just tore off the cover and gave him the guide, sans shit-eating grin. Nobody gets pissed, everybody wins.
 
[quote name='Devil May Cry']Not necessarily, although it probably would've come off better on the customer. The post made the employee sound like an ass about how he conducted his business. He could've just tore off the cover and gave him the guide, sans shit-eating grin. Nobody gets pissed, everybody wins.[/QUOTE]

Maybe he was thinking about chicks. You can't just go by what op says. Did you see his post about ignorant well informed Gs employees a page back?
 
[quote name='confoosious']Maybe he was thinking about chicks. You can't just go by what op says. Did you see his post about ignorant well informed Gs employees a page back?[/QUOTE]

Won't lie, the chicks remark made me choke on my drink. I can't say I have, I just pass by this thread once in awhile since I've been on a bad luck streak when it comes to penny guides.
 
[quote name='Devil May Cry']Not necessarily, although it probably would've come off better on the customer. The post made the employee sound like an ass about how he conducted his business. He could've just tore off the cover and gave him the guide, sans shit-eating grin. Nobody gets pissed, everybody wins.[/QUOTE]

He said "had that shit-faced look" - not shit-eating grin. Probably wouldn't be the first time a GameStop employee worked in that condition, but I haven't encountered it. Maybe the poster doesn't know what "shit-faced" means. Or maybe the employee did take pleasure in mutilating the guide, because he recognized the customer for what he is.

In any case, probably not productive for us to keep analyzing a one-sided account of a single transaction. In general, my experience with GameStop employees has been quite positive. But I rarely shop there, due to their prices and their practice of selling opened games as "new."
 
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