View Full Version : EB Games to stop carrying strategy guides?
c0ldb33r
07-24-2008, 10:19 AM
I called two EB Games stores in my area today looking for the Final Fantasy IV strat guide (I like to collect them for RPGs, I'm not lame I swear!). Neither of them had them - both said that they were not going to carry strat guides anymore.
Is this a chainwide thing? What's the deal?
Lothars
07-24-2008, 10:50 AM
I called two EB Games stores in my area today looking for the Final Fantasy IV strat guide (I like to collect them for RPGs, I'm not lame I swear!). Neither of them had them - both said that they were not going to carry strat guides anymore.
Is this a chainwide thing? What's the deal?
I don't know but it's the same here as well, I think it might be a nationwide canadian thing but i don't know
Rob2600
07-24-2008, 12:11 PM
That's interesting because when I worked for EB almost a decade ago, the managers constantly told us to push player's guides because the profit margin on them was huge. It had gotten to the point where we'd get player's guides for games like Star Wars Episode One Racer.
"Guys, how come you haven't sold any Star Wars Racer guides yet? Come on!"
"Um, sorry, we can't help it. Nobody wants to spend $12 on a guide for an arcade-style racing game."
I can't imagine a store giving up such a high profit item, but then again, it's GameStop, so logic doesn't apply.
jcalder8
07-24-2008, 12:17 PM
I know my local EB only has about a dozen and about half of them are 5+ years old
carlcarlson
07-24-2008, 12:19 PM
Yeah, I don't see that happening for the same reason that Rob pointed out. Still, if it's happened to both of you maybe there's something to it. Guess we'll find out!
c0ldb33r
07-24-2008, 12:29 PM
Could someone from the states check with their local EB? So far its two canadians having trouble.
sirhansirhan
07-24-2008, 12:43 PM
I was at one EB and three GameStops on Tuesday (long story), and all four had multiple copies of the FFIV guide.
Oobgarm
07-24-2008, 12:44 PM
I think it depends on location.
We've got a ton of GS/EB stores around here and they all have guides. Most are for older games, but there are a few newer books mixed in. Looks like they only get a few of each unless it's a monster title like Metal Gear.
Most places have at least a 100% markup on guides, so it'd be silly to not have ones for newer games. I think.
Cobra Commander
07-24-2008, 12:46 PM
The stores around here no longer display them. They keep them all in the back. If you want a guide, you have to ask for it. I said it seemed stupid to me, but they said that's just the way they do it now.
On a side note, all the Best Buy's in my area have stopped carrying guides altogether.
Fear The Turtle
07-24-2008, 12:53 PM
Everything's still normal here. Popular guides in the front, older ones on a rack by clearance (but not clearance priced.. grr)
heybtbm
07-24-2008, 01:50 PM
Who the hell buys strategy guides at retail anymore? Amazon FTW.
otaku
07-24-2008, 03:23 PM
they might as well who buys them? (except collectors I guess) net access provides guides, video ones to and not to mention variety of them for all games
RadiantSvgun
07-24-2008, 03:27 PM
Who the hell buys strategy guides at retail anymore? Amazon FTW.
If they have it when I buy the game, then I get it. But whenever I go to get a RPG, they don't have the guide.
carlcarlson
07-24-2008, 03:33 PM
Who the hell buys strategy guides at retail anymore? Amazon FTW.
Penny guides FTW.
they might as well who buys them? (except collectors I guess) net access provides guides, video ones to and not to mention variety of them for all games
This. I think the last strategy guide I bought was for FF X. The Internet has better walkthroughs, and they're free to boot.
Trebuken
07-24-2008, 03:48 PM
They should start bundling them with Collector's Editions. In addition they should make a point of reducing the price of the guides (markdown) sometime after the game has been released.
misfits859
07-24-2008, 05:52 PM
They should start bundling them with Collector's Editions. In addition they should make a point of reducing the price of the guides (markdown) sometime after the game has been released.
No kidding on the reduced prices. My EB has a Pokemon Emerald guide sitting in store for $19.99. Geesh time for a price drop.
gepeto
07-24-2008, 06:12 PM
Does strategy guides have a sweet price point? I always thought 14.99 was to high. Then some went to 19.99. I guess the online factor might have something to do with it. The say newspapers are next.
mnbren05
07-24-2008, 06:22 PM
The Funcoland, EB Games near me all started dropping old guides and only seem to keep 5-10 new guides for the major releases then they get rid of them after a few months. The one GameStop however has PSX,N64,Dreamcast, PS2,Game Cube , Xbox, PS3, wii, 360 guides filling up 3-4 shelves of store space. Guess it depends on the store area and how well they move guides.
nestlekwik
07-25-2008, 03:23 PM
It has been a regional deal because my local GameStop had a stack of FFIV strategy guides yesterday. I haven't seen many older guides around here, however, as I know from personal experience the stores like to "penny out" really old guides to get rid of them.
incubus421
07-25-2008, 03:54 PM
I work at a Gamestop within the states and have heard no word from anyone/anywhere that we will stop selling guides.
My store usually has a crappy sell through rate on guides, but we still get 2-6 guides in for each and every bigger name title that is released. We still have 2-3 guides of FFIV sitting around.
Overbite
07-25-2008, 04:16 PM
Who the hell buys strategy guides at retail anymore? Amazon FTW.
Who buys them at all? That's what Gamefaqs is for!
I admit, the last guide I bought was the FFXII Collectors Guide because it came with an artbook and everything.
heybtbm
07-25-2008, 07:12 PM
Who buys them at all? That's what Gamefaqs is for!
I admit, the last guide I bought was the FFXII Collectors Guide because it came with an artbook and everything.
True...but Double Jump Publishing (http://doublejumpbooks.com/) guides are always worth picking up, and far superior to anything you'll find online (or in print for that matter).
nestlekwik
07-25-2008, 08:40 PM
Who buys them at all? That's what Gamefaqs is for!
I'm not trying to be a prick or anything and this isn't to be seen as looking for a fight, but I don't know why people say things to this degree.
Who buys anything? Why do people buy Barbie dolls? Why do people buy newspapers? Why do people buy chewing gum? Why do people go to eBay and buy corn flakes that are in the shape of U.S. states? Because for some personal reason it appeals to them and they want to buy it.
Some people buy guides because it gives them something physical to hang on to. Some people buy a guide because they are a fan of the series. Some people buy a guide because it has items such as interviews and artwork that GameFAQs can't provide. Some people buy guides just because they happen to collect strategy guides as a hobby.
If you don't want to buy a strategy guide, that's fine. You can get free guides online and that's awesome, but there are still people out there who prefer or enjoy buying strategy guides regardless of that fact. If people weren't buying these guides, companies wouldn't still be making them. Just like television hasn't killed radio, so far, Internet hasn't killed strategy guides and saying things such as "Who buys these things?" doesn't help the original poster answer the question of why their local EB doesn't have the FFIV strategy guide.
josekortez
07-25-2008, 08:42 PM
It has been a regional deal because my local GameStop had a stack of FFIV strategy guides yesterday. I haven't seen many older guides around here, however, as I know from personal experience the stores like to "penny out" really old guides to get rid of them.
No, they're actually pennied out so they can be written out of the inventory, not so they can be sold.
As a former FYE associate whose job it was to shred and spray paint countless strategy guides at my former store once they were pennied out, I know this is true.
If you can get penny guides at Best Buy, Circuit City, Gamestop, Toys R Us and anywhere else that sells guides, you are extremely lucky.
And yes, I still feel guilty...
nestlekwik
07-25-2008, 10:09 PM
Our local stores seriously just box up mags and guides and toss them out. If I catch them before they get pitched, the employees will just give it to me. I don't really go to the extremes of dumpster diving, but if I wanted to, I could find a ton of old mags and a few guides on a monthly basis.
TheDomesticInstitution
07-25-2008, 10:51 PM
The whole idea doesn't bother me a lot as I haven't bought a guide in many years. Ever since I've had the internet, I haven't had any use for them. If I'm stuck, I can get it for free online. The last strategy guide I bought was for Goldeneye on the N64.
On the other hand, most of you probably collect them (which I don't), so you probably have a different perspective on it.