Half Price Books

Doesn't Recommend

Van M.

Joined 1 year ago

Don't ever sell your used books to Haalf Price Books!. Just went through 6 crates of popular Sci Fi & fantasy books in our shed. Kept a few favorites, took vast majority of Anne McCaffery, Barbara Hambly, Lawrence Watt-Evans, Isaac Asimov, David Eddings, Piers Anthony, Frank Herbert and similar authors' books in. Of the 3 crates I brought in, they offered $20, 1/2 of which they 'fessed up to gong to charity/broker/dumpster. Took them ~ 1hr to get thru the 3 ahead of me and mine. Had plenty of time to see what they had in stock, etc. Most of my titles were there, all were being sold at half retail (standard fare).

The explanation was most would have to be sold on clearance for $1 or given/sold to bulk buyers, etc. Some of the "undesireable" stacks were supposedly in poor condition but I saw two copies of Lord Foul's Bane in much worse condition and were for sale at the usual 1/2 price retail. The retail value for the "we'll take these" stacks was > $600, including two hardbacks that were originally >$20 each.

I'm a firm believer in the capitalist system and understand the value of profit for business growth. However, this was beyond the pale. Even if they *did* sell all the "we'll take these" stacks for only $1 each, they would still have tripled their investment.

Not sure where to get the old deal of 1/4 retail like the old days, but it surely isn't HPB!

Doesn't Recommend

tommygun45

Joined 3 years ago

Trash in the box. It’s been a while since I’ve done the grab box for 10.00 and now I remember why. A grab box is a mixed artist mixed interest assortment of vinyl record albums of 33 1/3 rpm. I just purchased two grab boxes from half price books from the N Lamar location and ended up with total junk from prayer sermons to the Kennedy first family presidential albums. Not a single current to the last forty years album. The best album in the two boxes of junk was music from Doctor Zhivago to give you an idea. Needless to say I’m making a donation run to Goodwill in the immediate future. If you’re looking for junk albums or music to irritate your roommates neighbors or put the last nail in the coffin on your marriage the garb box is the perfect pick otherwise stay away. In the past I haven’t done so bad in comparison like the time I got 20 Christopher Cross albums all of the same album title and Andy Williams whole entire collection (I’m not into Andy Williams but at least I know who he is) and the staff there is a helpful bunch from I don’t know to I’m going to break. The term you get what you pay for could be applied except you don’t really even get that. For 20.00 dollars you get to help them haul out there trash and pay them.

Doesn't Recommend

allyouneedislove9

Joined 5 years ago

Stay Away From Half Price Books, They Don't Respect Their Customers. I was extremely dissappointed with the customer service at the buying counter. I have a hard time understanding how a book that is being sold on the shelf in the store for $60 would only be worth $1. Are we all just too stupid and desperate to deserve enough respect to get a decent amount of money for our used books? I would rather take my books out and watch them burn than ever sell anything here.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Editorial Review by Citysearch Editors. Bookstore open since 1972 offers new and used books, music, movies, software. Buys used books and more from the public.