Half Price Books Avis 93

Received a set of moldy musty smelling books with visible mold on the pages edges. Books were described to be in “good” condition. Return shipping was $18+ and at my expense even though the books were misrepresented and the mold was not disclosed prior to purchase. 2 attempts to address return shipping costs with customer service were ignored.

I ordered a book from them. In fact, I went on its website just so they would make more money rather than Amazon. I was sent a book "Magic Voodoo Spells." I assure you that is nowhere close to what I ordered. I tried to contact Half Price Books customer service and all they told me was to send it back. They tried to blame the publisher! Why would I need them if I could get it from the publisher. This place doesn't serve a purpose but to rip people off as the middle man!

I ordered a used hardback and received a new paperback that was made from miniature photocopied pages. It did show up on time.

Ordered a book from this place and never received. Their customer service ignored my email with a canned response. The order was through Amazon and Amazon was of no help either. Avoid both.

I ordered the fifth volume of the Berserk Deluxe Edition at the start of October, it was supposed to deliver by the 24th, crazy long time for delivery but whatever, and it never showed up! Was thankfully able to get a refund from Amazon. Would not recommend dealing with these people.

Today I brought in three boxes of CDs, Cassettes, and about 20 books to their Fremont, CA store to sell. I didn't count the number of CDs, but there were dozens of which many were classical and never used. The CDs and cassettes were in perfect shape and seldom if ever played. Some were still wrapped.

I should have read the reviews here and on Yelp, because it's true that they pay pennies on the dollar or less. They state in advance that you need to give them an ID and phone number, which I did, but I'm opening myself up to identity theft, because identity thieves now have two of the three bits of information needed for theft, which are date of birth and driver's license number, along with my name and address, of course.

I was instructed to browse the store while they sorted through what I had, and you have to stay in the store because they call your name when they're ready to make you an offer. Of course, the object is that you'll browse the shelves and buy something while you're waiting.

When I was called back, I was floored to be offered $13.51 for what I brought in, which was truly insulting. However, I didn't want to drag everything back home, so told them to just keep everything and I didn't want their money. They said I needed to take their receipt and cash out in order to leave anything, so I just took the receipt and walked out. It's demeaning and I'll be damned if I'm going to grovel for chump change.

I don't know if they pay for their merchandise from any other source other than individuals coming in to sell their personal property, but for those like me who come off the street to sell, I can't conceive of any other business that essentially gives nothing for their stock, so that each sale is virtually all profit. It borders on unethical. With this kind of business plan, it's not surprising that "Half Price Books's annual revenue is $255.6M" according to Zippia.com.

Needless to say, this is the first and last time I'll be patronizing this company. I would have been better off donating or recycling rather than provide some of this company's inventory for almost nothing.

Beware! I took 220+ Christian historical and Christian romance books by well known authors in pristine condition to HPB in Marion. I noted some of the same book sets on their shelves selling between 5 and 7$ individually. They offered me $40.00 dollars for the entire lot or approximately 18 cents a book! Shocking and insulting, also extremely misleading book buy information on website. I drove 60 miles one way to basically donate my books so HPB could make a significant profit. Never again! I’d much rather donate to a charity.

These scammers are disgusting and revolting. They scam the living crap out of your books. I brought in 24 books, some being textbooks, mint condition and are hella expensive. Plus other prime eduction books. They gave me only $31.It is a scam.

Don’t look in there four dumpsters or
Skip on the side of the McKnight road
Store. There are more books thrown out
Then in there store. Four full dumpsters..
There employee 5’5 skinny brown hair glasses threatening to call the police for
Looking in the skip or dumpster.. The books were not damaged and in good shape.. vintage books.. the kind you do not discard.. they are book burners ..
As for the employee he should be fired..
it is not a crime in PA to take from a dumpster.. they had no signs on the four over loaded dumpsters.
Do not take your books there to be sold..
they will under bid you then throw them out.. I will not shop there again ..

I couldn't be happier with how quickly and kindly my issues have been handled by Half-Price Books' customer service team. They have always been polite, knowledgeable, prompt, and empathetic. Thank you so much!

I've made several attempts to update my previous review but it won't let me. While I was initially struggling to get my issue resolved with a book that was scribbled in but described as in "very good" condition, they did ultimately do the right thing and gave me a refund. So I no longer have any qualms with them. They actually ended up being very helpful once I sent the pictures of the book demonstrating how poor its condition was.

Always disappointing. They list products they don't have. Put holds on your bank cards for them and then resist returning the funds.

Brought a large box of unread books to store in Copperfield area. They only offered $3.75 for everything. Took the offer but from now on we will just throw the books into the trash. Most books of the ones I brought were bought for over $10.00. Store and Half-price books is a total rip-off and waste of gas and money. THROW BOOKS AWAY OR GIVE TO GOODWILL.

They posted a book on abebooks.com as being in "very good" condition. When it arrives, it was bent and scribbled in all over the place by the previous owner in bright pink ink and marker. When I contacted them, they said I would have to send it back (at my inconvenience because the closest post office is three miles away) at my expense for a "possible refund".

If you order books online from one of the Half Price Books family of businesses via Abebooks or Amazon, be aware that ALL books are graded "very good" no matter the actual condition. I learned this the hard way; 3 of the 4 books sent were barely (if even) "good" by Amazon, Abebooks, or book industry standards, much less "very good" -- with considerable creasing, torn pages, cracked bindings, etc. Customer service is lousy. Sure, books were returned/refunded but a waste of time. Very disappointed, I had expected better from a business I have liked in-store. Lesson learned.

Advice to HPB: just grade everything "good"; then customers (like myself) specifically looking for a nicer copies won't order in the first place while those looking for reading copies will still order and probably be "satisfied".

1) I took approx 20 like-new Technical books to sell. They have some on their shelf for more than $30. They gave me $7 for all.
2) CD prices are stupid high. They had their "just arrived" table at front of store. Some of these USED CDs were over $25.

Not the HPBs I used to visit.

My daughter just brought in 17 books and was NOT able to purchase 1 book with the price they gave her for her 17 books.

I understand they are a business and need a profit but that is not right.

I will not sell or purchase from them again.

This review is for buying books online from this business. In a nutshell: it's a bad experience. The books are expensive and definitely don't feel like it's half priced. Price wouldn't be that bad if it wasn't for the fact the books are in awful condition. I only buy "very good" to "like new" used books and everytime I get a book from HPB, it's filed with scrabbling throughout the pages, has a beat up and soiled exterior, very creased spines and a bunch of stickers (from previous owners) that are impossible to remove. They routinely hide the defects and damages of the book and then have the audacity to charge a pretty penny for it.

The customer service is awful. I contacted them over my recent book looking like it was meant to be recycled yet claimed it was in "very good" condition but I didn't get a response until a week later. They basically told me to get over it or pay to return it. The customer service is awful plus the return/refund policy they have is clearly meant to punish the customer. Do not buy books from them online! Avoid at all costs.

Shipped $400 book in a bubble mailer. Book was obviously dropped, possibly in shipping. Both bottom corners were dented, leather peeling on one corner gold gilding on pages scratched and spine loose. Each in its own is considered major damage to a collecrable book and if were present prior to shipping should have been disclosed and photographes provided. Sent pictures and told the damages are not sufficient and fall under their guidelines for used books.. HPB will not compensate for damage and wants me to pay to return.
Same order as above - Book described as no damage of any kind. Book has a filled out nameplate stuck to it. If I want to return I have to pay shipping. Will be filing a claim with my credit card as well as BBB.
Good riddance HPB...Oh, and change the name already. None of your collectables are anywhere near half price.

Just brought in approximately 400 books, CDs, VHS videos, and DVDs for Half Price Books to purchase from me. I got a whopping $29 for all 400 items. I got more from my sales at my garage sale than the whole lot they purchased. Scammers. Never again. Should have just trashed them. Not worth my time.