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In this blog post, we’ve prepared a list of the most popular questions regarding Half Price Books with answers. We hope you’ll be able to find the information you need in our answers.

Half Price Books is “America’s largest family-owned bookstore.” Headquartered in Dallas, it’s a chain of retail stores that specializes in buying and selling used and new books, music, movies, and games. The company was founded in 1972 in Dallas, Texas, by Ken Gjemre and Pat Anderson, who opened the first store with just $10,000 and a small inventory of books. Over the years, Half Price Books has grown to become one of the largest independent booksellers in the United States, with over 120 stores in 17 states.

The company’s mission is to promote literacy and encourage a love of reading by making books affordable and accessible to everyone. Half Price Books buys and sells a wide range of books, from bestsellers and classics to obscure and out-of-print titles, at prices that are typically 50% off or more of the publisher’s suggested retail price. They also provide a range of services, such as book clubs, author events, and book donations to schools and libraries. Overall, Half Price Books is a beloved institution for book lovers and a testament to the enduring power of reading and storytelling.

💡 Company name	Half Price Books
📅 Date of foundation	1972
🧭 Mission	“Be fair to customers and our employees, promote literacy, be kind to the environment and remain financially viable so we may continue.”
📍 Headquarters	5803 E. Northwest Hwy., Dallas, TX 75231
🗺️ List of addresses	https://hpb.com/all-stores-list
💻 Website	https://www.hpb.com/

Does Half Price Books Buy Books?

Yes, Half Price Books buys books, CDs, DVDs, rare collectibles, comic books, and magazines. They are ready to buy books they see “less often, current and perennial classics in every field, from fiction to science.”

How Can You Search Half Price Books Inventory?

You can search Half Price Books’ inventory in several ways:

1. In-store: If you prefer to shop in-store, you can ask a store consultant, browse the shelves on your own, or use the store’s computer terminals to search for items. Simply enter a keyword, title, author, or ISBN, and the computer will display a list of available items.
2. Online: You can visit their website, where you can search for books, music, movies, and games. Simply enter a keyword, title, author, or ISBN in the search bar. You can also filter your search results by format, genre, price, and location.
3. Social media: Half Price Books is active on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you want to be updated about all the recent news, new arrivals, promotions, and events, follow them on social media and stay up-to-date on their inventory.

Does Half Price Books Buy Textbooks?

Yes, they do. Yes, Half Price Books buys textbooks, both new and used. They accept textbooks in a wide range of subjects, including science, math, history, literature, business, and more. However, the condition of the textbook is important, as Half Price Books only purchases textbooks that are in good condition with minimal highlighting, underlining, or other markings.

On their website, you can find Textbooks → Sell Us Your Textbooks, with a link to their Stuff We Buy page.

While textbooks have high resale value, more often than not, you can’t expect great buyback textbook offers from college bookstores and brick-and-mortar book-selling chains. Therefore, we recommend using BookScouter to check the best textbook offers. Chances are, you’ll be able to sell your psychology books or chemistry books via the platform very profitably in minutes (way more profitably than to a college store).

Does Half Price Books Buy Loose Leaf Textbooks?

Yes, Half Price Books may buy loose leaf textbooks, depending on the condition and demand for the specific book. However, loose leaf textbooks are generally less desirable to buyers and may have a lower resale value compared to traditional bound textbooks. If you have loose-leaf textbooks that you want to sell, you can bring them to your nearest Half Price Books store, and they will evaluate them and offer you a price for them.

Does Half Price Books Buy Comic Books?

While they write on the website that they’re “oversupplied” with comic books, they still accept a wide variety of comic books, including superhero comics, graphic novels, manga, and more. However, the condition of the comic book is important, as Half Price Books only purchases comics that are in good condition with minimal damage, such as tears, stains, or missing pages.

How Much Does Half Price Books Pay for Books?

We can’t give you a set amount, as it’s very individual and depends on several factors, including the condition of the book, the demand for the book, and the current inventory of the store. You will only be able to get the estimate once the store workers see your books.

Typically, Half Price Books pays up to 50% of the original publisher’s price for used books and up to 20% of the original publisher’s price for new books. However, the actual amount they pay may vary based on the factors mentioned above.

As of today, here’s what their Buying Policy states, “We pay cash for your books, printed or recorded merchandise, and some types of software. We only buy merchandise in person at one of our local HPB stores.”

How Does Half Price Books Determine Prices?

As they state in the Buying Policy mentioned above, “Each buy is different and will be evaluated individually.”

Is Selling to Half Price Books Worth It?

It’s is a good question, as once again, there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the highest possible offer. As we’ve already mentioned, there’re many factors that may influence the store’s buyback price.

All in all, we recommend using buyback price comparison tools to find the best offers. For instance, you can check BookScouter—an online book price comparison engine—first. Once you type in an ISBN, title, or author in the search field, you’ll be able to see the buyback offers from 30+ vendors and can choose the best one among them.

How to Sell Books to Half Price Books?

Selling to HPB is easy.

1. Half Price Books accept books in one of the local stores, so first, you should find the closest store that buys books in your vicinity.
2. The next step is to bring your stuff to the Buy Counter of your local HPB store and get your items evaluated.
3. Finally, you get your cash. That’s it.

Keep in mind, however, that you should be over 18 years old or accompanied by a parent or a guardian; you’ll also be asked to present your ID upon evaluation.

Can You Donate Books to Half Price Books?

We have only found information about Half Price Books donating books: “Half Price Books donated more than 11,000,000 books in the years since 2012.” It looks like they donate a share of the books they buy from customers to various organizations. Here is the request form—Request a donation—to reach out and get more details.

Other than that, they don’t seem to be accepting direct donations. So, before coming to them with your books, it’s a good idea to check the website or call your nearest store to confirm their donation policies and any restrictions they may have regarding the types of books they accept. They may have specific guidelines for the condition and genre of books they are willing to take, as well as any restrictions on the number of books you can donate at one time.

Does Half Price Books Have Free Shipping?

No. Half Price Books offers paid shipping starting from $3.99 (Standard shipping). Trackable Expedited shipping for $7.99, Two Day Air shipping for $14.99, and One Day Air shipping for $19.99 are also available. Check shipping details here.

Does Half Price Books Ship to Canada?

Yes. Shipping to Canada costs $10.99 and takes 7–14 business days on average.

Does Half Price Books Ship to Europe?

Half Price Books offers two international shipping options: Standard International shipping for $14.99 and Priority International shipping for $19.99.

What Are Half Price Books Working Hours?

The working hours of Half Price Books vary by location, but most stores are open seven days a week. Some stores may have slightly different hours, so it’s best to check the specific store’s website or call them to confirm their hours of operation. Additionally, Half Price Books may have special holiday hours, so it’s a good idea to check their website or call ahead if you plan to visit during a holiday.

What Time Does Half Price Books Open?

Typically, Half Price Books stores are open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm Monday through Saturday and from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Sundays.

What Time Does Half Price Books Close?

Most of the stores close around 8:00–10:00 pm.

Conclusion

We hope that we managed to answer all the questions about Half Price Book stores, and now you have all the information you need to either buy new books or sell your used books.