Half Price Books — Local services in Garland

As you might expect, it is hit or miss -- and hits depend upon one's interests and tastes. A (German publisher's) facsimile edition of the complete works of T H Huxley: 30 bucks. Hit. They were probably glad to get rid of it; I felt guilty for buying all eight (?) volumes for less than the price of a single new NYT best-seller, which would probably be terrible.

I regret that I have never walked out empty-handed, and this digs cruelly into my Diptique budget. A good edition of Aesop leaves less wampum for Aesop. There's some comfort in the thought that my private library will one day make an heir very happy. Maybe.

One complaint only: I have more than once found a real gem that had a super sticky price tag on the dust jacket. This is never acceptable. Ever. On two occasions this circumstance has compromised the value of the book and spoiled the joy of acquisition. This happened just yesterday with an Everyman's Classics volume of Leibniz -- definitely not the best in any or all possible worlds.

Of the three HPBs I visit with regularity, I've had the best luck in Plano (near Orvis). The staff there are consistently friendly, and this matters: sullen, sulky clerks ruin a shopping experience with nearly as much efficiency as plastic blister packaging that lacerates one's delicate paws -- or a super sticky price tag that rips a layer of epidermis from a gorgeous old jacket. Sales associates at the Rockwall (I30) outlet have not wowed me with cheeriness, sad to say; but perhaps they were sore a middle-aged philosopher bought the entire selection of books by Violet Paget.* And who could blame them?

I did not buy all the Violet Paget books. There were none. But I'm sharing with you (HPB) a suggestion: please source books by Vernon...

I'm a long-time customer, in terms of both buying and selling books @ Half-Price Books. I have a certain level of understanding regarding quality (e.g., good, very good, as-new). That being said, I brought in a ~20 pound cardboard box filled to the brim AS WELL AS A FEW THAT DID NOT FIT THAT WERE SET OUTSIDE OF THE BOX (important detail) with majority of the books varying from 'good'-'very good' quality, including the few 'as-new' quality books. In particular there was an ancient copy of a leather-bound Don Quixote pt. 1, that evidently had water damage within the pages, which again, WAS ONE OF THE FEW OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. The girl working the buy counter called me over to say that the entirety of the box smelt of 'cat musk' whereas, upon close personal examination, using my healthy olfactory abilities for the next 5 minutes, smelt stale to me. No "cat musk" scent (may I add that we hate cats and don't own any? Doesn't matter, I know!) I confront her further and she mentions the water damage TO THE SINGLE LEATHERBOUND DON QUIXOTE THAT WAS PLACED OUTSIDE OF THE BOX. Needless to say, I took the items and sold them at another undisclosed Half-Price Books elsewhere in the Metroplex. Typically in these situations, the buyer will offer to discard the one damaged book, but she declined the entirety of this massive pile of books I had brought in.

The girl seemed like she didn't want to process the books thoroughly or like she didn't want to be there. I can't think of another reason as to why this would happen.

Again, needless to say, I'll never...

This was a very nice store with alot of selection. So, for a buyer, it is very good, and I would rate it a 5.

However, for a seller, the practice of how they come up with the value of the books is opaque and I believe unfair. I brought in a a mix of books that had a list price of $275.66 new. All of the books had the list price of the books printed on them, that is how the price is so exact. The amount I was offered by HPB was $4.50. I asked how they came to that valuation and I was told that is just is how the computer comes up with it based on inventory, how fast they think it will sell, etc.

I know that this is a business that has overhead and I think that it is great they they can help with the "reuse" of books, but I think that they are totally screwing over the seller by not being more transparent in how they come up with the valuation. Also, how much is their overhead costs are that the public has to cover.

They are particularly bad when it comes to movies and music. There are other choices out there which will give you an itemized list of what they pay for each title, so I suggest you google and use one of those instead.

From the seller point of view, I would rate this 0.

I didn't want to bash on this particular HPB since this goes on all all of them, so my overall score is a 2. In the future I will find some place to donate my books like a library, women's shelter...