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Rip off

Posted Tue February 7, 2012 3:05 pm, by Mike S. written to Half Price Books

Write a Letter to this Company


I have dealt with these people a few times both purchasing and selling books and I have learned that they are a rip off organization.

Having gotten used to the crappy lowball offers I have gotten from them in the past, I took another batch of books (20-25) expecting to get their usual 20-25 cent per offer, which in this case I was prepared to accept. To my surprise the off I actually got was less than 5 cents per book. I was humiliated and livid. These books, while not MIB or pristine condition, were at least G to VG condition and in no way obscure. In fact what I had represented two of the most popular and enduring SF franchises on TV.

An email complaint went unsanswered for 3 weeks. When it was finally answered, the person said that she had been sick and the email 'dropped through the cracks'. I am also willing to concede the fact that this first exchange was at the beginning of December and made allowances for the holiday season. But my reply to said email from a district manager has gone unanswered (so far, as of this posting).

Comments left on Facebook pretty much get a canned AI/BOT answer along with a phone number that is impossible to get to speak to a live person.

And they frankly lie when they say everything is 'half price or less' since I saw with my own eyes books and other material tagged with a price 3x (at a minimum) the printed cover price.

Based on past history and experience, I really don't expect them to really address the situation. It would take compelling customer service from here on out to change my mind, as well as traing employees better in customer service.


Reply



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by STnM Posted Tue February 28, 2012 @ 7:26 PM

I am amazed that at one bit of criticism all the apologists come out
of the woodwork ready to tear me a new one!

Update: Finally spoke to a real person on the 800# who passed on
comments to DM. *FINALLY* got a call from DM, who while polite during
our discussion, really didn't do much to either solve the problem or
entice me back as a customer. Basically, the attitude was, you don't
want to shop here. ok that's your choice. Talk about a cavalier
attitude to customer service.

Soooo, called the 800# back and lo and behold, my original contact is
no longer working there. I talked to the replacement person in
customer service and pretty much got the same old company song and
dance. No offer to at least make a token gesture of customer service.

And I was not complaing about posts being deleted from their FB page,
as far as I can tell, all my posts are still there.


So as of now, the situation is unresolved and there seems to be little
hope of anything happeneing. Too bad, since I love shopping book
stores and browsing libraries.

Reply

Re: Rip off by not_in_this_life Wed February 15, 2012 @ 8:33 PM
by STnM Posted Tue February 28, 2012 @ 7:04 PM

I am not selling to these ripoff artists

Reply

by Nate. Posted Thu February 9, 2012 @ 1:16 PM

They are the customer in this instance, you are selling to them. They
are allowed to give you whatever they feel like offering, and you can
take it or leave it. Why get angry?


Reply


Think about that for a second... by Chadg Thu February 9, 2012 @ 5:56 PM


Which is true by Nate. Fri February 10, 2012 @ 1:08 AM


by Ramelle Posted Thu February 9, 2012 @ 9:47 AM

Good review Mike. I used to shop at Half Price Books but have found
many other retailers more reasonable and with a better customer
oriented business model.

Reply

by PepperElf Posted Thu February 9, 2012 @ 9:30 AM

1) All used bookstores have a right to tell a customer what they will
pay for the books. If you don't like it... *shrug*

Plus - keep in mind it's not always about the condition but about how
easily can they resell it.

Say you have a textbook that's obsolete. Sure it might be in good
condition but if they can't sell it then it's not worth much to them.
So why should they risk paying you a ton of money for something they
can't sell.

this is a business.


2) facebook comments. It's their facebook account. They can delete
whatever the hell they want. It's their right to do so, even if you
dislike it.

Reply

this was not.... by STnM Tue February 28, 2012 @ 7:06 PM
by E C. Posted Wed February 8, 2012 @ 4:21 PM

It's a used bookstore. What do you expect? I'm just floored that you
really think you're going to get anywhere close to retail price in
selling them the books.

And yes, they do mark up the price. How else do you expect them to
stay in business?

Reply

You know what? by STnM Tue February 28, 2012 @ 7:10 PM

by cissy Posted Wed February 8, 2012 @ 1:35 PM

Sir, give it up. Their offer was injurious and humiliating to you.
Don't agree to the terms and walk away. How about donating these books
to a school/ hospital/ community centre.I'm sure you would receive a
tax break for a donation. I know it wouldn't be to your expectations
but an alturistic act none the less.All the best.

Reply

by RedheadwGlasses Posted Wed February 8, 2012 @ 12:58 PM

humiliated? Livid? because a business transaction didn't go
according to plan?

Throw a darn garage sale if you're so upset about this. That'll show
'em!

Reply

by MA Bellamy Posted Wed February 8, 2012 @ 9:52 AM

Just like with Video Games and DVD's and CD stores of this type. They
have to make their money back to sell them (just like a car
dealership) so they aren't going to give you what they would sell them
for and they aren't going to give you what YOU think they're worth.

This isn't Antique Roadshow and what you are selling is not a high
demand item.

And the fact that you have popular items that are only in average
condition is even worse. If they are popular, that means EVERYONE has
them, they are probably overlaoded with stock already and they will be
even harder for the store to unload - especially if they aren't in
absolute mint condition.

If you want to get top dollar for your stuff, don't leave the hard
work to somebody else - hit up eBay and Craigslist and unload it
yourself. Then maybe you can appreciate what actually goes into
selling your stuff.

Reply

Frankly, I would not touch....... by STnM Tue February 28, 2012 @ 7:40 PM
by Lisa H. Posted Tue February 7, 2012 @ 5:19 PM

I'm not sure why you were "humilated". It wasn't personal. They just
didn't feel your books were worth as much as you did. Lots of factors
as to why, including supply and demand. They may have had enough of
the titles you were trying to sell for example.

You are free to refuse their offer and leave with your books.

I don't remember seeing them claim that everthing is 1/2 price?

Reply

Not everything is half price by fishbjc Tue February 7, 2012 @ 11:19 PM


But if they are called HALF PRICE by MA Bellamy Wed February 8, 2012 @ 2:15 PM

by Bill R. Posted Tue February 7, 2012 @ 3:43 PM

Sell to Us
We'll pay you cash for your books, music, movies, games, game
consoles, e-readers, and audiobooks—and you can spend it wherever and
whenever you like.

We pay the most for recent bestsellers and collectibles, but we're
also interested in good books, music and movies of all kinds. The
primary factors we consider when buying used merchandise of any kind
are: 1.) condition 2.) supply and demand.


Reply




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