Half Price Books

Depending on what you are going for (buying/​selling), they can be great, or they can be awful
Half-​price Books is basically «BookStop» the GameStop for books (and movies, music, and occasionally games)
If you are going to buy, they are awesome, great selection, fair prices, any genre you can think of, something for everyone, you are bound to leave with at least something interesting
If you are going to sell, go elsewhere… Now listen, I get it, they got to make a profit, they can’t sell it for the same price they bought it, same goes for other places like GameStop, GadgetEase, Play it Again Sports, Plato’s Closet, pawn shops, etc., they buy it from you for what should be a fair asking price (after checking the items first of course), decide a usually fair used price for the items, allowing some headroom to make (what should be) a fair profit, then sell them for a fair, sometimes amazing, price
The problem is (and same goes for some of the other places I mentioned earlier), they check the items and decide what THEY think is a fair asking price is, which most of time time, isn’t fair at all
A good example of this is the last time I went to try to sell a box full of books I had (of decent quality, most of them hardback), just for an idea of how many books I had, I needed help just walking up to the door, the box was HEAVY (at least 30~35 books), and like I said, they were decent/​fair quality books, they could fetch around $ 10~20 on one book alone, and maybe $ 5 for some others… Fairly
I would have left satisfied with maybe $ 20 for all of them, I could part with them for around $ 10, I would even understand if they only gave me $ 5 (even though they were worth more than that, even with fair profit), the highest they were willing to pay me was $ 2… For EVERYTHING, they could EASILY make $ 50~100 on those books (and to be honest, if I did give them the books, I bet they would sell them for that)
So for MY books, that I am SELLING them, they are only willing to pay $ 2, yet turn around and make nearly $ 50~100 (total, not per book of course), a $ 48~98 PROFIT, while I walk away with $ 2… TWO DOLLARS!!! I sold maybe 4 cheap books for maybe a few cents and left with the rest of my books, it’s more profitable recycling aluminum cans, I would have been better off just dumping the books off at a Goodwill, and at that rate, I would have just sold them on eBay to begin with

I always overlooked this place and boy I’m mad I did! I would suggest coming here before Barnes and nobles! They have a fantastic selection of books, DVDs, computer games galore and video games! I could spend all day here!

Have been to all the Half Price around Columbus and this is my favorite one.

My favorite Half Price Books in the Columbus area. Been a Half Price Books customer for over 20 years. i shop mainly for books and records and visit all locations but this is my favorite. Great variety, always see something new when I’m in. Friendly staff, clean aisles, clean restrooms, ample parking, and other shopping nearby on Sawmill Rd so I can do other errands while I’m out. I love this store!

I had a hard time getting a refund put back on my card, but they were very courteous and eventually gave me cash back. May not sound much like a compliment but any other place would just brush you off after processing the refund on their end. You have to appreciate businesses that have an interest in putting things right and aren’t dismissive or rude. I will definitely shop here again. Besides, they have so many cool things that you won’t find anywhere else, like finger-​puppet magnets for the fridge or make-​your-​own music boxes.

My favorite HPB location in Columbus. Consistent great customer service and always a bargain to find. The managers are all great people and always seem happy to be there. The first time I sold some older books, they took the time to explain the offer and why they pay what they do. I appreciated the honesty! Also in a convenient location, in a plaza with a cheap theater and great Chinese food (Sun Tong Luck!).

I love HPB (we bibliophiles call it that), so I will try my hardest to be objective. did I mention I love HPB?
I still read. Granted, my reading has now migrated towards reading on electronic devices such as my phone and tablet, but every now and then, I like the feel of an actual book. I have this weird habit of reading magazines front back to front. I have no idea why. I should research it. Can not do that electronically. Maybe you can, and I have not found out how to do it yet. so having pages is ideal in my case.
This is my favorite of the HPBs in my town. The hours are long, and a variety of stores are nearby making it quite convenient. It is not the largest, but I am okay with that. Oddly, enough, this HPB has a perfect record when it comes to having the book I am looking for. This HPB can also get quite busy on the weekends, so plan accordingly.
I do wish I could get more for things I sell here, but I split my used books between here and Goodwill.
Four stars for being the awesome store it is, could have been five if I received more on selling books.

You never know what you’ll find at Half Price Books. Tonight I saw a Buck Rogers board game, 30 Rock Season 2 on clearance for $ 7.99 and a buy back counter covered with stacks of books 2 feet high.
Prices on TV Shows and CDs are decent. Prices were comparable to what I saw down the street at Walmart. Book shelves are clearly marked with genre for easy browsing.

Get nicer better employes horrible customer service and very bad selection over all awful fire the old woman and replace her lazy idiot

As a retail company, Half Price Books has it together. I have long loved Half Price for its selection, price, and people. The clerks working there are smart, pleasant, and likeable – have been for years – which is a credit to the management of the company. I find this no matter what Half Price Store I go to. But I am reviewing the Bethel store as it is closest to me, and the one I have been to the most.
It always has a large selections of books, music, DVD and blue rays. Back in the pre-​I-​pod day, I used to buy boatloads of CDs from there. (I kind of miss that.) The store also has plenty of novelties – impulses that are witty and whimsical. I have never had a bad experience there. The sales room is inviting, well conditioned, and has a cool wood décor. Chair are provided if you want to read a bit.
The only downer is that they don’t offer a good price if you try to sell them your stuff. Understandable, from their business POV, but enough to give a mark. Also, the spine of the last book I bought there became unglued in about a day. This can happen at a used book place, luckily it seldom does.
If you haven’t been to Half Price Books yet, what are you waiting for?

This is not my favorite Half Price location, but it is up there. I love that they now give you a 10% off coupon when you’re selling books back… I always end up picking up one or two things when I’m here with the money I get back, so might as well save a little more! I just knock a star off this particular location because some of the other locations at $ 1 clearance and this one is $ 2…I know… a whole extra dollar…

I had a collection of old books from the 1830s that I found in my grandma’s basement, and was looking to sell. After taking them around to several bookstores around Columbus, this half-​price books gave me the best price!
While waiting for the appraisal on these books, I looked around the store a bit and continually asked myself, Why don’t I come here more often?

This seems to be the undiscovered gem of the Half Price Books Columbus empire. It’s never crowded, not even in peak frantic-​Christmas-​shopping-​season, but the selection is huge. I really miss this store, even though I now live in the town with the biggest bookstore in the world.
One more thing: did you know that there’s a bargain theater in the same shopping strip? When I lived in Ohio, my family used to while away many a Saturday at Carriage Place, spending an hour or two at Half Price Books and catching a 50 cent movie. I’ve heard it’s more like $ 2.50 now, but $ 2.50 is still great.

I’ve got love for all Half Price books location but this is probably my least favorite one.
Nonetheless, it is still awesome and the one closest to home.
All locations have a great staff, not one person works here who isn’t super nice and helpful.
I can’t get past magazines for 50 cent each, how can you beat that? My son loves the books and my husband stocks up on CD’s, none over $ 5.
Always a great way to kill some time and we come here at least once a week.

A great place to check for books, movies, CDs, and some software before buying new and pay full price. They alway have a great stock of stuff and are alway worth checking first. They are also great for taking your used books in so that someone else can enjoy them.

Great selection of odd and obscure titles.
My only complaint is the ridiculously low quotes in buybacks. I’m better off donating books to the library and taking the tax deduction.

Well organized store and quick quotes from the purchase counter. I’m dangerously close to spending too much money here.

I love this location, they have a different selection of books and dvd’s that the other locations do not have. I could have easily gone for broke in 30 minutes!

I can (and do) walk here frequently from my home. I can get books at WELL less than half price. Their CD selection is small, but I have found a few gems.
Today’s 5-​star? A damned near mint copy of the Babbo Cookbook for $ 5.55 and the slipcase cover version of Led Zeppelin’s In Through the Out Door for $ 6.
Friendly staff, easy parking, near the cheap theater and Wal-​Mart. No complaints.

In my opinion, the Bethel Road store is the gem of all the Half Price Books in the Columbus area. It may be the smallest and therefore easier to navigate. Regardless, I’ve had all kinds of luck finding great stuff at this location and at great prices. For instance, I was pricing a copy of the 1776 Illustrated History book around town and today bought a new copy with a dinged corner for $ 15 (they have a stack of ‘em)! I usually find good records/​cds/​dvds at this store.
The one downside is the sometimes wacky pricing. For instance, in the collectable lps they have The Satanic Rites of Dracula lp soundtrack for $something astronomical$ and Scream’s 2^nd lp for $ 90?!