Half Price Books - 50% off a single item coupon + more Mar. 26-April 1

Rictor

Rictor

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A week or two ago I got these coupons in the mail from Half Price Books, which is a national chain in several states that sells new and used books, cds, DVDs, and video games at 50% off retail. I sometimes find good deals at this store on vintage console games, new PC games, and strategy guides.

I don't know if they'll accept scans or not but it doesn't hurt to try. I received the coupons in the mail, but they do e-mail them out as well. Be sure to add yourself to the mailing list so you can get future coupons:

http://www.halfpricebooks.com/questionnaire.asp

http://www.halfpricebooks.com/



The coupons are:

40% off a single item - Mar. 26-27 only
30% off a single item - Mar. 28-29 only
20% off a single item - Mar. 30-31 only
50% off a single item - April 1 only

There's a store local to me that has some decent but overpriced PSX games like Tactics Ogre that are worth using the 50% off coupon for.

Also, this chain is a great place to find cheap comic books.
 
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[quote name='Masterkyo']Wow. I wonder what games they carry ??[/quote]

Pretty much anything. Since they take trades, you never know. Best thing I've found was Might and Magic...8? Collector's Edition.
 
[quote name='Masterkyo']Wow. I wonder what games they carry ??[/quote]

Anything and everything...whatever gets traded in. Everything from NES and Genesis to Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii. Good stuff goes pretty fast as there are plenty of collectors that make weekly trips to Half Price stores. I'd go once a week if the nearest one wasn't 30 minutes away. Instead I go a couple times a year. I always hate when I see a new batch of crappy $.99-$1.99 NES carts as I know there were probably some good ones traded in that I missed.
 
Aw, shoot. I thought those 30-50% off coupons were for your entire purchase. I should've picked up a few of the other strategy guides I wanted while I was there yesterday. Oh, well, a VF/NM original StarFox 64 Nintendo Power guide for $4 made the last trip somewhat worthwhile. I hope I don't miss out on the Threads of Fate or Smash Bros. guides I had seen though.
 
I check in there periodicly and I havn't scored anything there in a couple years...

the last thing i got was LoZ:LttP for $2 in excellent shape.
 
I tried to trade some games in there a week ago and was treated VERY poorly. First I asked the guy if I could just tell him the names of a few games and he could tell me what they give, just to get an idea of their trade values. After much debate, he stuck with "no, especially not with my boss standing right there."

So I tried to talk some sense into his boss - she gave me the "no, because your game might be all scratched up." I told her pretend it's in new condition and I won't complain if it ends up being 0 when I actually come in - she switches to "our trade offer might change between now and then" and again I told her I don't care if it changes, I just want to know in general if they give 5 cents for XYZ game or $5. She tells me for the reasons listed above that I would just have to bring them in.

So I go out to my car and remember that I have a few BB $2 clearance games in the backseat and take them back in (sans the price tags of course). She makes me wait 45 minutes and then disappears. When she comes back she starts asking me suspiciously where I got the games. I told her I get games from Best Buy, CC, Target, etc. from time to time when they have a good deal. She tells me to return them there because I'll get more money than they are willing to offer.

After much debate she finally told me to come back when her Manager was there. I went on a controlled rant about all the hoops she made me jump through and the time she wasted, and finally left with my games in-hand. Needless to say, I hope some CAG's take full advantage of the 50-off coupon if anybody ever intends on spending any money in there.

(No, I didn't go back the next day as I live 30 minutes from the store and had a busy week in front of me).

All this is to say - I looked for any mention of trade values on CAG but found nothing, so if anybody has had any good experiences or can speak to their trade-in values it would be much appreciated. Much as I have distaste for the store and that Assistant mgr., if they'll give $20 for Metroid Prime 2 or something crazy like that I'll find a way to fit it into my schedule.
 
HPB has been great for me for games. I've picked up tons of stuff there for cheap, and it's been in great condition. I'd definitely recommend stopping by one if you can (esp. cuz the people there are actually nice.)
 
[quote name='chosen1s']I tried to trade some games in there a week ago and was treated VERY poorly. First I asked the guy if I could just tell him the names of a few games and he could tell me what they give, just to get an idea of their trade values. After much debate, he stuck with "no, especially not with my boss standing right there."

So I tried to talk some sense into his boss - she gave me the "no, because your game might be all scratched up." I told her pretend it's in new condition and I won't complain if it ends up being 0 when I actually come in - she switches to "our trade offer might change between now and then" and again I told her I don't care if it changes, I just want to know in general if they give 5 cents for XYZ game or $5. She tells me for the reasons listed above that I would just have to bring them in.

So I go out to my car and remember that I have a few BB $2 clearance games in the backseat and take them back in (sans the price tags of course). She makes me wait 45 minutes and then disappears. When she comes back she starts asking me suspiciously where I got the games. I told her I get games from Best Buy, CC, Target, etc. from time to time when they have a good deal. She tells me to return them there because I'll get more money than they are willing to offer.

After much debate she finally told me to come back when her Manager was there. I went on a controlled rant about all the hoops she made me jump through and the time she wasted, and finally left with my games in-hand. Needless to say, I hope some CAG's take full advantage of the 50-off coupon if anybody ever intends on spending any money in there.

(No, I didn't go back the next day as I live 30 minutes from the store and had a busy week in front of me).

All this is to say - I looked for any mention of trade values on CAG but found nothing, so if anybody has had any good experiences or can speak to their trade-in values it would be much appreciated. Much as I have distaste for the store and that Assistant mgr., if they'll give $20 for Metroid Prime 2 or something crazy like that I'll find a way to fit it into my schedule.[/QUOTE]
Almost every employee i've encountered there has been an asshole.

Just, don't trade stuff in there, especially not music Cd's or Records.

I bought Bruce Dickinson CD on clearence at HPB for 3 bucks and a few months later I sold it back to 'em and they had it marked at 8 dollars the next time I came in.
 
I'm lucky enough to live about 5 minutes from the closest location. I stop in all the time and have bought quite a few games there, including Kameo for $16 five months ago, Wind Waker for $5 & Resident Evil 2 GC for $7. Anyone with one around them should make a stop, coupon or no coupon.
 
[quote name='radjago']Ahem.

I should also note that every game I've bought from HPB has been in great shape.[/quote]

Your thread had no scans. :p
 
[quote name='chosen1s']I tried to trade some games in there a week ago and was treated VERY poorly. First I asked the guy if I could just tell him the names of a few games and he could tell me what they give, just to get an idea of their trade values. After much debate, he stuck with "no, especially not with my boss standing right there."

So I tried to talk some sense into his boss - she gave me the "no, because your game might be all scratched up." I told her pretend it's in new condition and I won't complain if it ends up being 0 when I actually come in - she switches to "our trade offer might change between now and then" and again I told her I don't care if it changes, I just want to know in general if they give 5 cents for XYZ game or $5. She tells me for the reasons listed above that I would just have to bring them in.

So I go out to my car and remember that I have a few BB $2 clearance games in the backseat and take them back in (sans the price tags of course). She makes me wait 45 minutes and then disappears. When she comes back she starts asking me suspiciously where I got the games. I told her I get games from Best Buy, CC, Target, etc. from time to time when they have a good deal. She tells me to return them there because I'll get more money than they are willing to offer.

After much debate she finally told me to come back when her Manager was there. I went on a controlled rant about all the hoops she made me jump through and the time she wasted, and finally left with my games in-hand. Needless to say, I hope some CAG's take full advantage of the 50-off coupon if anybody ever intends on spending any money in there.

(No, I didn't go back the next day as I live 30 minutes from the store and had a busy week in front of me).

All this is to say - I looked for any mention of trade values on CAG but found nothing, so if anybody has had any good experiences or can speak to their trade-in values it would be much appreciated. Much as I have distaste for the store and that Assistant mgr., if they'll give $20 for Metroid Prime 2 or something crazy like that I'll find a way to fit it into my schedule.[/quote]

Their trade-in prices are horrible. Worse than EB/GS or any other chain. I mean, they sell games pretty cheap usually and pricing tends to vary from store to store, so I imagine trade-in prices vary from store to store as well. They also will refuse to take your stuff if they're overstocked on something or just don't want to trade with you for whatever reason.

I know for stuff like comic books, they pay by the pound, like a few cents a pound, but then they sell most of their comics for 50 cents each and they tend to sit and collect dust even at that price.

HPB is a chain where you should buy, never sell or trade, the exception being if you get a big box of new release, popular hardcovers (Steven King or something) for 10 cents each at a garage sale and want to sell them for a quick 25 cents each. Even then, you're better off just putting them on half.com or Ebay.
 
Thanks for the coupons.

As people have said, don't trade in cds or games there. Their values are exceedingly low. I sometimes sell books there, just to get them out of my home without a lot of hassle, but I know I'm not getting much for them. However, all of the employees have been very nice to me, and I've scored some great deals on books and cds, so I'm not complaining too much.
 
[quote name='Rictor']Your thread had no scans. :p[/QUOTE]
There was nothing stopping you from adding your scans to that thread. No biggie, but it's nice to have everything in one thread.
 
In my experience, think of anything you take to HPB for trade to be a loss, then be really happy if you get anything. I tend to trade items in elsewhere or sell on Ebay and drop off whatever I have left over to them. They pay very very little, in some cases a nickel for a paperback, a dime for a hardcover book, up to a buck for games. It's one of those places where you go to dump large quantities.

I made $150 once dropping off a carload of items. What did they pay me so much for? Old hardcover cook books, a bunch of new bibles my college threw away, and a set of national geographic magazines (4 complete years from the 70's). The rest was a wash.

Buying there is a million times better then selling to them. I've had deals like Halo for $1, Battlestar Galactica Season 1 on DVD for $8, PS1 RPG's for $3 and more.
 
I found out my HPB bases their buying and pricing on Amazon's lowest used price listed. No wonder their buyback prices are so low, and their regular pricing is so varied - if they operate this way nationwide it would depend on what Amazon looked like when the item was brought in.
 
[quote name='chosen1s']I found out my HPB bases their buying and pricing on Amazon's lowest used price listed. No wonder their buyback prices are so low, and their regular pricing is so varied - if they operate this way nationwide it would depend on what Amazon looked like when the item was brought in.[/QUOTE]


On the other hand, that could work to your advantage when an OOS game is only being sold at ridiculous prices on Amazon, which happens all the time.
 
[quote name='Apossum']On the other hand, that could work to your advantage when an OOS game is only being sold at ridiculous prices on Amazon, which happens all the time.[/QUOTE]


I thought that too, but when I tried to consider examples that I would be able to pick up for a reasonable price I hit a wall and decided to get back to work :)

Any suggestions?
 
So how did anyone do? They didn't have any decent games, but I finally snagged the Legacy Collection of the Invisible Man for $9, so it was well worth the trip.

Scans should work, BTW.

RD
 
[quote name='radjago']There was nothing stopping you from adding your scans to that thread. No biggie, but it's nice to have everything in one thread.[/quote]

If I had seen that thread, I would have. It must have been buried quickly.
 
I'm getting IQ from my HPB on Sunday with my 50% off coupon. The girl that works the video games there hid it for me.

Which kinda leads me to believe that she's got something for me, however, I'm incredibly dense.

Anywho, since SHE took over the game section, it kinda went outta control. It used to be great deals, ANY Super Nintendo game for 3 bucks, most PS1 games for 6, but she's started putting amazon prices on stuff, and it's all over the place. Star Ocean 3 for 5 bucks, while Everquest PS2 is 10?
 
Picked up Tetris Plus (PS1-GH) for $6 after coupon.

Some other games they had, which I might go back for in the next few days:

-Star Wars: KOTOR 2 (PC) $10
-Legend of Dragoon (PS1-GH) $5
-No One Can Stop Mr Domino (PS1) $5
-Castlevania: SotN (PS1 - Non GH, disc + manual only) $40

I was really tempted to pick up Castlevania, but I've got a feeling it'll be there Sunday, when it'll be 50% off instead of just 40. Hey, 4 bucks is 4 bucks. So CAGers, how good of a deal is $20 for a copy of SotN in the condition described?
 
[quote name='iggywiggum']
I was really tempted to pick up Castlevania, but I've got a feeling it'll be there Sunday, when it'll be 50% off instead of just 40. Hey, 4 bucks is 4 bucks. So CAGers, how good of a deal is $20 for a copy of SotN in the condition described?[/QUOTE]

I'd say good, because you can always get another CD case and extra inserts for pretty cheap, I think.
 
[quote name='reibeatall']I'm getting IQ from my HPB on Sunday with my 50% off coupon. The girl that works the video games there hid it for me.

Which kinda leads me to believe that she's got something for me, however, I'm incredibly dense. quote]

You need to spend some more time with her.
 
[quote name='reibeatall']I'm getting IQ from my HPB on Sunday with my 50% off coupon. The girl that works the video games there hid it for me.

Which kinda leads me to believe that she's got something for me, however, I'm incredibly dense. [/QUOTE]

See what else she'll hide for you, if you know what I mean (think: salami)
 
[quote name='Backlash']See what else she'll hide for you, if you know what I mean (think: salami)[/quote]

i was thinking pet snake?
 
I stopped in today since I was on that side of town and used the 30% off coupon to grab a Robert Crumb art book hardcover for $17.50 (original cover price $55, marked for $25 plus 30% off). I may head back on Sunday to use the 50% coupon on another hardcover. Didn't see any games I wanted, although there were some halfway decent $1-2 Genesis games. Plenty of okay sealed PC games in the $5-10 range.

If the coupon was for 50% off your entire order, I'd be buying a couple hundred dollars worth of comic trade paper backs and DVDs. I was in the store around 3:30-4 pm today and it was PACKED...I hate to think how busy they got after 5 pm.
 
I use the coupons for strategy guides - there are almost always some older guides, hard to find guides, etc, and with the coupon - it's just a bonus.

Picked up two on Sunday with the 40% coupon (one for each)
Picked up two today with the 30% coupon (one for each)

Sunday will get two more with the 50% off coupon for each.

It works out.
 
Did they let you use multiple coupons in one transaction? I think I'll just have my wife stand in line behind me so I can at least use 2 coupons.
 
[quote name='Rictor']Did they let you use multiple coupons in one transaction? I think I'll just have my wife stand in line behind me so I can at least use 2 coupons.[/QUOTE]


That's how we did it. :cool:

RD
 
[quote name='Rictor']Did they let you use multiple coupons in one transaction? I think I'll just have my wife stand in line behind me so I can at least use 2 coupons.[/quote]

They'll just make you do two separate transactions, that's all.

That's what I had to do both times, but it was at their suggestion, so I said, "ok."
 
I've found some cool stuff at Half Price Books. I scored a FF Tactics Guide, Xenosaga III Guide, Legend of the Dragoon Guide, Persona 2 Guide!

Not to mention the games: Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Doom, Parasite Eve (both), and surprisingly, Final Fantasy VII (it just got traded in)

They usually have crap sports games or old games, but if you're lucky, you can score good stuff! The one I go to usually has a great video game guide collection.:applause:
 
[quote name='movieman2742']I've found some cool stuff at Half Price Books. I scored a FF Tactics Guide, Xenosaga III Guide, Legend of the Dragoon Guide, Persona 2 Guide!

Not to mention the games: Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Doom, Parasite Eve (both), and surprisingly, Final Fantasy VII (it just got traded in)

They usually have crap sports games or old games, but if you're lucky, you can score good stuff! The one I go to usually has a great video game guide collection.:applause:[/quote]
Christ, where is this store? The ones here in Dallas practically never have any good console games, though I did get guides for Xenosaga II and III a couple of weeks back that were in great condition.

One local one had a copy of Suikoden II a few months ago. If I didn't already have a copy, I would have grabbed it, even though it was $100 something bucks. Makes me feel sorry for the poor sap who actually traded that in to Half Price who probably missed out on $100 or more of profit they could have made on ebay.
 
I will check it out. Are the guides found in the same place as games? I didn't know they had games til awhile ago and have only been back once to check for games. Great place for college books for western civ lol


thanks for scans

*edit* not sure if it's the mac on I'm (probably is) I open the .doc file in mac's doc viewer and it's a table w/ a bunch of html it looks like, all txt haha.. I'll try when I get to a comp w/ Microsoft Word.
 
[quote name='movieman2742']I've found some cool stuff at Half Price Books. I scored a FF Tactics Guide, Xenosaga III Guide, Legend of the Dragoon Guide, Persona 2 Guide!

Not to mention the games: Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Doom, Parasite Eve (both), and surprisingly, Final Fantasy VII (it just got traded in)

They usually have crap sports games or old games, but if you're lucky, you can score good stuff! The one I go to usually has a great video game guide collection.:applause:[/quote]
Christ, where is this store? The ones here in Dallas practically never have any good console games, though I did get guides for Xenosaga II and III a couple of weeks back that were in great condition. I've had much better luck with books there, I've come up with real gems there (like a near mint hardcover copy of I Am Legend from the 50s for only one buck, about a year before anybody had even heard of the movie). Any time they have a remotely decent console game it ends up being priced over what the game is actually worth (mainly talking about PS1 games).

One local store had a copy of Suikoden II a few months ago. If I didn't already have a copy, I would have grabbed it, even though it was $100 something bucks. Makes me feel sorry for the poor sap who actually traded that in to Half Price who probably missed out on $100 or more of profit they could have made on ebay.
 
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