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Half Price Books

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Half Price Books reviews

3.7

70% would recommend to a friend

(718 total reviews)
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Sharon Anderson Wright

64% approve of CEO

55% positive business outlook

Half Price Books has an employee rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars, based on 718 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Half Price Books employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail & Wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

718 reviews
3.0
Jan 30, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

If you're a media freak, in a busy location, you can have access to literally everything you've ever dreamed of before the general public. Which is incredible, but can also turn you into a hoarder. I don't know if this has changed, but all employees are given full-time hours by default, which in most retail jobs you have to work towards.

Cons

If you think you're incredible at this job, and after working for them for nearly a decade, you will discover there is an impenetrable brick wall of people who have been there since the 90s, who in most cases have completely given up at the job, blocking any chance you have at advancement. They have massive 401ks, they accrue bonus hours quicker than you can imagine, they can't imagine doing anything else like the old guy in Shawshank Redemption... why would they ever leave? I heard literally nothing from the owner of the company until we all received a memo that basically read "hey things are going great, just thought I'd say hello... by the way... insurance is really expensive and we probably have to cut it down at some point" and then they did a week later. Depending on who makes your schedule, it can be allllll over the place. Closing, opening, closing closing closing, opening. Doesn't matter. There are no company wide rules for this so you're at the mercy of a dungeon master in most cases.

2.0
Apr 21, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The discount and the health insurance are great-- so are the quarterly bonuses and the sick/vacation days.

Cons

The people are some of the most miserable people that I have ever had the misfortune of working with. Hazing is something seems to be encouraged by the management, even though they do everything in their power to appear to be following corporate rules down to the brass tacks. No one can make $558.35 per pay period and survive. They make you work your fingers to the bone for every cent of that money, too. Hours are never set, and some nights you will close and 11:00 p.m., only to open at 8:00 a.m. the next morning. It is a joke to work there.

1.0
Aug 22, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The merchandise discount. Pick of new stuff filtering through. The other grunts in the trenches with you are good people and they did throw the best parties on Earth.

Cons

Seven dollars an hour for a physically demanding job in a workplace where you stand all day feeding the money monster. The profit margins are obscene and you watch the coffers swell while barely able to buy groceries. Seeing disenfranchised peoples' passions being preyed upon and exploited.

Viewing 106 - 108 of 718 Reviews

Glassdoor has 759 Half Price Books reviews submitted anonymously by Half Price Books employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Half Price Books is right for you.