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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
4.0
Sep 9, 2018

It's Retail, But Very Engaging

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Coworkers. I couldn't imagine working with other sorts of people. I have met the funniest, smartest, most talented people - not because of college or a specific art scene, but because they gravitate towards this weirdo place. Believing in what you're selling. Getting a variety in your schedule - not just standing at a cash register for 7 hours. Good health insurance. Paid vacation and sick time. An hour lunch. Sweet discounts. For retail, the customers are nicer than the other places I've worked. You are encouraged to use critical thinking. They host art shows and have special events that benefit charities. You can submit ideas directly to the corporate level. The dress code is comfortable. The hours are flexible.

Cons

The workload can be stressful. Sometimes I have been given too much to be able to do completely right. This is considered normal. The pay, of course. It's retail, but at some point, the experience and knowledge (and the successful application of such) should be considered as valuable as it is. We invest so much in an employee's success and then lose all that money when they've been there a year and find a better paying job.

4.0
Aug 12, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The hiring practices at this company seem to favor intelligent, creative, friendly people. If you are any of those things, you will fit in and really like working at HPB. If you do not identify as a nerd of some stripe, this company might not be for you.

Cons

Standing on your feet all day can be grueling. Make sure to not scrimp on decent footwear. This job is way more physically taxing than many assume work in a bookstore would be. But if you're healthy and get enough sleep, you should be able to handle it.

4.0
Jun 28, 2018

A Great Place to Start

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You're surrounded by books, games, comics, and media of all sorts-- if you're in to anything, chances are you can find it at your Half Price. Furthermore, you get a nice discount, making Half Price even more affordable. As far as retail jobs go, you are rewarded fairly well at Half Price. You have insurance options, profit share, and 401K, even as a Bookseller I. The hourly wage is a bit low, but they just recently raised it a bit, and you are automatically up for a raise after a certain passage of time.

Cons

Starting wages a bit low, but that's to be expected. Customers can be unreasonable, but the management is typically adept at resolving these issues with you.

Viewing 208 - 210 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.