Help Center
We're here to help! Contact our Customer Care team via email any time, and we'll get back to you ASAP. If your inquiry is about an online order, be sure to include the order number. You can also call 800-883-2114 8am-4pm Central Time seven day a week. When you give us a ring, please have your order number handy.
Check order status
We know you're anxious to receive your order, so we'll email you every step of the way until it's safely in your hands. But if you just can't wait to hear from us, you can always check the status of your order on our website. Here's how:
If you have an account with us, log in via the link in the top right corner of any page on our site. Once you're logged in, click your name in the top right of the page to go to Your Account, and select the "Orders" tab. You'll be able to view all your orders. You can also click an "Order Status" link in one of the emails we sent you about your order.
If you don't have an account, click an "Order Status" link in one of the emails we sent you about your order. That link will take you to a page with all your order details. If you can't find your email, please contact HPB Customer Care.
When will your order arrive?
Total processing time for your order depends on where it's coming from, where it's being shipped to, and the shipping method you chose. See our shipping rates & delivery times table for the details. If you do not receive your order within 30 days of its shipment date, please contact our Customer Care team immediately. We are unable to refund lost orders reported to us more than 45 days after the shipment date.
What do the various order status values mean?
- Pending: We've received your order, but it hasn't been confirmed or shipped yet.
- Confirmed Available: We have confirmed with our store or the seller that your order is available and is being processed.
- Shipped: Hooray! It's on its way! For trackable shipments, you will be able to track your package as soon as the shipper has scanned it, and you'll know exactly where your order is as it makes its way to you.
- Unavailable: It doesn't happen often, but occasionally an item becomes unavailable just as your order is placed. In that case, we'll cancel the order and refund your credit card (if the payment has already gone through). We'll also email you to confirm both the cancellation and refund.
If you have any questions about your order, feel free to contact our Customer Care team. Be sure to include your order number if you email or write to us.
Canceling an order
We can't cancel an order once it's been placed since orders go directly to the seller and may be shipped within minutes of receipt. However, we do make it super easy for you to return an item (see below).
We accept Visa, Mastercard, and American Express for payment. We also accept PayPal. For more information about using PayPal, please visit them here.
We will charge your credit card when your item has shipped. If you ordered more than one item, we will charge your credit card for all items in your order when the first item has shipped.
You cannot combine gift cards and PayPal on a single order.
Returning an item
We always want you to be thrilled with your purchase, but if you're not, we make it easy to return your stuff without breaking a sweat. Please see our return page for complete details.
Exchanges
Due to the unique nature of our merchandise, we are unable to process exchanges for items purchased on HPB.com. If you have an item you purchased at your local Half Price Books store, please see our in store return policy for how to return or exchange it.
Where's my package?
If you have an account with us, log in via the link in the top right corner of any page on our site. Click to the Your Account page and select Orders. Then click the "Track Package" button on the Orders page. All items that ship Expedited, 2nd Day, and Next Day will include a tracking number. Please note that items shipped Standard (media mail) may not have tracking numbers.
If you don't have an account, click an "Order Status" link in one of the emails we sent about your order. That link will take you to a page containing your order details.
Can I ship to multiple addresses? Can I choose different ship methods?
Yes, you can ship to as many different addresses as you like. Just specify an address for each item in your order during checkout. You can also choose different shipping methods for each item - sending to one address with Standard shipping and another with Trackable Expedited.
Why does each item in an order ship separately?
Much of the inventory you see for sale on our website is located in HPB's stores and warehouses, which are located across the USA. If you order more than one item, one might come from our Dallas, Texas store, and another might come from Berkeley, California. Each of our stores will ship your order directly to you.
What are shipping rates and options?
Our shipping rates and delivery estimates are listed on our Shipping and Returns page.
We offer several different options for shipping, including Standard (media mail), Expedited with tracking, 2nd Day, and Next Day. Shipping capabilities vary by seller and store location and are noted in each item's description.
Total time in transit for your order depends on where it's coming from, where it's being shipped to, and the shipping method you chose. The total time in transit includes time for us to pack your order, as well as shipping time. For items ordered from our stores or warehouse, if you place your order before noon Central Time we will usually send your order on its way on the same day; the remainder will go out the following business day. See our shipping rates & delivery times table for details.
International Shipping
Currently, HPB can only ship internationally to a subset of countries. Here are the countries we are able to ship to at this time: US, Canada, Australia and countries within the UK.
Half Price Books offers curbside pickup at most of our locations. To pickup curbside, go to our Find a Store page and find your favorite store. Use your local store’s Search This Store’s Inventory box at the top of the page to find the item you want. When your item is displayed, select Pickup at Store, add the item to your cart, and place your order.
Hang tight while we process your order! In many cases, your item will be available for pickup the same day. If you order late in the day, pickup may be available next-day. Please wait until you receive our Ready for Pickup email before heading to the store. This email will contain specific, detailed pickup instructions for you.
Bring your Ready for Pickup email and a photo ID to the store. We’ll get your order to you with zero contact, observing our social distancing and mask guidelines. For more information on safety, see Our Commitment to You.
If you need help, contact our Customer Care Team or call 1-800-883-2114.
Your password
If you've forgotten your password, click on "Sign up / Log in" at the top of any page of our site. Click the "Forgot Password" link in the log in screen and follow the prompts.
You can change your password any time. After logging in, click your name in the upper right of any page of our site. Click to the "Your Info" tab to change your password.
Log in or create an account
Click the Sign up / Log in link in the top right corner of any page on our website. Type in your email address, and create or enter your password. Passwords must be at least 8 characters and include 3 or more of the following: lower case, upper case, numbers, special characters.
Your accounts with Half Price Books
While using the Half Price Books website, you may have to create up to two separate accounts. We understand this can be confusing, and we’re working to simplify this. Please bear with us while we improve our website for you, our valued customers.
- HPB.com account – This allows you to purchase books or other merchandise online from Half Price Books. Plus, you can update your profile so you can remain on our mailing list for coupons and sale notices, etc.
- HPB Gift Card shopper account – This allows you to make gift card purchases at halfpricebooksonline.com.
You may also have an existing account on our previous website at hpbmarketplace.com, our partner website with Monsoon Commerce. If you’d like to be able to continue to shop for millions of new and used books, music and movies, we encourage you to create a new account at HPB.com today.
Your Account page
The Your Account page on HPB.com is a convenient, central location that contains all of your personal information. Your info, orders, recent searches, payment methods, address book, and recommendations are all accessed from this page.
Manage your personal info
After logging in, click your name in the upper right corner of any page to go to Your Account. Choose the "Your Info" tab to manage your name, email address, email subscriptions, phone number, and your local store settings.
Manage your orders
After logging in, click your name in the upper right corner of any page to go to Your Account. Click the "Orders" tab to view and manage your orders. You can:
- View details about your order
- Check order status
- View invoices
- Track packages
- Return an item
- Give seller feedback
Add or manage payment methods
After logging in, click your name in the upper right corner of any page to go to Your Account. Choose the "Payment Methods" tab to add, update, or delete your credit cards and HPB Gift Cards.
Add or manage addresses
After logging in, click your name in the upper right corner of any page to go to Your Account. Choose the "Address Book" to add modify, or delete shipping and billing addresses.
Manage your email subscription preferences
When you sign up for the Half Price Books mailing list, you’ll be subscribed to receive occasional discount offers and coupons. Newsletter subscriber benefits include valuable money-saving coupons, alerts about sales, author events, and new store openings, and more bookish fun.
If you're already on our mailing list and feel that you have not been receiving any communications from us, please make sure Your Account information is up-to-date.
You can opt-out or customize your communication preferences via any link at the bottom of an email we send you.
What types of things does HPB buy?
We buy books, of course: hardbacks, paperbacks, new or old, fiction, non-fiction, and textbooks. But we also love music, movies, magazines, audiobooks, video games, board games, gaming consoles, e-readers, collectibles, and ephemera.
Find out everything about how to sell us your books.
How much does HPB pay for used stuff?
It depends on what you have. While we can't make estimates over the phone or via mail or email, we can tell you that recent best sellers and collectibles usually fetch the most. But we'll make you a cash offer for whatever you bring.
Get the scoop on how to sell us your books and other stuff.
Where to take your stuff
We buy from the public every day at each one of our neighborhood bookstores, except at Half Price Books Outlet locations. Find your local store and start selling today!
Half Price Books Outlet bargains start at 50¢ every day with more than 50,000 titles under $5 and great gift books for $10 or less! We restock weekly from our retail locations across the US. Plus, since we honor the Half Price Books Educator Discount Card, your HPB Outlet is the best resource for teachers on a budget!
HPB Outlets accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and HPB Gift Cards. We're sorry, but HPB coupons, promotions, and discounts are not accepted at HPB Outlets. Our Outlet locations do not buy merchandise from the public. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.
Click to see more information about our Outlet stores:
In Illinois, HPB Rockford Outlet
In Indiana, HPB Bloomington Outlet
In Kentucky, HPB Bowling Green Outlet
In Washington, HPB Olympia Outlet