More than half crazy for Half.com!!
Written: Mar 28 '03
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If this review looks familiar, it is because it was written on June 20, 2001 in a generic category. I had requested Epinions move it, but decided to just move it myself. Thank you if you choose to re-rate it.
I found out about this site on accident. I had gotten a code from one of my rewards programs for $5 of a $10 or more order at Half.com. I thought, ok, what is Half.com? I clicked thru a link and I was in Heaven!!
I am an avid book reader. Mostly I read romance, but often I will read classics, fiction and some non-fiction. I don't have a favorite author, I read whatever looks good. My problem is, generally I am broke. One book can easily cost $5 plus tax. I pay about $4 and up for a Harlequin and can easily read one in 2-3 hours. Sure, that isn't to bad for a few hours entertainment, but when you read as much as I do, it adds up fast!
Instead of buying books at Wal*Mart and such, I visit Half.com. I can often get many books, especially with codes that are found all over the Net. Generally they are for new customers only, but sometimes not. I generally buy several at a time. One thing that I do not like is that sometimes their shipping costs raise the book price to where I could almost buy it at the store, but it all depends on the books.
I am a sucker for some of the classics, such as To Kill A Mockingbird. I picked up this book in "Very Good" condition in soft cover form for about 1.50 plus shipping. This was the original book, not a reprint. I also picked up the entire Little House on the Prairie Series and the most expensive book cost me $1.25, although most of them were about 75 cents, plus shipping.
Half.com offers more than just books, although I have yet to buy anything else. They also offer movies, music, video games, computers, electronics, sporting goods and trading cards. They have a search engine so you can search the site for what you are looking for. If you find what you want, but not for the price you are willing to pay, add the item to your wish list. Half.com will email you, if you desire, and let you know when someone else posts that item for sale and how much they want for it.
"Offers"? Yes. They do not actually sell the items. They post the for a commission for anyone who wants to sign up and sell their stuff. They have a "rating" system so that you can see if a seller is new or what their rating is, on a 5 point scale, 5 being the highest you can get. When you buy something they ask that you rate the seller and leave feedback about them to help future possible buyers.
I have not actually sold anything myself yet. Mostly due to the fact that when you sell something you pay shipping out of your pocket, which can add up if you have several items, and they pay you later, based on if you choose to be paid by check or by electronic payment, minus commission. If you choose electronic payment you get paid every two weeks. If you choose check, you will get paid at the end of the month, unless you have more than $50 in your account. If you do then you will receive a check about two weeks after the 15th. Their commission ranges from 5-15% depending on the cost of the item.
Their shipping sometimes scares me. It tends to be on the high side. Media Mail for a hard cover book will set you back $2.99 per book. What I don't like is that if you order several books from the same seller (several sellers I have bought from were book stores) you don't get a break on shipping even though they can ship them in the same package if they chose. Anything else shipped Media Mail (soft cover books and music) costs $2.25 per item. I have shipped books using book rate and it came no where near $2.25 for one book. The books I have purchased using Half.com generally were shipping for under a dollar. Priority mail prices are $4.50 each regardless of that it is. I have mailed 5 CDs to my mother priority mail in a box and it cost me $3.20. Who gets the extra money? That I am not sure. I always choose Media Mail and usually receive my books with a week, although you should allow 21 days.
I do not do my everyday book shopping on Half.com, but mostly I look for older items that I might not be able to find in stores. You would be surprised at what you can find out there. My husband found an HTML book (,b.Teach Yourself HTML in 24 Hours for $5 plus shipping. In the store it would cost $19.99. The seller names their price, so you might have to wait if you don't want to pay what is listed at the time you look for it.
If you do choose to buy the seller has 2 days to confirm the sale. Sometimes they sell the book before you order it but it isn't taken off of the site. Until you receive an email confirmation it is not guaranteed you will get the item. You will not be charged until you get the confirmation.
Half.com is a great site to get the books or other items that you want but might not have been able to find. Watch your price, though, because by the time you add the shipping on it could cost more than if you went out and bought it at the store. It just depends on the item. I use this site all of the time, you just have to watch those shipping charges!
As a slight update, I have never had to deal with customer service, so I am not sure about how they rate. I still use Half.com all of the time and have not had any issues yet. Just watch the feedback of the person you are buying from and have fun!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
LisaDo
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Member: Lisa D
Location: Currently VA, Originally IN
Reviews written: 552
Trusted by: 276 members
About Me:
Proud SAHM, Navy wife and member of SHLEPS!
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