Sunday, August 8, 2021

A Half Price Books Rant

When I visit thrift stores or used books stores, I always check for out of print wargaming miniatures and books.  Over the last few years, I've had occasional good luck at Half Price Books, once finding a copy of 'Ere We Go for under twenty dollars.

However, since that time I've noticed a disturbing trend at HPB - many wargaming books are now tremendously overpriced.  HPB's own "Pricing Policy" states:

The great majority of books and other items we sell in stores are priced at half the current list price or less. Here are some exceptions:

  • Select current releases and other NEW items
  • COLLECTIBLES and out-of-print materials
I understand not all rare or collectable books can be priced at or below list price, but some of their prices are now just absurd.  On Sunday, I stopped by HPBs in Tacoma and found the worst example yet of this - Warhammer: Warriors of Chaos (published in 2013)... for $79.99.