Half Price Books: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Half Price Books was founded in 1972 by Ken Gjemre and Pat Anderson in Dallas, Texas, who opened their first store in a converted laundromat stocked with roughly 2,000 books from their own personal collections. The company's original motto, "We buy and sell anything printed or recorded except yesterday's newspaper," reflects its buy-sell-trade business model that sources much of its used inventory directly from local customers. The company remains headquartered at its flagship location on Northwest Highway in Dallas, Texas.

Today, Half Price Books operates more than 120 stores across 19 states and is privately owned, in part by its employees, with all locations company-owned rather than franchised. Leadership passed from co-founder Pat Anderson to her daughter, current CEO Sharon Anderson Wright, continuing the company's family ownership. Half Price Books has built a reputation for environmental and social values, including donating millions of books to schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations, and it also operates its own reprint imprint, Hackberry Press.

Half Price Books' workforce includes retail associates who buy and appraise used books and media from customers, cashiers, and store managers. The company has historically been known for high employee retention and a workplace culture that has attracted many creative professionals over the decades. In 2022, employees at several Minnesota locations held the company's first successful union elections after five decades of operating as a non-union employer.

Company culture and employee programs: Half Price Books has emphasized progressive employee benefits and a distinctive company culture since its early years, including profit-sharing opportunities and merchandise discounts. The company is roughly one-third employee-owned, giving many long-tenured staff a direct financial stake in the business. Benefits, scheduling, and advancement opportunities can vary by location, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the specialty retail and bookselling industry, including Half Price Books, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

Half Price Books is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, consistent with standard practice for retail employers handling cash transactions and customer buybacks.

The hiring process for store-level positions at Half Price Books typically includes an application, an interview with a store manager, and a background check prior to a final offer.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a specialty retail role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

What if I disagree with something in my background check?

Under the FCRA, if you believe your background check report contains inaccurate information, you have the right to dispute it directly with the consumer reporting agency that prepared the report. The agency is generally required to investigate the dispute, typically within 30 days, and to correct or remove any information it cannot verify as accurate. If Checkr conducted the background check, dispute instructions are included in the notification sent to your Checkr candidate account.

Can I see a copy of my own background check report?

Yes. Under the FCRA, if a background check is used to make an adverse hiring decision, you are entitled to receive a copy of the report along with a summary of your rights under the law before the decision becomes final.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Half Price Books may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to Half Price Books or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.