Help Desk
What do the Item Quality ratings mean?

Sellers rate the quality of every item they list for sale at Half.com. These ratings let you make an informed decision about each item. Here are the quality rating guidelines sellers use for:

Item Quality - Books

  • Brand New

    • Never read or used

    • In perfect, mint, undamaged condition

    • Publisher’s remainder marks are acceptable

  • Like New

    • Used but still in perfect mint condition inside and out

  • Very Good

    • Appears new from the outside with minimal marking inside

    • Books with these marks:

      • Autograph

      • Name of previous owner

      • Underlining on 10% of pages or less

      • Highlighting on 10% of pages or less

      • Institutional ID stamps and library checkout card pockets

  • Good

    • Books with minimal damage

      • Scuffed covers and missing dust jackets

      • Cover can't be creased, torn or have holes

    • Minimal crease or tears to majority of the pages

      • No missing pages

  • Acceptable

    • Books with damage

      • Creased, torn, or holes in the cover

      • Books with damaged spines

      • Books with more than 10% of pages highlighted or underlined

    • Books that have been refurbished

    • Books that have been modified for library circulation

      • Mylar covers

      • Attached dust jackets

      • Embossed covers or numbered book spines

  • Unacceptable – The following items cannot be sold on half.com:

    • Books without covers

    • Books with missing pages

    • Books with stains or water damage

Item Quality - Textbooks

  • Brand New

    • Never read or used

    • In perfect, mint, undamaged condition

    • Publisher’s remainder marks are acceptable

    • All access codes for the book and the companion CD need to be valid for the buyer of the book

  • Like New

    • Used but still in perfect mint condition inside and out

    • Access codes for the book and the companion CD can be expired or no longer valid for the buyer of the book

      • CD doesn't need to be sealed

      • CD can't be scratched

  • Very Good

    • Companion CD must still be included if the book came with one

    • Books that still appear new from the outside with minimal marking inside

      • Name of previous owner

      • Underlining of 10% of pages or less

      • Highlighting of 10% of pages or less

      • Institutional ID stamps and library checkout card pockets

  • Good

    • If the book originally came with a companion CD it may be missing

      • Seller needs to note the missing CD in the listing

    • Books with minimal damage

      • Scuffed covers, bent corners, and missing dust jackets

      • The cover can't be creased, torn or have holes

      • Minimal creases or tears to majority of the pages

      • No missing pages

  • Acceptable

    • Books with damage

      • Creased, torn, or holes in the cover

      • Books with damaged spines

      • Books with more than 10% of pages highlighted or underlined

    • Books that have been refurbished

    • Books that have been modified for library circulation

      • Mylar covers

      • Attached dust jackets

      • Embossed covers or numbered book spines

  • Unacceptable – The following items cannot be sold on Half.com:

    • Stained books and books with water damage

    • Books without covers

      • Includes books that have been placed into a three-ring binder

    • Textbook reproductions

      • Electronic copies or other downloadable editions

    • Alternate editions

      • Teachers' editions

      • International editions

      • Support material such as test banks

      • Solution manuals should be listed separately by their unique ISBN number