There are a lot of bulk deal CDs out there on eBay. Just like anything, there are people out there trying to scam you as well. In this guide I will note some of the major dishonest things I see going on.

• CD artists are not listed in auction.

The CD has been around for over 20 years, and therefore, there are a lot of NO NAME discs in circulation. If the seller doesn't tell you exactly what you are getting, by listing each CD individually, then you can expect to get "no name" artists, duplicates, promotional discs and the like. These have little resale value. Just because they are offering "50 CDs NEW SEALED!" they may be new, sealed JUNK with little resale value. Remember... A CD can mean a lot of things. Old computer games, outdated software discs, poor quality old DVD movies, etc. Don't buy unless you know FOR SURE what you are getting.

• Artist listed, but disc is not

I have seen auctions where they mention artists that are included, but not the name of the CD they appear on. What you will get is some junk compilation with a few name artists and a lot of no-names, or Soundtrack discs that feature one or two songs by the artist listed, and a lot of filler.I don't buy unless I know the artist, album and condition of each disc in the lot. That way I know what I am getting.

• The dreaded CD Single

Early on, the CD single, with one or two songs instead of a full recording, were EVERYWHERE... That was before the days of online music file companies like iTunes, where you could buy just the song you wanted instead of the whole album. CD singles are obsolete 45 RPM style discs that are of limited value. Unethical sellers often list these CD Singles in bulk lots, without mentioning they are not full CDs.These to are hard to resell since they generally only have a couple of songs on them.

• Poorly described merchandise

What exactly are you buying? Are they just loose CDs? Are they in the original jewel case with front and back inserts? Are they just a loose disc in a non-original case? Are they new and sealed? Read carefully and make sure it is spelled out what you are getting. If you have any questions, email the seller. If you have any doubts, go on to the next seller... 

• Outrageous Shipping and Handling Fees

CDs are elligible for a discounted Postal rate called "Media Mail". It takes longer to ship, but books, Cd's etc. are eligible for this rate. I constantly see people charging $20 or more to ship a bulk CD lot, when it only costs them $6 or $7 to ship via media mail. ALWAYS factor what they are charging in shipping into your total cost, so you don't get ripped off.

• Non-Original Artists on Oldies Compilations

There are a lot of CDs of Oldies out there where the songs are familiar but they have been redone by non-original artists ("The Countdown Singers" for example). These have little resale value and are a big disappointment since they don't sound close to the original recordings.

These are a few of  the things I have run into along the way. Remember, if you do get something that is not as described, you have recourse through eBay and PayPal. Good luck and happy bidding!