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Amazon Used CDS- How to buy?

post #1 of 32
1/23/10 at 9:11pm
Thread Starter 
So, I confess. I used to download all my music, from places like limewire and Bittorent. However, I have deleted them all, and now want to go completely legal.

I have a couple of legal cds I have received from friends as gifts, and I also purchased some from Other Music and Academy Records here in NYC. I feel that those stores are a little overpriced, with $6-$7 per used cd plus tax. I have taken a look at Amazon used CDs, but I don't know the secrets or the best way to buy from the marketplace sellers. Should I buy Very Good cds, or just consider the Like New cds? Do the conditions even mean anything? Should I bother checking the description/seller ratings?

How was your experience with Amazon marketplace sellers?

Can you lead me through the process? For example, if I was to buy the following cd, how would I proceed?
Amazon.com: Used and New: Hold Me Up

Thanks in advance,
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post #2 of 32
1/23/10 at 9:30pm
Amazon.com Help: Condition Guidelines

^
These descriptions have been pretty accurate in my experience. I usually try to buy what is cheapest from a reputable seller, and the item has what is atleast described as "good" condition. I have only ever had one incorrectly stated item condition description, but I was given a full refund and was allowed to keep the CD for my trouble.

Usually prices are pretty close for good vs like new items, so I will usually find myself paying very little more (less than a dollar more generally) to get something in better condition. Or I will sometimes pay a little more just to buy music that is from a local used record store selling on Amazon.
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post #3 of 32
1/23/10 at 9:36pm
I buy most of my CDs used from Amazon. Out of the ~100 or so CDs, only a few have been damaged. Most of these have been from shipping (either beaten up by the carrier or not packed safely). I've even had a few sellers refund me a few dollars if the CD arrived damaged. I've had a great experience with marketplace sellers.

The only downside is shipping. Each CD costs $2.98 to ship and you cannot bundle them together as they are usually from different sellers. However, with the CD you picked for example, it still comes out cheaper than buying elsewhere. Shipping is generally fast and some sellers will include a tracking number, but not all.

I only buy CDs from a seller if:
1. The seller has more than 50 lifetime ratings.
2. The seller has positive feedback >90% (always leave feedback!)

The conditions are obviously going to be subjective and vary from seller to seller. However, the comments are a great indication of the actual condition. I have very rarely received a CD that was different than the comments described.

If I were buying the CD you picked, I would pick either the first seller (based on the number of ratings) or the fourth or fifth one. After you select which seller you wish to buy from, simply add it to your cart and treat it like any other Amazon transaction.

Hope it works out for you. You can catch some awesome deals.
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post #4 of 32
1/23/10 at 9:54pm
The amazon marketplace is great, I haven't had a problem with any of my orders. It's a great way to dodge buying remastered copies of older music.
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post #5 of 32
1/23/10 at 10:05pm
Most of the CDs I buy come from Amazon sellers, about 94 CDs last year. As a rule I try to buy from sellers with a 95+% rating.
In my experience the condition descriptions have been accurate and I've had maybe 2 problems in the last 3 years, all resolved quickly by the seller and when applicable they have paid the return postage. It's a great way to expand your collection.
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post #6 of 32
1/23/10 at 10:24pm
Just to echo everyone else, I've purchased a good few (probably 50+) albums on Amazon's market, and even a few NIB albums that Amazon doesn't carry anymore, and have had 100% positive experience, in pricing, condition of the discs, and seller communication. I did have one CD lost in the post, and the seller noticed it before me! (that seller had Deliver Conformation, which I don't know if all sellers do..) I was offered a full refund or replacement; no hang-ups whatsoever. I also have purchased a few used vinyls with similar results. Wonderful!
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post #7 of 32
1/23/10 at 11:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by festivus528 View Post
I buy most of my CDs used from Amazon. Out of the ~100 or so CDs, only a few have been damaged. Most of these have been from shipping (either beaten up by the carrier or not packed safely). I've even had a few sellers refund me a few dollars if the CD arrived damaged. I've had a great experience with marketplace sellers.

The only downside is shipping. Each CD costs $2.98 to ship and you cannot bundle them together as they are usually from different sellers. However, with the CD you picked for example, it still comes out cheaper than buying elsewhere. Shipping is generally fast and some sellers will include a tracking number, but not all.

I only buy CDs from a seller if:
1. The seller has more than 50 lifetime ratings.
2. The seller has positive feedback >90% (always leave feedback!)

The conditions are obviously going to be subjective and vary from seller to seller. However, the comments are a great indication of the actual condition. I have very rarely received a CD that was different than the comments described.

If I were buying the CD you picked, I would pick either the first seller (based on the number of ratings) or the fourth or fifth one. After you select which seller you wish to buy from, simply add it to your cart and treat it like any other Amazon transaction.

Hope it works out for you. You can catch some awesome deals.
Points 1 and 2 seem to be the general consensus, but that would also mean that seller #2 would also be fine. What would be wrong with (Eric Olsson?). What if the comments are something unhelpful about the cd condition like "Fast Shipping" or "I ship daily at 5pm"?
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post #8 of 32
1/23/10 at 11:25pm
My bad, I mean to include that seller also. I usually tend to buy from sellers with personalized comments (meaning they took the time to look at the specific cd and describe its condition) rather than sellers that simply list their shipping policy or say that customer satisfaction is guaranteed. I've almost never had a problem with sellers that do that, however.
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post #9 of 32
1/23/10 at 11:55pm
Amazon Marketplace usually works out great...

In regards to condition, I think the biggest variables I see (in the descriptions) is whether the case and inserts are included/original. Sellers will downgrade CDs if they're missing the inserts, for example. If condition of digi-pack or inserts doesn't matter to you, then you can often find "good" condition or even "acceptable" rated CDs that are otherwise in perfect shape. Read the descriptions...
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post #10 of 32
1/24/10 at 3:38am
I buy tons of CDs from Amazon Marketplace. I usually buy stuff that's rated Very Good or above; if the rating is lower, I read the description carefully. If the description says explicitly that the disc doesn't have wear, I pick it up. I rip CDs to my hard drive, so poor ratings that are purely cosmetic (broken case etc.) I couldn't care less about.
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post #11 of 32
1/24/10 at 5:07am
I have on one or two occasions received cut-outs that are not described as such from marketplace sellers. Other than that, no problems with the used CDs on Amazon.
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post #12 of 32
1/24/10 at 2:41pm
I buy all my Cdsfrom Amazon. After a while I have found that I tend to stick with the most reliable sellers.Its cheaper than anywhere else on the netand great for finding rare and deleted items.
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post #13 of 32
1/25/10 at 4:47pm
For the past several CDs I've bought, two local used shops beat Amazon's best prices on used discs.
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post #14 of 32
1/25/10 at 4:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by festivus528 View Post
I only buy CDs from a seller if:
1. The seller has more than 50 lifetime ratings.
2. The seller has positive feedback >90% (always leave feedback!)
being myself an amazon seller with just seven ratings (100% positive of course ;-) ) I trust the guys with low feedback count and a perfect record: they tend to be music enthusiasts who want to offload some of their extras
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post #15 of 32
1/25/10 at 4:56pm
If you can get cds used, for $6-7 locally, do that. Not only will you almost never get cds for cheaper than that on amazon, as you have to pay $3 shipping, but you get to go to the record store, support a local business, and you aren't sending something hundreds of miles to your door when the same item may be 5 miles away. Also you get instant gratification.
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