How do you get the most from searching for a CD on eBay? 

    Well, there are a lot of CDs available on eBay (23,9675 in the 'Music'>'CDs' category at the time of writing, although these are not all music - in fact the first two to show up in my search were 'DVD of the weirdest, most bizarre and extreme videos',and 'Six professional hypnosis CD's with full resell rights'!).  Whether you're a casual listener or a hardcore fanatic, you can guarantee that you'll be able to find the CD you're looking for, be it single, EP or LP, original, reissue, or expanded.

    However, there are a few things to look out for, to be assured of getting genuine product.  After all, if a CD is listed simply as 'Joy Division - Closer', then how do you know you're not just getting a dodgy rip somebody's made in their bedroom.  How can you even be sure you're getting a CD at all?

    Sticking with the same example, if it was listed at 'Joy Division - Closer, original CD LP', you can be assured that if it is did turn out to be a copy or fake, it's in breach of eBay's listing policy, and you could easily claim your money back.  That's well enough, but it shouldn't have to come to that.  Here's some tips for buyers (sellers take note too, for the best way to present your CD sales).

1. Listing Title: The title is important.  After all, unless there's a gallery picture, the listing title is usually the first thing you'll see.  Look out for descriptive listings - not just the band and title, but whether original, wrapped, reissue or what (perhaps even a release year).  Avoid listings with things like 'bootleg', 'unofficial', 'CD-R' or 'rare import' - the first two are almost certainly ripped and illegal, while the last two may be (unless the particular release is a promotional disc or, well, a rare import - try and find out about the release before bidding).

2. Photographs: With media such as CDs, eBay can automatically provide a photograph for you, if you give them the ISBN of a CD, and that's all well and good (a scammer may not even have the ISBN after all).  However, if for whatever reason the listing seems wary, and the photo is a stock image, a photo of the band/artist, or non-existant, ask the seller if they could take a photo of the CD for you, preferably with the case open and in context (ie, on someone's desk, or in the seller's hand etc).  Incidentally, an open case will allow you to see inserts more clearly, and reveal whether the disc itself has artwork on it (many, but not all, actual CDs do) or if it's blank (many copies are!).  N.B. For Sellers - the ISBN trick is a quick and easy way to list CDs, and more than one photo for a CD is unnecessarily costly, but it may be worth replacing the stock photo with one of your own, or offering potential buyers further photos on request.

3. Information: Again, with the ISBN system, it's very easy to insert band/record information, including record label, date of release, and track listing.  A genuine seller ought therefore to be able to provide this information (unless, as mentioned, the disc is a promotional one, or hand made by an unsigned band).  If there is only a track listing, or less, this may just be lazy listing, but it's well worth emailing the seller for further info or photos.  Also, make sure the information given matches with any definite knowledge you have of the album (for example, if someone lists Led Zeppelin I with having 'Immigrant Song' as the first track, you should probably question them).  The more information in the listing, the harder it is for a fraudster to find a loophole.

4. What's Actually Included: It may well be that you've finally found a genuine copy of that long-sought-after album, maybe even that rare, discontinued single you've been looking for for years, but what are you actually getting?  Unless it specifically states otherwise, you might just be getting a CD, with no case, sleeve or inserts.  If you don't care about that, go right ahead, but if the booklet is important to you, make sure from the seller that it's included (look for photos, email verification, and try and ask them to put the information into their listing, thus binding them by eBay's listing policy).  Again, there are exceptions where a CD may never have been released with a booklet, or even a proper case (such as with unsigned bands, as mentioned above).  N.B. For sellers, try to include some information about what the auction includes aside from just the CD, even something as simple as 'with booklet, in original case'.

5. The Price: Dead simple this one.  Three things - first, if a brand new release, chart CD, or known expensive CD/boxset (eg. Pink Floyd's 'Ummagumma') is being offered for a very low price, especially Buy It Now, it is quite possibly a cheap copy.  As above, ask the seller for as much info and photographs as possible.  Secondly - keep an eye on other sellers, or music sites outside of eBay, and watch their prices - don't end up paying more second hand for what you could get cheaper brand new!  Finally - look at postage costs.  Some sellers will offer a CD for pennies, but then ask for extortionate postage.  This may especially be the case with foreign sellers.
   

6. The Seller: This last hint is eBay common sense really, but I'll reiterate it anyway.  Make sure to check the seller's rating and feedback.  Especially look out for negative feedback relating to items similar to those you're looking to bid on (if the only negative feedback a seller has if for a broken glass vase, chances are you'll be fine buying a CD from them).  Foreign or new sellers are ones to be especially wary of - definitely find out as much as you can about them and/or their listing.  Bear in mind, some sellers specialise in CDs, and have thousands of positive feedback.  Try Badlands Records UK or Rainbowjam for example.  Use your head, and you'll be fine.

    All in all then, the more complete a listing is, the more reliable it is likely to be.  When buying a CD on eBay, bear all of these things in mind to be safe, and to make your music-buying experience a pleasant one.  Most CDs will be genuine, but follow these tips to avoid the ones that aren't, or that are less than they seem.
See Rainbowjam's Guide to pirates, copies and bootlegs for more information on how to spot the various different fakes from each other.

P.S. If anyone can offer ways I can improve this guide, or add to it, please email me and let me know.  Thanks.  Also, please vote on whether this was helpful, to help push me up the list.