CDs: Buy Individually or in Large Lots?

[Moby]

I own about 1500+ cd's that I've acquired over the years one at a time. Sometimes I see classified ads for people selling their entire cd collection of 500, 800, 1000, etc CD's usually at $1 each at an all or nothing deal. Of course each cd isn't listed but they usually give a general sense of the genre and decade(s) of the collection. Do you all think buying a bulk collection is a smart, frugal or good idea?

One can't do much about fillers or junk cds but I'm thinking maybe if there are good cds which I already have, I could give them as gifts?
Also, when I ask people if they would consider breaking up the set, they say no. In the ads, they show the cds either in crates or boxes all ready to go, so I don't know how one is supposed to check all of them for scratches or condition.

Would you all rather buy cd's individually for a higher price or buy a huge bulk lot of them?

[mozzandherb]

Personally I would rather buy individually

[deevergote]

It depends what you're doing. Just collecting... I'd buy only CDs you want in your collection. If you're a DJ and want a HUGE catalog of music, that's one way to go.

Find a store that buys used CDs. Buy a lot, weed out the ones you don't want, and sell the rest at the store. That, or go to your local flea market, set up a table, and sell the ones you don't want.

I have about 300 cds... mostly purchased between the ages of 14 and 17. Then Napster appearead, and I became one of THOSE people... I'm probably going to go out and buy a John Oszajca later today, because I can't find the song I want online (not sure if I'll find the CD in the stores either...)

[cp[mike]]

buy individual CDs that you find worthwhile to purchase

but just buying used CDs in bulk just to get a good deal is like hoarding up a $5 case of VHS movies at the thrift, IMO. they are already outdated and are so easily damaged. if you feel you are making an investment as far as having rare discs or something, thats all you... but personally i would rather spend the time bulk-downloading the very same music and piling it all onto an mp3 player. done.