How to Get the Best Price on Music CDs

CDs that sell at retail stores can often be found for up to 40 percent less on the Internet. Sometimes you can get even better prices, but you may or may not find the "catch" (there usually is one) to be acceptable.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• CD Players
• Compact Discs

Individual CDs

1. Use Internet search engines called shopping bots, which find the lowest prices on specific products. You can find these by typing 'shopping bots' in one or more Internet search engines.
2. Avoid CD merchants in shopping malls, as these have higher prices.
3. Find CDs at consumer electronics stores for 15 percent to 25 percent less than at CD specialty stores.
4. Check general-merchandise discount stores for popular titles.
5. Ask if a store offers frequent-buyer cards (for example, buy 10, get 1 free).
6. Check CD specialty stores for unadvertised sales, usually covering all titles on specific labels.
7. Consider used CDs. Ask the store if you can listen before you buy.

CD Clubs

8. Consider a record label's club only if you plan to limit your buying to popular titles from major artists.
9. Expect to pay up to $4 per CD for shipping and handling, including 'free' selections.
10. Be prepared to make your selections and rejections (some clubs auto-matically send you a CD every month unless you instruct them not to) within the required periods.
11. Check the CD club's FAQ Web page for suggestions about getting the best value from CD club membership.
12. If a club offers wholesale prices, and you will buy enough CDs to justify the dues, membership may be a good deal.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to add shipping charges before comparing prices from Internet and other mail-order retailers.
• Check several Internet price comparisons before deciding, and try to discern the comparison site's biases. Many such sites only include retailers who pay, or preferentially rank retailers who pay.