Try locally first.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/

Unless the box is full of total crap (which I'm sure it isn't), I bet you could get at least a buck or two per disc. I know there are used CD stores in Denver that pay decent money. (For example, I recently sold Sonic Youth's "Goo" to a used CD store for $4.) Surely there are stores in Chicago like that.

The box has it's fair share of crap, but there's also some stuff that could get at least a couple bucks. I should just bring it in to a couple stores and see what they'll take. I just need to suck it up when the clerk turns to me while flipping past the 2000th copy of Jesus Jones' "Doubt" or The Cranberries that someone has tried to sell him in the last 10 years.

Can you post the contents of the box. For humor's sake?

Not unless you agree to buy at least 10 of them at a buck a piece. My pride is for sale here.

I'll send you $10, Jason. I'm sure you have a good idea of 'things Anneke missed in college.'

I used Amazon Marketplace with pretty good success. The highlight being someone buying the *gasp* Traveling Wilbury's CD from me for $25. Apparently it is out of print. You won't sell everything, but you get pretty good value for the CD's you do sell.

My sister and I listened to the Cranberries on our drive back from Denver. For the drive, I picked a bunch of disks to which everybody in the car (Beth and I) would know the words.

I'm trying to sell books, myself. Myopic books in Wicker Park buys books but they have limited hours during which they buy books, and are picky about what they accept. The internet option seems like too much of a pain (having to mail them individually to the buyers on half.com or whatever). Anybody have any experience selling books in Chi-town?

With books, I've just dumped off boxes at the library before. Somehow, with books, I feel I'm donating to the greater good, but with CDs, I want some damn recompense.

what about using them holiday gifts to people you don't like?

You could donate them to charity. For instance, the Brown Elephant Resale Shop (with a location in Andersonville, just north of Clark St., 773-271-9382) would gladly take them. Most of their proceeds go toward funding for the Howard Brown Health Center. And bonus for you: a tax write off. Even if you conservatively value each CD at $1 - that would be a $200 deduction on your taxes.

I used to trade my old stuff at Lauries and they were pretty fair, depending on who was at the counter - the bald guy is very good, the shorter hairy guy who always looks like he's on acid is not very good. I've also noticed that if you bring them in large bulk - like a box of 200 - the price per record goes down way down. It's best to be patient and bring them in handfuls of ten or less at a time. Also, get store credit, not cash.

I'll take you up on the $10 bit just to see the list. I'm sure you've got some quality stuff that I missed during college because I didn't have a cd player until 1996. I'll also pass the list on to my friend Ian who's usually keen to rifle through a load of used CDs.

As soon as I have some time to type it up at home, I'll do that. We'll have to figure out shipping and all that.

You should visit us again. That would settle the shipping issue.

Don't type them up--way too much work. Bring the box to a photocopier. Balance them spines down on the glass, and copy. Scan the image. Post it.

That's brilliant.