Over the last few years I have purchased several thousand piano
rolls, that vast majority through eBay auctions.  Although all rolls
I purchase are eventually played and recorded, my primary interest has
been finding labels to include with my label maker software (currently
containing 750 different templates).

The biggest 'trick' to know is how to interpret the description.
First, I will rarely bid on a roll that does not have a picture;
a lot can be determined by close examination of the picture.  Watch
out for things like "I bought these at an estate sale", "They look
okay but I can't promise anything", "sold as-is", etc.  These will be
good clues to finding yourself wasting money.  Of course, this is not
always the case, but you'll find a much higher rate of 'toss-outs'.

I've also found that most eBay sellers really _are_ concerned with
their reputation.  If you get a roll (or batch) and find they have
been mislabeled, wrong boxes, unplayable, etc, the majority of sellers
will be more than happy to refund your money (with the exception of
the "as-is" sales).

I've had cases where I paid a couple bucks for a roll plus $3.95
shipping and receive a bum roll.  Nearly every time all I've had to
do is write, noting my dissatisfaction, and I find the money returned.
In some cases, I've decided that for the few bucks it's not really
worth pushing that far, but I'll find an envelope arriving in the mail
in a few days with a refund which included postage (and I got to keep
the roll!)

Another trick is to stick with sellers with whom you have been happy.
In my "favorites" list, I have about a dozen sellers listed and can
pull up listing of just rolls being sold by these people.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, with the exception of a few
real rarities, you probably will see the same item show up in the
future.  At one point, I saw some Vocalstyle Minstrel Series rolls
going for around $75.00.  This, of course, prompted others to sell,
eventually bringing the price down to around $10.00.

I used to spend many hours going from one antique store to another
to find an occasional roll.  After discovering eBay, I felt heaven
had arrived on earth!

John W Miller
www.PianoRollStuff.com