Hello Jude
I would not buy the bulbs you describe. I think they are too far gone and you may be bringing home disease.
I, too, love a bargain. In fall I look for lily plants in pots that are on the clearance rack. The foliage looks good but no blooms and very often not labeled. I'm OK with that.
Here are pictures of my bargain/healthy plants three years after I bought the plant.
