I did a lot of research about this when my music CD-Rs started to fade.
Turns out your experience varies based on the type/quality of dye used on the disc, and the factory where it was made.
Here's some more info:
http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_dye.shtml
You have to be very picky when you buy your media.
Those super sales where the discs are almost free are usually because they're trying to clear out stock from a bad run!