Could dealer websites use HUGE improvement in imaging?
topstuf
Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭
I won't name them, but many are very prominent.
And they have photos done by using a scanner or some other "less than ideal" imaging.
I find that a lot of those imaged coins are disappointing in hand. 
I returned a coin today that didn't look like the image. I am changing my searching as this is not a rare occurrence.
What do you think? 
Could dealer websites use HUGE improvement in imaging?
This is a public poll: others will see what you voted for.
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Comments
Good and HONEST image is Ideal
A good website should also be able to spell "select."
My bet is most coin dealers can not image (photograph) coins correctly as that is a skill.
I also doubt they want to pay a professional on an ongoing basis to image their coins.
Of, course there are many dealers that do have the skillset to properly photograph their own coins.
I have a hard time deciding which part you are better at
Only because you ARE equally AWESOME on BOTH
Of course images could be improved. But, depending on your margins, the cost structure simply doesn't support it.
Some dealers that I have talked to about their images state that they do not have the budget or time to take quality images that buyers are looking for and offer a return policy if they don't meet the buyers expectations.
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Yes, it amazes me how many dealers on collectors corner have NO pics. Anyone can take fair and honest pics. Maybe not professional grade, but at least ones that show the coins pros and cons.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
Some YES, Some are doing a good job currently
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
I agree that some, but not all, should provide the buyers with better images !!!
We can use all the help we can get. Speaking for all dealers.
With the high quality pictures you can get from cell phones now, there is no excuse.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
I, (lord knows), can't consistently take a good coin photo either. So I understand the problem.
But, at the very least, I'd like those SELLING coins who share my problem to describe any differences between the image they produce and the actual coin.
"Coin is lighter/darker than the image...."
"Coin has color highlights around the rim...."
"Mark on face is more/less visible than the image...."
Whatever.
Putting up a bad picture, and leaving it at that, is just a recipe for unhappiness.
My effin gawd. The question should have been, "HOW CAN SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE PUBLIC POLLS BE SO STUPID SO MANY TIMES ?
Mea culpa.
I am chagrined beyond all help.
I even checked twice to see that the proper box was checked.
SHOOT ME NOW !!
Some sites are really good and some ( I will not call any names ) are terrible.
Yes and no. Imaging is cheap. For the better coins they sell faster and higher priced. There is a dollar amount that below it is is not worthwhile but for many coins it is worth it. Good images give you a pretty good bang for your buck when used right.
There is one prominent dealer who has no excuse for the terrible quality of images they put out. Simply awful. Apparently, they believe that turning the brightness up to 100 to show a washed out super bright image hiding most of the coin's true contrast is totally awesome!!! What makes it worse is that they have multiple people on staff who are involved in imaging. You'd think that at least one of them would know how to properly operate a camera and lighting in order to put out quality images. You might think that, but you'd be wrong.
To be fair, they've gotten a little better over the last year or so (with their copper stuff), but their nickel, silver, and gold imaging is still horrendous. With how large they are and with the financial backing they have, there truly is no excuse for the lack of quality. I mean, I'm no professional photographer, but it took me all of a few weekend afternoons experimenting with a quality lens and several types of lighting to determine a group of settings for my photography setup that produce pretty nice images. To think that multiple people who are on their payroll can't seem to figure out the most basic functioning of a camera, lights, and photo editing software is... I just shake my head in disbelief.
I think this really depends on the dealer in question. The ones I frequent have quite good photos already.
I believe sales websites should provide truly representative pictures of the product. With the level of cell phone photography today, it would seem they could (in the interest of business and profit) provide such pictures. Even I, who is poorly skilled at coin photography, have managed to post a few pictures that at least represent the coin. They would be useless for sales purposes, however, even I can see ways I could do better if it were important to me - such as 'business'. Cheers, RickO