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Why do dealers that sell high priced toned coins not post suitable photos ?
TonerGuy
Posts: 590 ✭✭✭
Buy a camera suitable to take photos of toned coins, or have someone outside do it ?
Northern Nevada Coin has a good selection of toned coins on their site and in the Ebay store, but it looks like they are using a scanner.
If you're a dealer and you're going to put large toning premiums on coins, please be able to put up good photos. They dont have to be TrueViews but at least a buyer should be able to see the color on the coin...
Some of their coins have decent pics but most dont...
http://www.brokencc.com/modules.php?mod=Products&op=view_product&prod_id=114424
http://www.brokencc.com/modules.php?mod=Products&op=view_product&prod_id=113793
http://www.brokencc.com/modules.php?mod=Products&op=view_product&prod_id=131862
Sorry ... Rant over...
2
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But.. it's "only" 1,100!
Based on their photos on a good day they look $100 coins.
They look like junk drawer coins. First thing I thought of haha
Might as well have a carnival barker shouting "Get your tarnish right here folks"....
And yet...they will sell...Cheers, RickO
There was a similar thread about this and it pretty much boiled down to "time is money"...the dealer does not have the time or wants to shell out the money to have them properly imaged and scanners provide an image that is better than nothing. I have consigned a few coins to a well known dealer who took lousy images of the coins, even after incoming them that TrueViews were already available. They sat unsold for a couple of weeks, and after I recommended posting the TrueView images and see what happens...two of the three sold within a matter of days.
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
Their loss. Hope they take purchase on approval or have a generous return policy.
Photography is a skill.
Most people do not have the skill.
Cameras and cameras phones are sooo good these days it tricks people into thinking that they have a skill that they do not have.
I sell for less with crappy photos. But it's modern crap, so who cares ?
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
There is a dealer I've been buying from for years at shows but his website pictures are crappy. I asked him why he didn't post better ones and he said it must be my monitor because they look just fine on his. I'm not believing it though. They are truly crappy with no magnification.
I've known the owner for a bunch of years. They have three retail stores the last time I checked. He started with the one in Carson City close to the mint I believe. They do large, and small shows. I am sure they wouldn't mind more business with good images.
No doubt the company has been successful through the years, and they've weighed out what works best for them. But, the forums usually know best.
Can you please recommend better photos ?
Asked them about it over ten years ago. Sorry, I have no pull.
Some of the best coin buys I have made were because the images were so poor and I got the coin for a very low price. Sometimes you have to be able to read between the lines, so to speak.
It's the seller's choice.
They are balancing their time/resources. If they consider themselves "successful" in the current way they do things, then they may not want to do extra to get to the next step.
Also, if the pics really suck, then how many people will buy and then ask for a return saying it doesn't look the same (ie....looks worse than the picture)?
Whereas, we already know if there are good pictures, some will infer more into them and, when they get them in hand, may say that the toning isn't the same in a different light/angle, or whatnot.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
In the age of the internet, having an online presence and high quality photos seems like the cost of entry but shockingly few dealers actually operate this way. CRO, DWN, HLRC, Legend a few others, they get it. $10 a coin to be imaged if you have decent volumes seems like a no brainer in order establish a loyal customer base, minimize returns and build a brand.
Latin American Collection
In fairness to that vendor, not all of their photos are crap.
http://www.brokencc.com/modules.php?mod=Products&op=view_product&prod_id=157943
http://www.brokencc.com/modules.php?mod=Products&op=view_product&prod_id=139155
http://www.brokencc.com/modules.php?mod=Products&op=view_product&prod_id=158368
Insert witicism here. [ xxx ]
It's about learning how read a seller's pictures over time and making a guess about what the coin really looks like.
A LOT of $$$ for a $57 price guide coin.
Crappy imaging, common with long term dealers: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1911-10-GOLD-INDIAN-CERTIFIED-NGC-MS-61-LUSTER-HALF-OZ-GOLD-2178-/222458318731?hash=item33cb8c8f8b:g:77IAAOSww3tY3pRE
There's another fairly well known dealer that has a nice inventory with rare pieces but the WORST photos you could imagine. I ask for better photos and I just get a larger crappy scan. I don't get it.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
If everybody could they would.
They could spend a lousy $10 or $15 and find someone local to do it for them, at least for pricier stuff.
I have learned the hard way to rely on experts, though I get berated for relying on professionals at $10 a coin. A tiny price to pay for quality.
They're cheap. Probably millionaires too. Cheap millionaires. I've met quite a few.
That's why they're millionaires
Some are that's for sure.
I agree. 100%.
I have had this conversation with this vendor on this exact issue.
They offered, at the time, to have any coin i was interested in professionally imaged, but until then, just the stock scans.
But, with their prices, i've never invoked that policy.
I have always advised my pickier online customers to purchase their coins offline.
Imaging toned coins is never ever consistent. Many of the coins look spectacular tilted to the light but appear pedestrian straight on. Which angle should they be imaged at?
No digital image will please the majority of collectors.
Toning is very hard to capture. If you get it at just the right angle, you will be accused of "juicing". Here is a coin I bought raw off ebay. Seller pics (show no toning):
My pics:
Professional pics, which he was able to show all the toning, where as I could only get one section at a time in my pictures:
Then take photos with the coin titled in several different angles. Post a video of the coin as its rotated in hand, whatever a dealer has to do to sell a coin.
Because they're simply ignorant.
I sell coins, not fancy after market colors. Those that require special imaging and lighting to accomplish their collecting goals will do better at shows.
I'm tempted to run with my million dollar idea but need investors and see if there's a market for it.. sounds like there is..
IMO those are very underwhelming images that do not do those coins any justice. If those are the best images they can provide........... I know a vendor that sells $10 to $10,000 coins and the low end ones are just a nicely imaged as the high end ones, and at much higher quality than these.
Best, SH
Is that idea buying 5-10 million dollars worth of toned coins?...
Their images are truly horrific. Even with an iPad and ambient lighting (and no special knowledge or technique), you could do much, much better than that.
Insert witicism here. [ xxx ]