Stock pictures - out of focus pictures - bad pictures on eBay
isaiah58
Posts: 385 ✭✭✭
I see many high volume coin sellers (not calling them dealers on purpose) on eBay that use what amounts to stock (out of focus, bad) pictures on many of their listings. For example, one seller has about 12 sets of uncirculated 1961 US Mint sets. They have the exact same limited set of pictures for every individual listing. Then another seller with 10 individual same year MS64 PCGS Franklins has one listing with 10 sets available. They have a few pictures, all of one slab they probably took years ago. I run across this more and more. I am not sure how they expect anyone to consider purchasing from them when they are not willing to let sellers see/identify the coins they are actually selling.
It seems that dealers understand the importance of providing good and relevant pictures of each item/group they are selling.
Comments
Coins with bad photos on eBay are one of my greatest sources of revenue
There's a big difference between bad photos and stock photos. I don't even consider items with the latter.
As a seller or reseller?
If the pictures are blurry or stock pictures I without curiosity crews on by.
I made a Six Sigma project out of the process of buying coins from ebay. One portion was taking the shortcomings of ebay and turning them into strengths. Learning what bad photos tell you about many things was the biggest driver of success.
LMAO, good one.
I am a professional photographer of 40 years so I make money in the arbitrage between poor and excellent coin photography. Easy money.
links at the bottom of this post to see I am not BS...ing
I just ask for better photos. The ones who don’t respond I presume are hiding something and I just forget it. On the other side of the spectrum, some will send you a photo album with every angle imaginable and offer insight not in the posting.
The two items you named are widgets that have a sight-unseen price. Sometimes it isn't worth the dealers time to take multiple photos to try to squeeze an extra buck or two. If you aren't looking for a widget at a sight-unseen price, keep moving.
If there was something exceptional about one of the coins or coin sets, then it might be worth the time to photograph individually.
What is your time worth?
In MS state, that is why I am looking for Mint Sets, the uncirculated Franklin's alone can make a big difference. I agree though that if they are all going to be lower MS condition then the seller needs to just set a low price and move them out. I guess that is why so many mint sets have been broken up. It is amazing for instance how many sellers have rolls of Proof coins listed.
Honestly, that's why I wholesale pretty much every proof and mint set I get. Unless there's something exceptional in them, they just aren't worth the time.
I really do not bother with coins on ebay anymore...mainly due to the scams and junk...not worth my time digging through it all...That being said, the crappy pictures and stock photos were a major source of irritation when I did use their site. Cheers, RickO