Are your product images accurate?

[sun818]

I was browsing on eBay the other day and saw a seller offering an OEM product but displayed the manufacturer's retail box image. Although the text explained what I would receive, the retail box picture was confusing. The confusion could lead buyers to click the "Back" button. It also results in buyers complaining that their product is not what was pictured. Any thoughts?

[john316]

That seems to be standard stuff on ebay...it's just easier to get a picture of the original packaging from the manufacturer's web site.

Did it indicate "used" somewhere in the ad copy?

[mahlon]

And if they can't get in image from the manufacturer they will take it off someone’s site or from another auction for the same item. Best thing to do is ask if the image is of the actual product.

caveat emptor!

[sun818]

Why ask when you could buy it from somewhere else? At worst, its false advertising... or at best a lazy merchant not taking picture.

[mahlon]

True, unless it it a very hard to find item.

[Travoli]

I once sold a car CD player on ebay. Brand new, in the box, never opened, the latest model. A text ad never produced enough bids to reach the reserve price (2 auctions). My buddy made a nice HTML page with formatted bullet point text, a picture, etc.. and suddenly the top bid shot $100.00 higher. It was amazing. I will always use a HTML table layout for the description from here forward.

[topr8]

>>>Are your product images accurate?

well in answer to the original question,

we use accurate pictures of our products because it saves problems in the long run if there is a dispute,

we sell art and antiques and often use the same picture if we are selling the same product repeatedly, and we ensure accurate written descriptions as well, which i change directly in the db fields if required.
i strongly believe that being open and straightforward with customers is the way to go, a lot of our business is from recommendation.

>>>suddenly the top bid shot $100.00 higher

we've also sold on ebay for 3 years now and have found the design of the listing to be of real importance, good photos absolutely increase the value of bids.