POLL - If you are looking to buy something....

modessitt

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...that someone has multiples of, do you prefer to see the actual item you are buying, or is one pic for all of them okay?

The reason I am asking is because I am setting up a webstore on my site, and have many things that I have more than one of. For example, let's say I have 10 manuals of the same game. All are complete and perfectly useable. However, one or two might have some spotting or a water stain on the cover (but not inside), or might be creased from years of being stored in a bent shape inside a cab while others are flat. Would it be best to post 10 pics of 10 manuals, or just post one pic and list "Number in Stock: 10"?

Right now, I'm thinking to just take a pic of each manual and letting people choose which they want "for those who think they have to have a minty manual for their minty game". My site will let you add it to your cart and checkout, and I have a method of identification that will ensure you get the exact one you choose, so you'd get what you see.

Just not sure whether anyone would care, or whether it would be a pain for someone browsing manuals to have to slog thru 20 of one title before getting the next title, although I could just have the game title categories, with the individual manuals for that title on a sub-menu.

What do y'all prefer?
 
it depends on what it is on ebay if i have 20 of the same thing i take 1 pic and tell them it is a stock photo. If a few are not in that great of shape or just lesser quality than the one originally photographed i will take a pic of those individually.
If it were artwork or a cp i want a pic
board,wiring,ps i could care less

long winded enough response for ya?
 
I'd post a single picture and offer to send (email) pictures of some representative manuals. Unless the damage is enough to warrant a separate price, I don't see the need for all the extra work.

ken
 
Id post a single pic of the most average looking one, with a disclaimer saying all manuals are 100% complete and legible, however some may be in better or fair condition. Maybe make a note that says at the time of purchase that the buyer may inform you to send the best one for collection purposes, or maybe it doesent matter and send any.
 
it depends on what it is on ebay if i have 20 of the same thing i take 1 pic and tell them it is a stock photo. If a few are not in that great of shape or just lesser quality than the one originally photographed i will take a pic of those individually.
If it were artwork or a cp i want a pic
board,wiring,ps i couldn't care less

There. Now I feel better.
 
I'd post a single picture and offer to send (email) pictures of some representative manuals. Unless the damage is enough to warrant a separate price, I don't see the need for all the extra work.

ken

Well, some WILL be a lower price due to condition, even though they will work just a good as the better ones. I just know how picky some people are, and how some people like to bitch that what they received wasn't EXACTLY like what they saw in the pic....
 
I think for a used item, especially a collectable like many consider a manual to be. I think individual photos would help avoid problems.
 
I would show one pic and say that the manual is similar to this one, If you would like a picture of the exact manual you will recieve, just ask

this way you dont have to take a picture of 20 different manuals for the same game. Most people will not care, but if you get a picky buyer, then you can just grab the next manual and shoot some pictures off to them
 
Why not take a picture of all the manuals in a 2x3, 2x4 or however many in picture. It indicates multiples available and in your text state they can pay $5-$10 or whatever on a sliding scale depending on how minty of a manual they want.
 
I think for a used item, especially a collectable like many consider a manual to be. I think individual photos would help avoid problems.

What he said... Some will care and some won't so it's best to put up photos of all. Certain collectors will take a coffee stained, rat ball infested, mildew covered manual and be thrilled that they got it for $1. Others are willing to pay $25 for one in like new condition.
 
What I do in a situation like that is, take a picture of the worst one. Then when people buy it, send them one that looks better than the picture.
 
Well, right now, I've taken a pic of a good one and then a pic of a bad one. I'll post both with different prices. If someone buys a good one, I'll mail it and post a new pic of the next good one, even though all the good ones are of like quality. The bad one is one of the worst-looking (but still perfectly useable), so you will either get one that looks like it, or better, but you won't get one worse. I may also just replace the bad pic with the next bad pic if it sells.

Now, the "bad" ones may just have spots, scrape marks, writing, water stains, etc on the covers, but the insides look just fine.

Of course, I may end up having subcategories of different prices, with pics of each and every manual and let people choose. Right now I'm just trying to get each different title listed with pics. I may go back afterwards and post pics of each individual manual, although I have 17 of one particular title. But that just means that I will be selling them fairly cheap.

Right now I have manuals that will be prices at $15, $10, $5, $3, and $1. higher priced manuals will be those in excellent condition, very popular, hard to find, or currently unavailable in PDF form anywhere....
 
If I were buying on a website, I would want to see a picture of the exact item, I think if you are stuck time wise, then maybe put up a note that the potential buyer can email you if they require a picture of the exact item.
 
Right now I have manuals that will be prices at $15, $10, $5, $3, and $1. higher priced manuals will be those in excellent condition, very popular, hard to find, or currently unavailable in PDF form anywhere....

That would be fine. Post a picture of a nice manual, and list the prices for the different grades (excellent, very good, good, poor, bird cage lining, ect), with maybe a short description of the condition of each grade. Then you can cut and paste the description to each different manual. Been selling books like that for years
 
What he said... Some will care and some won't so it's best to put up photos of all. Certain collectors will take a coffee stained, rat ball infested, mildew covered manual and be thrilled that they got it for $1. Others are willing to pay $25 for one in like new condition.

Haha - that sums it up pretty well. Put me in the $1 category!

:D
 
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