USING AI TO MAKE ITEMS LOOK BETTER THAN THEY ARE
I just learned that eBay provides sellers with AI tools that allow them to "clean up" photos of items to make them more professional looking. Problem is, this can lead to items not being as described. Recently, I bought an oil lamp ball shade. In the photo the colors were a vibrant green and yellow. When the shade arrived, the colors were actually pale, washed out looking. The discrepancy wasn't due to "lighting" or "colors may vary due to monitor", they were clearly enhanced to look better. I then noticed that the background in the item photos was created by AI. A spray of cherry blossoms.
Yes, I can open a "not as described" claim, but my doing this is not a buyer "perk" if the problem is due to new technology that sellers misuse, intentionally or otherwise. An online search shows that other buyers have experienced this AI item enhancement issue too.
mudshark61369
·2 months ago@lichtpriester ,
"Yes, I can open a "not as described" claim, but my doing this is not a buyer "perk" if the problem is due to new technology that sellers misuse, intentionally or otherwise".
Did you by any chance try doing an image lookup search to see if the seller copied the photo(s) from another source? Maybe that's what happened.
@pastimpressions : reply
"The one sole exception (IMHO) being enhancing the contrast/lighting in the pic postproduction to help clarify detail (i.e. text on packaging, etc.)"
Adjusting the Contrast/Lighting Is fairly common when sellers tale their own photos. However, depending on the image and the photo shop program used changing those things can cause color saturation to change, and maybe the seller's screen isn't picking up on it.
ed8108
·2 months agoApparently some sellers want to believe that buyers may settle, & not return items that disappoint, fail to closely match listing photos & descriptions
pastimpressions
·2 months agoAs @bennotbill referenced, eBay permits seller B to use seller A's pics for the same item.
Now what are the chances that the conditions of both are so close as to merit/justify this usage?
IMHO, that way is actually harder to defend against as the item appears to be "normal" and a proper picture (because it is!)
With photoshops, stock photos and now AI enhancements you are buying a pig in a poke.
However, in those cases you can see something is not perfectly "normal" about them & steer clear.
The one sole exception (IMHO) being enhancing the contrast/lighting in the pic postproduction to help clarify detail (i.e. text on packaging, etc.)
Different buyers have different preferences and expectations, but I personally will never purchase an item from a seller that uses AI descriptions, AI enhanced images, photoshop or stock photos. Ever. Period.
But that's just me.
Best of luck
grann-4629
·2 months ago... will never purchase an item from a seller that uses AI descriptions, AI enhanced images, photoshop or stock photos. Ever. Period.
It won't be long before your purchasing days are over, or at least until next Thursday when AI gets so good you won't be able to tell the difference.
wrt AI descriptions, they are showing up everywhere now, especially on 'typical' items that eBay has in their catalogue. I guess that market is also unavailable to you.
Soon, you will be restricted to play with the stuff you have already purchased on eBay.
bennotbill
·2 months agoEven without AI intervention pictures that do not truly represent the item for sale happens all the time.
This is because ebay allows the copying of photo's of used items.
jonathanbrightlight
·2 months agoThat’s not a new thing. It used to be common for product photos in catalogs to be airbrushed or otherwise altered by hand, and then Photoshop was the preferred tool for years.
An Item Not As Described claim isn’t a buyer perk, true, it’s your defense against sellers that misrepresent their products. Use it when needed.