Ebay should require sellers to upload images large enough to zoom

[wcjj2987]

There is a rug seller that sells and lists a lot of rugs daily, yet, you cannot zoom on the images, and many are blurry. 

I think this is blatant deception, and should not be allowed by Ebay. Simply require a certain image size limit. Much of the seller's feedback indicates that the actual rug received, isn't the same as the one in the images. 

Please remedy this obvious problem Ebay!

[cr-8076]

eBay has strict requirements for listing photos. If you need more or better photos, just contact your seller, but they may decide to block you instead.

[joem4stuff]

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@wcjj2987 wrote:

There is a rug seller that sells and lists a lot of rugs daily, yet, you cannot zoom on the images, and many are blurry. 

I think this is blatant deception,

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It could just be the seller doesn't know anything about picture sizes and quality and how to prepare them.

So often I see a small picture on a selling site which says "click for larger picture" and when clicked, the same size picture pops up. I've also had so large a picture when I click, it takes forever to load because it's way too big. Sometimes its just a pixelated version of the small picture.

It's amazing how many people don't know how to size and optimize pictures for web sites.

[gopetersen]

I agree that the images should be clear enough to show the products honestly, but I have to admit, as a seller, I don't always upload zoomable images (I do try to provide clear images, however). I sometimes have things listed (like original designs) that are easy to steal and I prefer that people NOT steal them, so I make them big enough to see, but not big enough to zoom.

[mam98031]

I agree with you.  I much prefer pics I can zoom.  But in the sellers defense, Ebay has changed the pic policies many times over the years.  The last major one that sent us all updating all our listings and pics was to bring the pics to a minimum of 500 pixels on at least one side.  At the time they created that rule, that size pic would zoom.

Then somewhere down the line, without announcing it, they changed it that zooming will only happen on pics that are 800+ pixels on at least one side. 

For myself I've been putting this size pics on my listings now.  But for some older pics, I can bet I still have some 500's around for sure.

It is a whole lot of work for a seller when Ebay changes the pic requirements.  For example on some of my listings I have 12 pics.  Lets say I have 500 listings with 12 pics.  That means i have 6,000 pics to fix, adjust, correct and repost.  That is a enormous amount of work.

But I really do understand why you prefer them.  I like them too.  If you are having open communication with your seller, maybe you could politely request a pic on the listing to be upsized to at least 800 pixels.

[robot-hands]

Ebay should require buyers to look at the pictures and read item descriptions.

[mudshark61369]

@wcjj2987,

  "There is a rug seller that sells and lists a lot of rugs daily, yet, you cannot zoom on the images, and many are blurry".

There are two reasons the zoom may not be working A) The size of the photos as others have mentioned. B) If the seller uses the Quick listing tool the zoom feature is not added.

There are many people who do not know how to adjust the file size of images on their cameras, or phones.  If they review the images when they are taken on a camera or phone with a small screen the photos look fine, but when viewed on a larger screen, the true quality of the images become apparent.  However, if the image on the listing page is being viewed on a small screen, the defects in the image may not be as readily apparent either.  

There are also a lot of people who have no idea of basic principals of photography. They do not know how an image is affected when full zoom or wide angle is applied. What happens if the amount of available light slows down the shutter speed. etc.. 

Another thing people do not know is how light affects photos. Incandescent, florescent, and natural light, all affect image color, and reflected light off of colored walls or ceilings can do the same.

  "Simply require a certain image size limit."

eBay does that already the minimum requirement is 500 x 500 pixels.  The optimum photo size is 1,600 x 800 pixels. The max allowable size is 9,000 x 9,000, but those take forever to load.  Even if the file size is met, it doesn't guarantee that some of the things mentioned above won't affect the photo quality.

  "Much of the seller's feedback indicates that the actual rug received, isn't the same as the one in the images... I think this is blatant deception, and should not be allowed by Ebay".

You cannot call inexperience or use of one of ebay's tools " blatant deception".  Again the above factors affecting image quality or color could easily lead to items not being as described. Add to them that the display screen they are being viewed on may cause colors to shift, as does how each individual person perceives color, and it could easily lead to not as described complaints.   If the feedback comments are about the quality of the rugs, that would be a different discussion.

[bsarafian]

A seller's lack of photography expertise does not equate to blatant deception or dishonest practices. Speaking for myself I do my best on my pictures and most of the time they are good but there are certain types of items that can be very hard to photograph ex. anything with a really reflective shiny surface.  Also, depending what kind of light I'm using (indoor, outdoor, flash, bright sunlight) can make an item look a different shade/color than what someone in person would perceive it to be. 

Even in person color can be somewhat subjective - one man's wine  is another man's maroon, and you can get all sorts of opinions on the difference between jade, turquoise, teal, blue-green etc. Ideally I would love to take perfect pictures every time - makes it easier for my buyers and easier for me too. It's something I continue to work on and I'm sure a lot of sellers would say they generally do a good job but are always trying to improve.

That being said, if you really believe a seller is "blatantly deceptive" you should of course do business with someone you consider to be more honest.

[robot-hands]

If anyone has ever viewed one of the biggest Estate Sale aggregator apps you'll know from experience that those folks that post pictures of what is in the sale seem genuinely confused as to what a camera is or does when you look at the pictures.

Sometimes I think they are under the impression that picture taking requires some sort of violent shaking or jumping.

I can only carry that over to ebay where anyone that can find this website and type can sell a whatsit.

[pburn]

I agree with you. Generally speaking, with a few exceptions, I won't buy an item if I can't zoom the photo(s). I'll move on to the next listing that has photos I can zoom, even if the item is more expensive.

[wcjj2987]

If you can figure out how to list and sell about 50 rugs a day on Ebay, you likely know  how to use a camera.  

Further, while Ebay may recommend a certain image size, clearly you are able to upload images that are too small to zoom. I mean, that one should not be able to this when listing an item. 

Just my opinion, but it seems especially remedial and backwards on Ebay's part. 

[wcjj2987]

I don't think the seller is necessarily deceptive, but rather, it is not something that Ebay should allow, as it is potentially deceptive. 

[mam98031]

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@wcjj2987 wrote:

If you can figure out how to list and sell about 50 rugs a day on Ebay, you likely know  how to use a camera.  

Further, while Ebay may recommend a certain image size, clearly you are able to upload images that are too small to zoom. I mean, that one should not be able to this when listing an item. 

Just my opinion, but it seems especially remedial and backwards on Ebay's part. 

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See my post #5 on this thread.  I explain what Ebay requires.  Zooming is NOT currently a requirement for sellers.  I'm with you, I do think it is a great idea.  But still not a requirement.

[castlemagicmemories]

Ebay does require a certain size for pictures in listings.

If you can't zoom and you want to, just hit the back button.  Or you can simply use CTRL and + to enlarge the picture.

If the pictures are blurry, that won't help, so back button is your friend.

[mam98031]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

Ebay does require a certain size for pictures in listings.

If you can't zoom and you want to, just hit the back button.  Or you can simply use CTRL and + to enlarge the picture.

If the pictures are blurry, that won't help, so back button is your friend.

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Dang GOOD advice.  We all tend to forget those old codes / functions.  GREAT SUGGESTION!