Describing color

[b86fiero]

How do you describe color in your listing descriptions?

Do your photos show the exact color of the item in your listing? 

Or is the color slightly altered when you upload the photo to eBay? The eBay photo uploader is better than in the past but imho needs some tweaking. 

Take the color Silver for example, is it bright, medium, dull, oxidized on jewelry? The lighting when you take the photo can alter the silver shade slightly, then the eBay photo uploader can alter it a bit more.

The color Aqua, oh my gosh, there must be 20 or more shades of Aqua. Is the item more green, more blue, bluish green, bright, muted, dull?

This is one color that looks fine on my camera photo (Cannon PowerShot SX620 HS), shows the exact same correct color on my desktop (year old Dell all in one computer / monitor with amazing video game color and depth), yet looks slightly off color on my eBay listings. My camera hates the color Gold and is not friendly to Yellow.

I have a large light box which I place the item inside to photograph. I always wear a white top and light gray slacks when taking photos to keep my camera from picking up any color tint and casting it on the item and photo. 

(Some of the older listings in my store with gray or a bluish tint were taken by one of our youth group members without a light box and picked up a tint from clothing or carpeting. I am slowly working my way through updating with new photos). 

I've seen some listings where the seller states the item color may be different based upon how the buyer is viewing the listing, phone, iPad or desktop. Or just states: color as shown. Isn't that a turn off for buyers? Does that type of disclaimer protect the seller from "doesn't match description or photo" returns?

So how do you describe color? 

[squinkercat59]

Different monitors can certainly show colors slightly differently, and reasonable people understand that.  My camera doesn't always pick up the intensity of some colors when I photograph them (hard to get that "school bus yellow" color, for example, or neon colors).  If if looks slightly different on my monitor than the actual color, I will either use an editing program to come closer, or make a note that "color is a little darker" or "color is slightly pinker" etc. than what the photos show. I haven't had buyers say the color is off in nearly 25 years.

[kensgiftshop]

I try to not say much about colors and when I do, I usually stick to main colors, red, blue, white, etc.

I do add "Product images may differ from actual product appearance" in my description and haven't had any complaints about colors.

I use as desktop, laptop, tablet and my phone and colors look a little different on each one.

[legalbeagle52]

Hi @b86fiero,

Colors can definitely be problematic.  I mainly sell books, so it's not really an issue.  But I've sold plenty of things /fabrics over the years where color matters, I just try to get as close to the color as I can, with editing & I do state that "the color may be different on your monitor" and I also will state, color looks a bit darker or lighter than the photo, as the case may be.  Like @squinkercat59  I've never had a single complaint in 20+ years.

I can't get yellow/golds either.  That's the one color that's really a problem for me as well. It's so off, if I didn't need to include a photo, I would leave it out.  I love aqua and turquoise, those are my favorite colors!  I have those colors all over my apt.  But I will tell you as a buyer I've been disappointed more than a few times with color and it usually involves those colors somewhere in the item.  I've purchased many oil paintings on Ebay from the artist ...and so often the color isn't what I was expecting.  But I'm aware that color varies and so I just accept that it's a possiblilty.   I would like it though if the seller would include, it may be darker or lighter or not as bright.   BTW aqua to me is a green-blue and I think the intensity can vary.

I'm sure others more knowledgeable will come along with some good ideas.

[12345jamesstamps]

Keep in mind 1 in 12 men are colour vision deficiency and 1 in every 200 women are.

Best to say something like other sellers "color may be different..."

I am one of those men who has this...especially with shades of similar colors.

I also have a Cannon Power Shot...great camera...mine is from 2003...still works great.

So, even though you state  the true color the buyer may still disagree with you and return it.

This has nothing to do describing the color or the camera...it will come down to the buyer.

[bashort]

The items that I sell the color is not much concern to buyers.

[junkinabox]

You might add a disclaimer such as  "Color may differ slightly from pictures on your device" in your description. I use multiple devices and colors look a little different on each one.

[ryanrobyn]

After getting NAD for wrong color green even though I consulted the chart of various shades, I now tend to put down "shade of ___"

[melmurdock]

Sometimes I refer the buyer to the Pantone chart and reference the number in my description pointing to the shade I think is closest to the color of the item. It's not a perfect solution but the buyer can see all the different shades on the chart and at least get a better idea.