Including a picture of yourself in description - against policy?

[jhb_supply]

The title says it all.  Including a basic picture of yourself in every item description, is this against policy in any way? What are your thoughts on this to inspire buyer confidence?

[dbmm-media]

Not allowed

• Including photos that don't accurately represent the item
• Placeholder images used to convey messages, such as no image available, or out of stock, or other marketing messages
• Stock photos for used, damaged or defective items
• Adding borders to your photos
• Using a picture that is less than 500 pixels on the longest side
• Adding additional text, artwork, or marketing to photos
• Watermarks of any type, including those used for ownership attribution

[luckythewinner]

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@jhb_supply wrote:

The title says it all.  Including a basic picture of yourself in every item description, is this against policy in any way? What are your thoughts on this to inspire buyer confidence?

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IMHO that tends toward narcissism and would have the opposite effect on me. 

I would make a substantial effort to buy from someone else.

I don't even like seeing the avatars on this board. 

[modulok!]

There is a seller on Ebay that holds all her items right up against her face (centimeters away from her bright red lipstick).  She also always includes, as her last photo, a photo of her face without the item.  She does this for every single item she lists (has about 1000 listings for a large variety of items).  Some of her feedback received includes things such as "good looking lady" and the like (personally I think she looks like a female version of Marylin Manson).  I often find myself wondering what is the motive behind having to have her face next to every item.  I think some people just really like their own face...a lot.  I don't think it is against any policy though, but what do I know.

[lintbrush*]

There used to be a seller man who wore some pink fairy outfit with a wand (or something along those lines).  He had incredible sales.

There is another seller out there who posts pictures of himself holding the item... often comical.  And his elderly mom does many of the pics too.  Still active sellers and have been around for years.

There was another seller who would post her wares while holding them in front of her breasts in a low cut shirt or tight tank top.   Her decolletage area was starting to show sun damage/age so I'm not sure she's doing it anymore.  (I thought it was classless)

Now some things shouldn't be in pics. 

I don't like seeing ugly hands displaying jewelry or holding an item that can be easily put on the table.  Also, I don't want to see your bare feet (and I've had to crop mine out more than once because I was shooting downward and eek!!) 

I also don't want to see used (or sometimes "new") clothing on a random person.  I know it's been worn, but please don't make me think it's going to have your body soil on it.

If people shouldn't be allowed in advertisements, I'd be much happier with TV lol

[missjen831]

It’s common for denim sellers to photograph their rear-ends sticking out & use it as the main photo. I haven’t decided if it’s too attract the fetish buyers or if they think it’s just good advertising. 

[jewelbiz]

Guilty as charged in EBay item 

192686376315

which has of yet not been Relisted.

I thought including the pix of me in the Park certainly shows how bright 

and Lively this diamond ring looks.

Not sure I will Relist as it’s more expensive than most items I’m now comfortable selling here.

If you want to criticize me here for showing my pix go at it..

[annasunicorns]

Like a business card? Boring.
Like a picture of you using the item? I'd be interested in that, especially used hiking gear in action!

[epowerbargains]

On another site (CL) , I had a pair of womens sandals for sale. I received some odd questions about them and they sent up a red flag. Initially, I was polite but when this person asked me to send HIM a photo of me wearing  the shoes because he "liked feet"....I asked my hubby to respond. Hubby asked the guy - I can model them for you - I'm a dude, six feet tall with hairy legs - sound ok? The guy actually wrote back that he was really sorry and would not bother us again.........he never did.

That said - there are all kinds of folks out there and I think keeping a professional distance is safer.  Agree 100% with others who nix any photos of children.  

[18704d]

"There was another seller who would post her wares while holding them in front of her breasts in a low cut shirt or tight tank top.   Her decolletage area was starting to show sun damage/age so I'm not sure she's doing it anymore.  (I thought it was classless)"

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I think there was a thread here about her around 6 or 7 years ago?

She was from the West of SouthWest.. and they sold rocks,

like big geodes and other stuff that the rockhounds buy.

?

Lynn

[7606dennis]

If Bob Ross rose from the grave and listed some of his line of art supplies I would have no problem with him using his picture in the listing.  However, I'm not sure I see how it could benefit most sellers by doing it.

[parkersparrow]

Unless your famous I can't see any reason to put a picture of yourself in a listing.  Especially if it's not professional. As a buyer i'm just looking for a good price and nice pictures that show the item.  You don't see the owners of big box stores with their pictures next to a blender or a laptop.

[68barbie]

I'm trying to inspire buyer confidence- not drive them away by posting a picture of me! Yikes! 🙂 I don't even like having my hand in a pic but sometimes it can't be helped.

-C

[richard1rst]

I generally agree - EXCEPT

At one time I had a BBQ apron that came with 2 hot pads and 2 hot mitts. I had the apron modeled with the model holding the mitts and pads in their hands. The photo was cropped to remove everything above and below the apron. But to me that was a better way of showing it than just laying it on a table top.

I sell men’s suspenders. Again, rather than just laying on a table, I have a mannequin dressed with shirt and pants with the suspenders being worn. Again, everything above and below the suspenders is cropped. So I suspect that most people have no idea whether it is a mannequin or a live person.

I sell “hand warmer” coffee mugs. Based on some of the question I have received not everyone knows how they work. So on many of the listings I have a picture of a woman holding the mug to show what a “hand warmer” is.

So I would suggest that there are some times when a person in the ad helps not hurts.

[parkersparrow]

@richard1rst yes I agree with you, some items work best on a model but the way I took the OP question was they're thinking about putting a picture of themself in the description area of the listing sans product.

[buyselljack2016]

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@buyselljack2016 wrote:

I want to see the item that I am purchasing.

I have no need/desire to see a photo of anyone in a listing that I am purchasing from.

I don't even want to see your hand holding the item.

It would inspire no confidence in my purchase to see a picture of anything other than the item being sold.  I could download a photo of anyone from the interweb, and post it in a listing.  It would mean nothing. Photo does not equal honesty/trust.

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Oops... meant to say:

I don't want to see

typed and posted too fast