Stock photos becoming more common place.

[resellmom01]

How do we compete with sellers that continue to use stock photos in their listings? In the clothing category I'm seeing more sellers using stock photos, listing the item at a higher price than those using their own photos. These items are selling for the higher price over the item with the sellers photos. 

Should we all move to using stock photos to compete? Do we lose out on sales for following the rules by using our own photos? Does eBay even care anymore?

[kelekt]

I would never buy a pre-owned item that uses stock photos. no way. 

the minute an item leaves a store it's pre-owned and imperfect. I want to see the exact item I'm buying.

would love to know the stats on returns - how many returns are products that used stock photos? 

also wonder: are customers so brainwashed by brands marketing/ads that they somehow think it's a better product because of the "fancy" photos? regardless of how it actually looks in person lol

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@kelekt wrote:

I would never buy a pre-owned item that uses stock photos. no way. 

the minute an item leaves a store it's pre-owned and imperfect. I want to see the exact item I'm buying.

would love to know the stats on returns - how many returns are products that used stock photos? 

also wonder: are customers so brainwashed by brands marketing/ads that they somehow think it's a better product because of the "fancy" photos? regardless of how it actually looks in person lol

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I agree if the item is used, it should have a picture of the item being sold. 

[resellmom01]

I agree with you on used items. It's the NWT items that I am referring to. I seen a pair of J. Crew white denim jeans that sold for more than they are listed for on the J. Crew site. I have the same jeans and selling for less and shipping is less, and using my own photos. The item that sold had the exact photos from the J. Crew site, and sold for more than the J. Crew price. The seller is using stock photos on every NWT item. 

Is that allowed with NWT?

[luckythewinner]

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Do we lose out on sales for following the rules by using our own photos?

Are you talking about stock photos for new items, or for used items? 

[adamcartwright]

@resellmom01 

Are you comparing size to size? If J. Crew is sold out of certain sizes, that might explain why they are going for a premium on eBay. 

Otherwise, there's really no accounting for how people make purchasing decisions. Maybe they don't know how to search?

I've seen people sell the same item I'm selling -- in the same exact condition, at a higher price than mine, and with worse quality photos than mine -- while mine sits languishing.

[resellmom01]

I'm talking about NWT items.

[luckythewinner]

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@resellmom01 wrote:

Do we lose out on sales for following the rules by using our own photos?

{snip}

I'm talking about NWT items.

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What are the "rules" that prevent using stock photos with NWT items? 

Picture Policy

The following are not allowed:

• Photos that don't accurately represent the item
• Placeholder images used to convey messages
• Stock photos for used, damaged, or defective items
• Photos with added borders
• Photos with added text, artwork or marketing material
• Watermarks of any type, including those used for ownership attributions

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/listing-policies/picture-policy?id=4370

[kelekt]

@resellmom01  "I agree with you on used items. It's the NWT items that I am referring to."

right...and in my opinion: unless the item is coming directly from the brand, big box store or manufacturer ... it's PRE-OWNED and I don't even think "NEW" should be in the title for any products even if it's unused and all tags are still attached. It's NOT NEW if it was taken out of the store and brought into someones home. it's literally impossible for it to be "NEW" or even "excellent condition" if it has been stored in someones house. 

so I don't think stock photos should be allowed by anyone other than the company that took the photos = if the product is in someones house (or storage unit or whatever...anyplace other than original store or factory) then the person who owns it should take a photo of the exact piece they own. yes...even if never worn with all original tags attached. that is transparency + honesty...because stock photos are not the actual item being sold.

[antflan77]

Only reason I can think of that the stock photo item may outsell yours is possibly because of promotion?

[chapeau-noir]

A number of sellers get overstock from places like BULQ which also has authorization for stock photos which are included on their manifests. Other sellers are kind of lazy. I have no problem with stock photos for NWT things (some photos are so BAD that Id rather just see the stock photo), but used items need to be depicted as they are. Your photos are excellent and I dont think you are losing out because you are taking photos of your new items instead of stock photos, though. As was said above, a lot has to do with size and colour available, who happens to be shopping, etc.

[gurlcat]

There isn’t a rule against using stock photos nor is there any reason you should have to choose between one or the other; why not do both?  Use a stock image for the main photo, followed by your own pictures, or vice versa.  That would give you an edge over all the people who do only one or the other. You would have the image that buyers are looking for if they’re used to the stock image, but also photos showing the actual garment for sale.

[funfactorychannel]

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@kelekt wrote:

@resellmom01  "I agree with you on used items. It's the NWT items that I am referring to."

right...and in my opinion: unless the item is coming directly from the brand, big box store or manufacturer ...

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So everything on eBay and Amazon other than chinese manufacterers who sell bypassing supply chains, should have the tag USED?

Moment money changes hand its no longer new then. Big Box Retailers also go through several different companies/people hands before they get their items.

There is also no Legal Term officially to label NEW or USED 

[tobaccocardyahoo]

Many of those sellers selling NWT items at higher prices appear to be more professional and trustworthy than sellers who have awful photos, with crap in the background and other distractions from the item.

Some buyers still believe they can get a bargain buying on Ebay and do not shop elsewhere. According to Ebay's financial reports, the number of people buying NEW products which are current decreases every quarter. Not surprising since when money is tight buyers shop for the best deal.

There was a time when I sold sports jerseys from major brands on Ebay NWT that I bought from an off-price retail chain, They sold well. I would no longer expect them to.

I offered a large number of choices, usually only in XL. I am convinced that the large selection made more buyers trust in what I was offering. The seller with a half a dozen choices for a brand with 25 items listed would have had a harder time selling even if their price was lower.

[gurlcat]

The OP does not have crappy photos though. They’re really good, on mannequins with background eliminated, etc. So what other sellers do isn’t relevant.