posted on March 11, 2001 12:49:25 PM new
OK, I have noticed a trend and need to know if I am being overly hostile about this........Example, I go to a listing for a complete set of books and widgets that have to do with a particular hobby. The title says "Widget Tools, Books and Patterns"...I go down to the description...the photo SHOWS the books, patterns and widgets and the description says..You are bidding on the books and patterns only. The widgets do not go with this auction (THEY ARE IN THE TITLE AND PICS)..Later I find an auction listing a collection of widgets and the picture shows a big piece of cloth that has about 12 items on it. The description says you are bidding on the item in row 2, second from the left...(disgust]....And last , I find an auction for 100 widgets...thats what the title says....THEN , you read the description and it states that you are bidding on 25 widgets but up to a 100 are available if you want them. Now I know that there is a lot of bidders who don't read the description but that coupled with this kind of misrepresentation has GOT to cause problems. If you aren't careful with these auctions, you could THINK you are bidding on something you are not. Just seems a strange practice. I just needed to vent cause its snowy outside, I have cabin fever today and this is better than pouting....
posted on March 11, 2001 01:14:18 PM new
Most of these ad are not misrepresentation or deseptive as they are sales points
Seller title says they are selling a bed spread or quilt.
In there Photo there is a picture of a wonderfully decorated bed room on the bed is a beutiful Quilt on the quilt you see a Big Pillow A Open book maybe few few magazines stuffed animals in the picture is a Night stand and great looking nite lamp and all.
in the description it says you are bidding on the Quilt.
The Picture of the Beutifully decorated room is not misrepresentation it is a sales point or tease.
In the title another is selling a New DVD But in there main Gallery photo is a picture of a liveing room with Great over stuffed Couch a few Lazy boys, big old Antique paintings on the wall low lights nicely decorated in the photo you also see a large entertainment center with a large 36 inch screen TV DVD player and the works includeing a large collection of DVDs on the shelves on the TV is playing the movie your Bidding ON , in front of the couch is a coffee with a bowl of popcorn on the couch is a beutifull lady to the side of the Entertainment center a fireplace with a raoring fire.
in there discription it says you are bidding on the DVD and they give the fact and details of the Item you are buying.
This too is a sales point a tease. Not misrepresentation.
posted on March 11, 2001 01:35:45 PM new
dman - Sales points? HOGWASH!!
What minx47 is describing is 100% misrepresentation. If the title of the auction reads: Widget Tools, Books and Patterns, then the auction better be for Widget Tools, Books and Patterns NOT just books and patterns.
In your examples the seller is advertising a quilt in the title and they are selling a quilt so there is no misrepresentation, same with the DVD example. It is completely different from what minx47 is describing.
posted on March 11, 2001 01:42:33 PM new
I've seen this several times, the worst was a seller who listed certain widgets for sale in title it stated huge lot of wigets.
Then after describing each of the 25 items pictured in detail using 14 point type, she stated all her policies, shipping rates etc. After all that in tiny 8 point type she stated that only 6 items were in this lot. The rest were in other auctions. She eventually was NARU'D
Joe B
posted on March 11, 2001 02:37:05 PM new
I buy small widgets, every once in a while I will come across a seller who is to lazy to take pictures of each item seperatly. They take one picture and in the auction discription the say something like, you are bidding on item in the upper left corner only.
Not only is there no real detail on each item, but it takes three times as long to figure out if I want to bid.
Seller, take a seperate picture for each auction, PLEASE.
posted on March 11, 2001 02:48:40 PM new
Hi Dman.....I see your point with your examples but I think you are missing mine. ...If an item is LISTED in the title and there is a PICTURE of whats listed in the title....Then I feel that the DESCRIPTION ought to agree with the pic and the title and sell me what the title SAYS I am buying. And frankly, a seller who would use that tactic is ASKING for a confused buyer and a BIG misunderstanding later. Example....Don't put a batch of leather tools in a rack and tell me in the title that its leather tools etc for sale and then when I look at the description it says the tools don't come with rack or books. THATS misleading IMHO. ....and I agree with GJSI....one picture PLEASE ...one that pertains to what you are selling. When I first started selling here (way back in the infancy of ebay) I did not own a scanner, digital etc. I had to use a cheap 35mmm. for awhile. But I still took ONE pic or a group of ONE item ...I think multi item pics are confusing and DO lose the detail. And even thats more tolerable than listing 100 widgets , posting a picture of 100 widgets and THEN telling me I am only bidding on 25. THATS MISLEADING....and I am rambling.......I wish the snow would go away.....Pam
posted on March 11, 2001 04:53:28 PM new
I agree with Minx, it stinks, and sellers that use such tactics should be tarred & feathered, virtually of course.
posted on March 11, 2001 05:47:15 PM new
I've seen some of what your talking about. I think if you picture anything other than what your selling, your looking for a bidder from hell to make your day.I know that would be what I would get if I tryed that.
posted on March 11, 2001 09:23:30 PM new
I love the ones that try to make a photo look like it came off the pages of Martha Stewart or Victoria magazine, they show it all! I guess they think its cute, I think its tacky, jmho. It does make you pause and think, what ARE they selling? So maybe they get a couple of extra seconds per view with the "photo shoot" method, I don't know maybe I'll try it.
posted on March 11, 2001 09:40:53 PM new
That would make one interesting concept for a cross sell.
You have four auctions running with the same title, "Widgets, tools, books and Patterns." Identical Pics with a disclaimer in each listing of what items you're bidding on. Then say if you'd like any of the other items you see pictured, you can direct them to your other auctions.
I'm sure ebay wouldn't allow that title though. But, I love the cross sell idea so much I'm going to start doing that as much as possible.
[ edited by quickdraw29 on Mar 12, 2001 12:19 AM ]
posted on March 12, 2001 05:57:54 AM new
My experiance with this subject is on the selling side.
Some time ago I was selling barbies and diecast cars. I listed each seperately and pictured them seperate as well.
I noticed that other sellers for the same items I had were getting higher bids.
So I looked at their auctions to see what I was doing wrong.
turns out they would have two barbies in the pic and say you are bidding on the one on the left and the one on the right is in my other auctions.
So when a bidder sees the pic and says ooh I like that one too will go to the other auction and bid on that one too. It works but its very annoying. Also in the title it was listed Barbies with an S.
I made less on my items but I felt alot better than if i had tricked someone.
posted on March 12, 2001 10:06:27 AM new
I am waiting for a negative from one buyer, I sell mostly older dolls (betweenangels is not my seller id). I had a nice older doll up for auction, The title said nice such and such doll.....gave plenty of pictures and a long description. High bidder sends money, I ship doll, next thing you know I get a nasty email asking WHERE IS THE DOLLS BOX!? Ok.......Title does not say anything about doll being sold with a box, not one of the pictures of the doll has box on it or near it, and description says nothing about the doll having a box.......hmmmmmm.
Of course I emailed her and told her this, and then she emails back saying that I neglected to state that their wasn't a box with the doll, so I was in error and had a misleading auction.
I can't win.....
[ edited by betweenangels on Mar 12, 2001 10:10 AM ]
posted on March 12, 2001 12:50:03 PM new
Just my 2 Cents worth. I buy a particular type of T-shirts on ebay and one seller has a lot of nice t-shirts, but they have a dozen or so in ONE picture. Needless to say, there is no detail seen since they are standing across the street to take the picture. So I simply don't bid. It's a shame too, from the looks of opinions here, they are probably costing themselves sales!
Teresa
posted on March 12, 2001 01:17:34 PM new
Lazy seller. Takes one picture and uses it to sell lots of items.
It's like a current auction I just saw, whereby the seller takes one picture of a set of 90 pieces of dinnerware on her table. Then proceeds to tell us we are bidding on one plate. She has 90 auctions running. One picture, for all 90 auctions.
Not my name on ebay.
posted on March 12, 2001 01:24:37 PM new
If you don't see that and get suckered photocopy a big spread of bills and then just include a couple of them when you send payment with a note explaining which ones they actually get.
....Example, I go to a listing for a complete set of books and widgets that have to do with a particular hobby. The title says "Widget Tools, Books and Patterns"...I go down to the description...the photo SHOWS the books, patterns and widgets and the description says..You are bidding on the books and patterns only. The widgets do not go with this auction (THEY ARE IN THE TITLE AND PICS)..Later I find an auction listing a collection of widgets and the picture shows a big piece of cloth that has about 12 items on it. The description says you are bidding on the item in row 2, second from the left...(disgust]....And last , I find an auction for 100 widgets...thats what the title says....THEN , you read the description and it states that you are bidding on 25 widgets but up to a 100 are available if you want them. Now I know that there is a lot of bidders who don't read the description but that coupled with this kind of misrepresentation has GOT to cause problems. If you aren't careful with these auctions, you could THINK you are bidding on something you are not. Just seems a strange practice. I just needed to vent cause its snowy outside, I have cabin fever today and this is better than pouting....
...If an item is LISTED in the title and there is a PICTURE of whats listed in the title....Then I feel that the DESCRIPTION ought to agree with the pic and the title and sell me what the title SAYS I am buying. And frankly, a seller who would use that tactic is ASKING for a confused buyer and a BIG misunderstanding later. Example....Don't put a batch of leather tools in a rack and tell me in the title that its leather tools etc for sale and then when I look at the description it says the tools don't come with rack or books. THATS misleading IMHO. ....and I agree with GJSI....one picture PLEASE ...one that pertains to what you are selling. When I first started selling here (way back in the infancy of ebay) I did not own a scanner, digital etc. I had to use a cheap 35mmm. for awhile. But I still took ONE pic or a group of ONE item ...I think multi item pics are confusing and DO lose the detail. And even thats more tolerable than listing 100 widgets , posting a picture of 100 widgets and THEN telling me I am only bidding on 25. THATS MISLEADING....and I am rambling....
...I wish the snow would go away.....Pam