posted on July 29, 2001 11:01:18 PM
It never ceases to amaze me when sellers of old magazines or books just snap a photo of the item and make absolutely NO EFFORT to make the item look even the slightest bit better!
Hey sellers! Why not unbend a corner or two? How about straightening the cover a bit so it's not all crooked looking?
I am not talking about problems that are a now permanent state of the item, I am talking about little things that are easily corrected IF YOU TAKE A SECOND, not to mention take some pride in what you are selling!
posted on July 30, 2001 06:04:32 AM
Although I agree with you (drives me crazy too) at least you get an idea of how much they care.
On the other hand I hate when I purchase a piece of glass, or porcelain all pretty on some doily; but when it gets to me it is dusty with a spider nest in it. You would think a little pride in what they do would help in return sales.
Jay
posted on July 30, 2001 06:24:21 AM
Ahhhh, just as bad IMO are the listings that say "needs a good cleaning." Eeeuwwww. At least with the advance warning you have the option of hitting the Back button, which I definitely do. I HATE having to wash my hands after unpacking dirty stuff.
CG
posted on July 30, 2001 06:26:47 AM
I agree. I am both a buyer and seller, and I have had a few surprises come to me. Like one, the sweater had wrinkles in the picture, and I thought it was a seller who didnt' care, but when I got it, it had been washed, and thrown in the dryer, and the wrinkles were how it looked when you finally got the buttons and button holes matched. (But they weren't frayed!)
When I sell, on the other hand, I try to have all my stuff clean, and pressed, if it is clothing. There have been times when, in the midst of a picture taking frnzy, I have discovered that a peice of clothing should be pressed, and I have chosen not to do it, and in the end, I probably could have gotten a few more bucks. (Or, in some cases, a bid!) I just hate to stop the momentum!
posted on July 30, 2001 06:57:19 AM
You mean you want me to make something look wonderful so you think it's in better condition than I describe so you can then neg me because it wasn't as purty as the picture?
Personally if one of the books I'm selling ends up looking better in the pics than it does in real life, I mention it in the auction description. I do take a lot of time with items I expect to go high, but taking an hour on a $9.99 item that you're pretty sure is only going to get one or two bids doesn't really seem like it's productive - I could go pump gas for that.
I agree that you should dust stuff off (and get out nests), but there are things like coins, books, cold-painted items, etc. that one might sell and not know a lot about - too easy to ruin when you don't know what you're doing.
posted on July 30, 2001 07:28:04 AMbut there are things like coins, books, cold-painted items, etc. that one might sell and not know a lot about - too easy to ruin when you don't know what you're doing.
Just thought I'd jump in here, because I do know something about coins. I can assure you that if you don't, and you try cleaning them, you will almost certainly ruin them as far as any collector value is concerned.
Unless you're sure you know what you're doing, I would think it best not to attempt to clean many items (particularly collectibles) much beyond carefully wiping off any dust/dirt.
posted on July 30, 2001 09:57:52 AM
When I list books, I dust them off but do not attempt major cleaning - I am afraid of causing damage to them. This especially rings true of historical or collectible paper items.
I heard a story years ago about a guy who "Dipped" a Seated Dollar that had heavy toning (dipping is common, as I'm sure you know). Everyone who had looked at it thought it was a MS66 or 67, but after it was dipped, it was a AU 58. The guy lost $10,000 in a matter of seconds.
[ edited by jumpinjacko on Jul 29, 2001 11:04 PM ]