How important are pics in sale/trade ads?

[fulloflead]

If you're looking at an ad in the sale or trade forums, how important are pics?

I have a bunch of lightly used production folders that I detailed fairly well in the descriptions, but I don't have any pics. I figured it didn't matter because the little scratches or nicks wouldn't show up in pics at all anyway. Still, people write me and ask for pics fairly often. Even if I WERE to scan my knives they wouldn't be able to see the light scratches anyway. I figure people know what the knives look like, so descriptions should do.

I, personally, don't worry about pics when I buy production knives and just expect a decent description of what ever marks might be on a knife.

Besides, in this community, almost everyone describes their knives pretty accurately and will happily trade back if someone is unhappy.

 

[ZENGHOST]

I feel better if I see pics. It's not so much the accuracy of the description as it is I want to be sure that I'm on the same page as far as which knife it is. There are a lot of times when the seller or myself aren't talking about the same knife. This is often the case with things like limited editions, or coatings, etc. It can save a lot of hassle if I see the pic just to make sure it's the item I'm thinking about. It's not essential, but it's always nice.

 

[Roadrunner]

Pics mean a lot to me, I'll only buy without them if I know the seller well.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I will only purchase a knife if I am able to see a photo of it first. Hopefully there will be more than one picture. A very good description is required as well.

Yes, pictures can be misleading, but I would still rather have them than not.

 

[Bruz]

Pictures are paramount...if one is looking for a particular knife they know well it may not be a problem, but you are missing out on most buyers...impulse buyers. The vast majority of knives I own were not planned purchases, it was going through the classifieds and seeing a knife I just had to have! Even if I am looking for a particular knife the odds are much greater of me buying it from a seller that has poted a picture, or at least a link to a simular one.

 

[LyonHaert]

It's analagous to bartering in person. You could be bartering with someone for a knife they wish to sell, and they could have the best description ever, but you wouldn't budge until you saw it yourself. A picture (along with the description) is the closest you get to that on the internet. If the facts don't match the picture, it comes time to ask why.

 

[Patryn]

It's very important to me. I have bought knives without pictures (Even on Ebay), but rarely. A picture shows you that:
1. The knife exists
2. Which knife it really is
3. The general condition of the knife
4. What it comes with

I think pictures are 100% nessecary with customs.

 

[SkarpKniv]

Originally posted by Keith Montgomery
I will only purchase a knife if I am able to see a photo of it first. Hopefully there will be more than one picture. A very good description is required as well.

Yes, pictures can be misleading, but I would still rather have them than not.

I concurr, even though I haven't bought a knife on here yet

 

[GigOne]

Pic's greatly enhances an accurate verbal/written description of the knife.

It's also nice if another knife or measuring device is placed in the shot. . .for comparison value. I prefer seeing another knife in a comparison pic. Rulers next to a knife cheapens the pic.

 

[fudo]

A good description is important, but pics are necessary for me.

 

[Grapevine]

For most production knives they'd be helpful for me but not crucial. When they are would be production models that utitlize natural materials like exotic wood, stag, or MoP. Then I'd need to see the grain and pattern. For custom knives it's absolutely critical to see a pic.

 

[DumboRAT]

"A picture is worth a thousand words."



I like seeing detailed descriptions, don't get me wrong. It shows that the seller has actually put thought into presenting the blade, which likely means that he/she either has sentiment for the blade and it is thus nicely cared-for or judiciously used -- or that they're themselves highly detailed individuals who are trying as best as possible to paint the most honest picture.

But there's that word again -- picture.....

We're visual beings, and having such a reference can only hope to enhance and extrapolate.

If you're a detailed descriptive narrator and a good seller with a known and proven record, yes, I'll buy sight unseen.

But a picture will make me plunk down the bucks just that much faster.

And for those who do a lot of volume here or elsewhere, that investment in a 2-Meg digicam (which can behad nowadays for under $150), I would imagine would be quickly returned.



Allen
aka DumboRAT

 

[Murnax]

Pics are always better, but I'll buy production knives without them if the description is descriptive enough. For custom knives I won't buy them without a pic, even if it is a regular model from a maker.

 

[stjames]

A picture helps sell a knife, unquestionably. I have yet to be able to sell a custom knife sight-unseen over the net, productions yes, customs no.

 

[TOB9595]

I hate to mirror RoadRunner's comment but
I feel more secure with pics when dealing with a stranger

Tom

 

[gajinoz]

I prefer to not only look but touch before I buy. I'm not sure exactly why but I always feel much more comfortable about buying something if I can pick it up and fiddle with it and so on. I would certainly never buy anything unless I could at least look at a picture of it.

 

[Walking Man]

Y'all may think I'm freaking nuts, but more often than not pics hurt my impression of a knife rather than help. MOST pics of used knives will make the knife look much better than what it actually is. If it's a standard model, then just tell me about it, rather than try to give me blurry images. If it's a custom, then it's a different story. I'm usually still more impressed with attention to detail on a custom than I will ever be with pictures. I've seen scans and closeups, and I'm still not satisfied that what I'm going to see is in the picture.