Mandatory pictures of items in sales threads?

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RevDevil

RevDevil

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So this topic just came up in the Feedback area. Should members selling items be required to provide pictures of the actual item for sale or trade? Just some background, when Spark wrote the Exchange rules, he did include a line indicating pictures should be provided. Last year, I edited the Exchange rules and consolidated them for clarification. With the increased amount of complaint threads, and some sellers and traders lacking common sense, maybe pictures of the actual item for sale or trade should be made necessary. What do you think?
 
Even though some of my threads lack pics , Cuz I post them up in a hurry I try to show pixs of the item eventually so yes I think it should be mandatory if not pics then some other form of proof the knife is actually in your possession.
 
Common sense is in short supply nowadays, I wouldn't buy a knife without a photo. :)
 
I think it's a good idea for sure. Would make it a lot harder for the buyer to later say they didn't receive what they thought they were buying and just all around easier to buy without having to email them for pictures which can take a while. Just my .02 :)
 
It should be mandatory. It's beyond easy to take a picture and upload it to any of the free image hosting sites or on the site here. Clear pictures of the item for sale showing it from multiple angles and including pictures of any flaws would serve as an indicator of the condition of the knife in the seller's possession.
 
I don't think it should be mandatory. Buyers should know what they are buying or ask for pictures.

A picture isn't proof of anything. I have tons of pics of knives I don't have anymore, and pics of users before they were used.

While I usually post pictures because they sell easier that way, some just don't need pictures to sell or to be accurately described.
 
A picture may not replace a thousand words, but sometimes ...

For someone who needs to know which model, serrated or combo, which blade shape, and some sellers seem to charge by the word describing their offering. If the knife is particularly expensive, a picture with a current newspaper or a piece of paper with the date might help.

I can always search for that model number but why is that up to me? The seller should be giving a full and accurate description and a picture is a big help.
 
I think it should be a necessity, if someone is selling anything without Picts, I'm gone to the next forum or topic.
 
I think it would be great if every seller gave a complete description, and included detailed, well lit, and focused pictures of the knife in it's current condition. I don't know why anyone wouldn't, but I wouldn't require it, or want it required of me.
Maybe I have a ubiquitous knife like a Buck 110, or a Spyderco PM2, or a large classic Sebenza. Do people really need pics? They see I am a gold member who has been active on the forum for many years and all my feedback is positive. They may or may not 'know' me, but shouldn't it be up to me and my buyer weather or not we need a photo spread for a knife that is known to almost everyone?
If a seller wants to 'turn off' a large % of prospective buyers that's his prerogative, and if buyers want to take the chance on buying sight unseen that's theirs.

But if photos are going to actually be required, it's not enough just to say "pictures required". Let's do this right.
I say we also:

Require specific presentation positions for folders and fixed blades.
Require specific angles of view for each position.
Require that the knife be pictured with a ruler to show scale.
Require a minimum number of photos, and minimal acceptable resolution used, based on knife value.
Define what will be acceptable for use as a background.
Have Bernard Levine act as focus police and lighting director who has to approve all photos used before they are posted.
Require that a photo be provided to the sale forum mods that includes the knife for sale, a proof of purchase on knives less than maybe 10 years old?, the sellers drivers license and a newspaper printed within the last three days to be kept on file in case something goes sideways.

Some other things to think about:

Requiring both sellers and buyers be bonded and insured.
Requiring the use of escrow on sales.
Require the use of Bladeforums issued standard contracts.


Yes, I know I am being a smart aleck.
We got PLENTY of rules for the forums. I think it's a great idea to urge people to adopt a standard practice when selling here but ultimately we all just need to use common sense in these things.
I would love it if somehow there were zero risk in all transactions, but that is never going to happen. A whole bunch of ultimately meaningless rules will only give people a false sense of security and sometimes leave them blaming the venue when things go bad.

Less is more if you ask me.
 
I agree if you're selling you should include photos of some type, if you post in the exchange you should be required to provide a pic within 24-48 hours of the post.

I understand that not everybody is a photographer and not everybody has a camera so some exceptions will have to be made, like if your selling a knife under $20 dollars a photo is not required unless requested by the buyer, more expensive knives requiring photos. JMHO
 
I really do not make any sort of transaction without a photo. I do not mind if the pic is not in the thread as long as it is provided to me when requested. It does help and speed the process up when a pic is in the thread and I do not see any negative in making it mandatory besides the fact if you are trying to post up quick in the morning before work and add photos later, just having pics ready is handy though for both sides of the trade/sell.
 
I think every knife on the exchange should include photos, not just one. There should be at least one photo of each side of the knife: top, down, left, and right. In addition to the profile pictures, there should be additional photos addressing potential issues such as blemishes, scratches, and whatnot. Everyone judges their items differently. What I may consider as a light user, another might see as a lnib. Some who claim it's nib when it's actually lnib. Pictures should resolve a good bit of that especially a picture that'll show inside the handle to show lint or debris.

I'm sure everyone owns some kind of device that'll take pictures so there's really no excuse.
 
You SHOULD include pictures, but it in no way should be a requirement - instead buyers shouldn't jump at an item if they aren't comfortable without seeing pictures. Like was previously mentioned, there are lots of models that are ubiquitous, and the presence of pictures or lack thereof will affect the success of a listing. All that should be up to the seller or buyer. It costs time to photograph a knife, and if it's a cheap knife, it decreases the incentive to sell when the process is longer - on the other hand a good picture will help an item sell quicker, and possibly for more $$$. I spent 4 hours last night taking, editing and uploading pictures - it's a PITA really.

ETA- I forgot to mention, traders should be held to a higher standard. Someone that lists an item as new and sends a used item should be banned. If something is questionable people will start being more descriptive of flaws and such. The problems I see here aren't happening on other forum classifieds I use, and you don't even have to be a paying member to use those.
 
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The only thing that would make me hesitate is another slow in activity. Otoh, I too wouldn't buy without seeing pics.

Btw, NOT including pics is an extension of the seller over-valuing their knife imo. It's irritating and the main reason why I won't contact the seller. When I have in the past they always have pics to send, why not just throw them in with the ad? Well, because they're obnoxious or lazy. Too busy isn't a good excuse. Doesn't boad well in the confidence dept.
 
Buyers already have the right to demand pictures through simple control of their own money.

I don't even care that much if it was an unspoken guideline, but if it was an enforced rule, I wouldn't renew my platinum. I throw in extra to support the site because it is awesome as it is now.

If a bunch of fascist rules started being enforced, it wouldn't be awesome anymore. I don't feel like getting my pictures criticized, and I'm not buying equipment to take better pictures. If i have a particular item that I need better pictures of, I will get them taken by somebody else, but i wouldn't even consider that until $500+
 
I think pictures should be mandatory I myself sometimes start a thread without pics because I can't post pics from my phone. But I add them as soon as I can or I email them to the potential buyer or trader.
 
The market should dictate. Somebody who is going to use a knife doesn't need a picture of a standard unused knife most of the time.

A collector should always demand pictures in any condition, but we aren't all collectors.

I just sold a knife in WTB without pictures in the middle of the night at work, went home, boxed it up, mailed it when the post office opened, and both parties happy. No extra rules needed
 
One of the problems I continually see on the exchange is how subjective terms like NIB, LNIB, Lightly Used and such are. Just because a knife is legitimately NIB doesn't mean it doesn't have factory flaws that should be disclosed. Mainly off center blades, scratches on the blade or other blemishes on the finish, and even rust sometimes because it has been sitting so long and was never oiled. Just a few examples of what I mean. It's still technically NIB or LNIB but has flaws that a buyer would want to know about in deciding if they want the knife or not.

Pictures, especially good pictures go a long way in clearing up some of these ambiguities.

I won't buy a knife unless I see pic's.of it first. Either in the sales thread or if I have to ask.

I've never really understood when someone say's, to busy now but will post pic's later. What's the rush? Wouldn't you want your initial post to display your knife in the best possible light increasing your chances for a quick sale? Even if you have to wait a bit to make the post? I know I do.
 
LEGION 12 said:
I think pictures should be mandatory I myself sometimes start a thread without pics because I can't post pics from my phone. But I add them as soon as I can or I email them to the potential buyer or trader.
Click to expand...

Then you would be non-compliant with your own rule. That's why it should be voluntary.
 
Not mandatory.

As a buyer, if there are no photos, I don't buy, or I ask for photos. If not photos are provided then, I don't buy from buyer.

As a seller, I put up photos almost all the time. Recently I didn't at the time of post, but did later that night..

Again, mandatory? No. Because photos can be downloaded, or blurry, or fake/stolen. Doesn't matter. The buyer needs to be critical of whom he/she is buyer from. Feedback post count help with this IMO.

If we make photos mandatory, then we will make it mandatory to use this server only for photos, or only site x or y.. Or then photos MUST include top down and both sides or... and on and on..
 
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