Tip for those selling knives, use these 4 pictures!

Undefeatable

Undefeatable

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Just a tip, not a demand.

I have been on here and other knife forums for a few years now. If there's one thing that is a bit of a pet peeve, its the pictures that some people use for their listings.

Now, I am not asking that everyone who sells a knife on here needs to be a professional photographer, but I feel like if you want someone to buy your knife, put some effort into displaying it. These threads are full of people selling the same knives. If you want to stand out, make the decision easier for potential buyers and use GOOD PICTURES.

For folders, I recommend the following 4 pictures at minimum:

1) Presentation side with blade out, so we can see the condition of the blade and handle
2) Lock side with blade out, so we can see the condition of the blade and handle
3) Picture of the lock up
4) Picture of the blade centering

These are really the things people are looking for it seems when purchasing a knife. Countless listings just show one side of the knife, poor quality, or just a single group picture with 5+ knives.

There are many many people looking at these forums who shop impulsively, myself included. Everyone who is selling a knife right now that is in the same category as you, or especially selling the same exact knife, is your competition. Make the decision easier for potential buyers and try and capture those impulse buyers who just happen to peak in your sales thread.

I am not saying that you can't sell things with just one picture, but really, it helps when you present your knife in the best and most honest way. Make the people want your knife and show them exactly what they are getting.

Please share any thoughts or tell me if I am crazy.
 
1) Presentation side with blade out, so we can see the condition of the blade and handle - Yes
2) Lock side with blade out, so we can see the condition of the blade and handle - Yes
3) Picture of the lock up - Possible and worthwhile with a few locks, not possible with many others
4) Picture of the blade centering - This one's tricky. Very dependent on both knife and camera position. Slightest angle can make a well centered blade look off center, or vise-versa. Personally, I'd rather the seller just state whether it's centered or not.
 
Many sellers frame their photos so as it intentionally conceal exactly what you are looking for.

Caveat Emptor.
 
You are right of course but I don't think you will start a new "better photos in sales" trend. Don't know all the reasons why people don't or can't bother but there are as many as there are knives to sell.

Recently asked a guy about a knife he had listed. Represented by a short description and 2 thumb nails - dark and undefined photos. I requested more photos in an email. I received 4 very nice lit up photos showing true colors, blade condition and all the rest :confused:. His knife was selling for more than $ 400.00 on the basis of 2 bad thumbnails.

As I did not buy the knife I did encourage him to use these much better photos. :) He replaced the two with two others. Why did he need to be told? Of well...




Ray
 
The ones that always make me laugh go something like this: Mint $500 knife that has been modded beautifully. Small factory scratch on the handle, barely noticeable. Only sharpened twice. No pics, I don't have a camera. :-)
 
I bought a 2001 Microtech LUDT off a blade auction site about 8 years ago or so and the very tip of the blade was not in the frame. I didn't think much of this since it was described to be in like new condition.
I received the knife and the very tip was chipped. It came in an extremely well padded box. I emailed the seller and he stated it must have chipped in transport which couldn't have been true.
Luckily I was sent it into Microtech and got it resharpened and the tip was fixed.

So just make sure the entire knife is visible.
 
If selling multiple knives in the same post it is not easy to show all the pics you are asking for for each knife. I prefer to show both sides with blades out in a group shot but will certainly provide other detailed pics if you are serious about buying.
 
I agree that those are the key photo's. Centered is a bit of an option, but some are so picky about it that it is usually better to just post a photo-they are going to ask for it anyway no matter what you describe.
I will state that it is not always easy to get photo's to load, and do to this I may not get them all up at 1st.
 
Since I'm terrible at posting photos and therefore do not sell (aside from not being Gold), I will post only what I am confident of; answer to question posted: yes, you are crazy (you are a member here-ipso facto...crazy) :p
 
Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

I'll add: Closed folder (either side), and backspine. All you need to know.

If it's a well known knife these things are assumed, but show them on the selling model anyway.

If you can look through a viewfinder or at screen you can take a shot of a centered blade. Dead straight on. It's not hard.

I agree, perspective can adjust OR corrupt centering.

I'm at a loss how some sales photos are delivered. You don't need a DSLR. My phone will do just fine. Sigh.

Good thread.
 
SharpByCoop said:
Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

I'll add: Closed folder (either side), and backspine. All you need to know.

If it's a well known knife these things are assumed, but show them on the selling model anyway.

If you can look through a viewfinder or at screen you can take a shot of a centered blade. Dead straight on. It's not hard.

I agree, perspective can adjust OR corrupt centering.

I'm at a loss how some sales photos are delivered. You don't need a DSLR. My phone will do just fine. Sigh.

Good thread.
Click to expand...

Holy Moly, huge fan of your work! Thank you for your insight!

And thank you to everyone else. To me, the whole knife hobby is extremely fun and rewarding. Selling a knife and interacting with customer is one of my favorite things about it. At the end of the day, if you sell anything on any forum or online medium, the person is trusting your word and pictures to see what they are receiving. The only surprise I want anyone who buys one of my knives to have is pleasant ones.
 
I think 5 eliminates even more unknowns. In addition to yours, one shot of the show side with knife closed...maybe unnecessary but if already going through the motions. I don't know anything about photography, but one noticeable difference in picture quality is using natural outdoor lighting on a normal sunny day vs indoor lighting. I feel like the light that comes from the sun is more powerful or something and even if it looks comparable to the human eye, the sun is pretty bright.
 
Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I've settled on a formula that I think works well for sales posts. Here's an example: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1448343-SOLD-Zero-Tolerance-0808

The forumula is this:

1. Lead photo (to draw the eye). To do this you upload a photo to Imgur, then copy and paste the URL in between "
." I tend to use a smaller photo so it doesn't appear huge in the post.

2. Photo album (with all of the shots you mentioned).

3. A link to the specs (or provide them yourself if they're not available online).

4. A description of the knife for sale, including any and all wear and tear or other anomalies. The most important part!

5. Price, payment and shipping provisions. (No need to include stuff like "I reserve the right to sell to whomever I choose...blah blah blah." Of course you do—you don't need to say so. And "CONUS only" is an insult to our fine friends in Alaska and Hawaii (as well as US military bases around the world), where USPS priority shipping is the exact same price.)

6. A thank you!
 
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