The following images were culled from Ebay in one day (yesterday) and are presented here today, not to out the auctions, but to instruct sellers on how they may improve their bottom line. There is no intent to embarrass anyone who may be a board member or a lurking seller. Primers should be both constructive and instructive. Lets begin.
LESSON #1 -
The DARKIE
The image below was taken in a dark room without the benefit of light. This technique may make it difficult to see subtle defects in the card.
LESSON #2 -
The SHADOW
This image is consistently replicated in this seller's listings. By placing himself between the light source and the card he is able show himself as well as a nameless shadow. The casual observer might interpret the shadow as a stain on the card.
LESSON #3 -
The FLASH FLAW
This image is created by someone who has completed the first two lessons successfully. To avoid both the DARKIE and the SHADOW he is using a flash attachment on his camera. The resultant uneven lighting could be distracting but in this case highlights an area of lost reflective gloss on the front of the card.
LESSON #4 -
The FLOORING and CARPET
By moving the item further from the camera some sellers are able to give a better image of their hardwood floors and carpet than of the card.
LESSON #5 -
The BACKLIT OVERSIZED HOLDER
This image has multiple endearing qualities. Backlighting offers the return of the SHADOW, this time highlighted by an oversized reflective holder that should not be necessary in the absence of a numerical grade. As a result the actual card is reduced even further in size without even showing the floor and carpet.
LESSON #6 -
The CROPLESS MICRO
Lets face it, the majority of scanner beds are larger than tobacco cards. Cropping a scan to enhance the detail of a card for sale would seem to be obvious, but it is not as demonstrated here.
LESSON #7 -
The STACKED SHOT
Piling up cards in the same lot of an auction could impair the evaluation of the cards underneath. Although this example is not egregious, one wonders what Mr. Pastorius is hiding. Also the more cards shown in one image tends to create a collage of CROPLESS MICROS.
LESSON #8 -
The GREAT LOOKING CARD
The description of the card should bear some correlation to the appearance of the card. Although the image below is correctly identified as a reproduction, the description of the card states that it is "great looking". I would maintain that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
That's all for now class. Happy Selling.