What is it with the sudden use of stock photos for retro games?

[Armonigann]

Whats with all the stock photos for even retro stuff all of the sudden?! I remember at one point if you did'nt have actually pic most likely your item would'nt even sell.

 

Now all of the sudden it seems most are using stock photos which sucks ass for me because I actually want to see what the hell im buying without having to beg the seller for actual pic.

 

I mean really, is it that hard to take a good pic of the item and use that for the listing these days?

 

Damnit, just another reason to say fuck Ebay!

[Rex Dart]

With all the stock photos, refusal to name the actual items, refusal to at least brush the crud off the item with a sock before listing it, I've come to realize that people on ebay aren't all that interested in selling.

[+Random Terrain]

What's with so many forum users and people on TV using "all of the sudden" all of a sudden?

 

 

Related links:

 

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/sudden.html

 

http://grammartips.homestead.com/sudden.html

[The_Laird]

I notice this all the time on US auctions and get so annoyed when they use a photo of the box and put in the small print (cartridge only)

 

Thankfully we don't have people doing this crap on eBay UK . . . . YET!

[A_Locomotive]

It seems like its mostly the giant ebay sellers with hundreds if not thousands of past transactions. I never buy from them unless its extremely clear in their listing what I'm getting and even then only if they allow returns just in case.

[+save2600]

With all the stock photos, refusal to name the actual items, refusal to at least brush the crud off the item with a sock before listing it, I've come to realize that people on ebay aren't all that interested in selling.

100% pure unadulterated laziness, pure and simple.

[GKC]

I notice this all the time on US auctions and get so annoyed when they use a photo of the box and put in the small print (cartridge only)

 

Thankfully we don't have people doing this crap on eBay UK . . . . YET!

 

This and then they use the Ebay condition listing such as "very good" which talks about the condition of the jewel case/box.

 

I've even seen some auctions that use what looks like a photo they took only to read in the item description that the photo is not of the actual item.

[Armonigann]

What's with so many forum users and people on TV using "all of the sudden" all of a sudden?

 

 

Related links:

 

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/sudden.html

 

http://grammartips.homestead.com/sudden.html

 

Don't be an ass....all of the sudden.

 

Edit: Oh, "a" sudden

Edited March 10, 2011 by Armonigann

[Video]

I know it used to cost money to list extra pics, but the first one was free, maybe Ebay changed that? (wouldn't surprise me) Also, there's the whole convoluted way the whole process is set up, now instead of just listing your item by name, you got to go through a long mangled process, and part of that process is listing the item for it's UPC and Ebay required you to use their photo at that point (as they are hosting the pics, that makes a little sense, but it's not like they host them forever or anything)

 

Now days, you may only be able to list an item by it's UPC and the pic Ebay provides and get charged for any additional. Ebay sucks ass, and it's not just the buyers and sellers that made it that way. (though they helped a lot)

 

Keep in mind, it's been over 6 years since my last transaction on Ebay, due to them sliding down hill, and what I listed was from the mid 00's area, I'd hate to even really think of how far it's slid since then.

 

As for "all of the sudden" I don't know, like some phrases that people say forever, and some idiot says it diffferent (likely to just get a laugh out of it or something) but then everybody else starts it and all of a sudden, this becomes "normal" I see it happen regularly, and it always bugs the crap out of me.

[Austin]

It kind of sucks if you're buying cheap, but games nearing the $10 range and higher have pictures more often than they do not. You generally only have to worry about it when buying those uber-cheap cartridge-only games.

 

There can be advantages to stock photos though if you read the descriptions carefully. For instance, I won a CIB Psyvariar 2 for the Dreamcast a few weeks back for about $20 after shipping. It's something that should have cost between $40 and $50, I'm assuming. The guy used a stock photo and no one else bid on it and I ended up getting a great deal (it was in pristine shape when it arrived, as described!).

[Armonigann]

Yeah, I've got a couple deals that way as well, but everytime Im always bitting my nails and hoping the game I won is what they say it is.

[Arkhan]

alot of it is the fact eBay supplies you with stock photos and game descriptions now. You just pick the game and it goes LOL *done*

 

 

 

and when you have ignorant morons selling OMG RAER RETRO GAEMS without knowing wtf they even have.... it makes it easier for them!

[GKC]

Well I had my first screw job from a stock photo. Bought Mario Bros. Arcade Classic that was marked as "Good" but had label damage and discoloration and also doesn't work.

 

The guy offers money back (I have to pay return shipping) but my question is do they return my money first and then I send it or do I send it and then they return my money? I have never returned anything through ebay. Can anyone help me out on how that works?

Edited March 12, 2011 by GKC

[+save2600]

The guy offers money back (I have to pay return shipping) but my question is do they return my money first and then I send it or do I send it and then they return my money? I have never returned anything through ebay. Can anyone help me out on how that works?

Depends on the douche, but most of the time, you return the item and then you get your money back. I don't know what cart you're talking about, how much was it? If it's a cheapie, the guy may just be jerking you around further by having you return the POS instead of just giving you your money back.

 

If you end up going through PayPal to get your money back because you don't trust the guy, it could end up in this long, drawn out process where the seller then is free to jerk and yank you around for the maximum amount of time (about a month) allowed by PayPal before they just say screw it and reverse the charge. Remember, this just happened to me back in January, here of all places

[GKC]

The guy offers money back (I have to pay return shipping) but my question is do they return my money first and then I send it or do I send it and then they return my money? I have never returned anything through ebay. Can anyone help me out on how that works?

Depends on the douche, but most of the time, you return the item and then you get your money back. I don't know what cart you're talking about, how much was it? If it's a cheapie, the guy may just be jerking you around further by having you return the POS instead of just giving you your money back.

 

If you end up going through PayPal to get your money back because you don't trust the guy, it could end up in this long, drawn out process where the seller then is free to jerk and yank you around for the maximum amount of time (about a month) allowed by PayPal before they just say screw it and reverse the charge. Remember, this just happened to me back in January, here of all places

 

It was $11 so I am not overly concerned but I can return it and it would pay for another game I am looking at. The guy had a lower feedback than I usually deal with but he had a money back policy and it was a relatively cheap item so I took a chance. My NES is finicky so it may be that but I am able to get every game to atleast work after a bit at some point, this one nothing and I cleaned the contacts. I sent him a message telling him I wished to return it and asked how it work so we'll see.

[+Sargon]

It seems like its mostly the giant ebay sellers with hundreds if not thousands of past transactions. I never buy from them unless its extremely clear in their listing what I'm getting and even then only if they allow returns just in case.

I agree that it is best to avoid the large eBay sellers. Most of my condition complaints have been a result of them misstating the item's condition or simply sending an item that is different than what was pictured.

 

I recently bought a CIB Dragon Warrior III for NES and it was listed in Very Good condition, with the seller stating it was in Near Mint condition. I received the item and the cart itself was in great condition, but the manual was creased and the map was littered with tears and scotch tape. The seller's response was that it does fit eBay's description of Very Good, because maps are not listed in that description. Any self-respecting seller would have commented on the map's condition, rather than taking advantage of a loophole in the eBay condition guidelines. In the end, the seller refunded me $10, but that didn't really make up for the map's poor condition.

[GKC]

Alright the seller sent me a message and it looks like he was going to honor his policy, no questions. He was even going to let me keep the cool nintendo clear plastic case that it came it. But I got the thing to work finally. My NES is really on the fritz. I need a new one or I need to replace its pin connector. I am glad that I was very respectful in my original pm and didn't accuse him of anything. I would have felt pretty bad.

[AtariLeaf]

Its simple for me - if its a stock picture I won't even give your auction a second glance.

[Armonigann]

I just received Isolated warrior for the nes form one of these stock photo listing and was stated "very good" well obviously it was not at all very good at all

 

I just flat out left his ass a negative and he can keep the the few dollars as I don't feel like wasting my time sending garbage back through the mail.

 

Ive been burnt twice this week! I'm taking a break from buying games online for quite awhile unless the seller is up front with pix and details

[GKC]

Its simple for me - if its a stock picture I won't even give your auction a second glance.

 

This will probably be my new policy as well.

[Zing]

eBay has changed from being an auction site for users to an ecommerce site for commercial and high volume sellers. High volume sellers waste time adding unique images, so eBay made it easy with stock info and photos. Lazy independent sellers just stick withwhat eBay provides.

 

I personally always post actual photos. The only time I haven't is when I sold a bunch of wii sports. As a buyer, I ignore all auctions which use stock photos.