When buying on eBay does this matter?

[ClevelandIC]

I have been a firm believer for years that scanning a card for an eBay listing it is a requirement to have it actually scanned and not just a photo taken.

With updates in technology our phones can now take some pretty quality pictures. I was having the discussion with my brother the other day that a photo taken with a phone is not only good enough for an auction listing but is better for showing inperfections.

What is your opinion, what do you do and which do you prefer?

Do you even look if the auction is just a phone picture?

[ClevelandIC]

Poop. Can someone delete this or move it to Hobby Talk please.

[EDMTunesCollect]

Plenty of people don't have scanners

If you are ignoring all cell phone pics or anything not "scanned" then you are going to miss out of tons of listings

Who cares what they use to take the pic as long as you can see what it is

[speedyjg13]

I don't care if it's a picture or scan. If the card is defective or anything wrong with the card, it better say so in the item description.

[jsrb14]

You be the judge. This is a cell phone pic with a miniature pop up studio my wife bought me for Christmas last year. I think they turn out great, evemetually when I upgrade my phone to an iPhone 7 they will be even better

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Upper-Deck-Legends-Lou-Brock-On-Card-Auto-Cardinals-/311763919532?hash=item489693e2ac:g:3QAAAOSw6DtYWRNd

[enbambam6986]

I don't have the patience to scan.

And with pictures you don't have to deal with "all marks are from scanner"

[Keyser Soze]

I prefer pics. It seems like 75% of scanners used by sellers aren't very good ones.

[TarjetasBéisbol]

Seller just need to know how to use whatever camera they have and there will be no problem posting a good quality pic.

[fenwaykid]

Front and back photos

[WillBBC]

I've purchased a few items on eBay at steep discount due to lousy pictures keeping the page views and bids down. Sometimes it's fun to take a chance!

Outside of those rare chances I prefer a scan over a photo unless the photo is done well like JSRB14's pop up studio picture.

I have an irrational hatred for pictures of cards that include hands. I'll back out as quickly as possible the moment I see somebody's dirty fingernail near a card. it's ridiculous but it happens.

[ark8085]

You can see the centering better with a scanner, sometimes people taking pics that are on a slight angle and it can be hard to tell if the card is off centered or not.

[bobthewondercat]

Still prefer scans. Photos have more potential pitfalls. Not a big deal though, unless high end cards which should be graded anyways

[Branesergen]

I prefer scans and use a scanner. It's easier to zoom and see edges, corners and as another said centering. I don't care how it pops or refracts the light, I want to see the best condition that I can tell. If I can't tell from the photo then I won't bid. Some photos look great and work great but most do not and are too far away to zoom in close enough.

[jsrb14]

Scanners are very useful over cameras for chrome and cards similiar in design as the camera gives off a mirror image unless taken at an angle. Everything else comes out pretty well. Much better then my last studio set up. I used to fold a piece of white paper in half and use that.

[ClevelandIC]

Front and back photos

I am curious about this. If the card is lets say above $50 SV I think a back photo should be used (even though I don't practice this, guess I should) but what about $10-$25 cards? Does anyone else think or wish more sellers should/would use more back of card scans?

[shrevecity]

I am curious about this. If the card is lets say above $50 SV I think a back photo should be used (even though I don't practice this, guess I should) but what about $10-$25 cards? Does anyone else think or wish more sellers should/would use more back of card scans?

Anything under 10.00 a front only should be enough, unless its something unique and the back is what makes the difference. Like Heritage and A&G minis for example.

[Branesergen]

I am curious about this. If the card is lets say above $50 SV I think a back photo should be used (even though I don't practice this, guess I should) but what about $10-$25 cards? Does anyone else think or wish more sellers should/would use more back of card scans?

I usually take front and back for 2 reasons. I'm already scanning so its easy to just flip over and scan while I'm at it and because of how I buy.

How I buy is if I intend to grade it or not regardless of price. If its a regularly graded card I'll look at back scans, if its not I usually don't. I will buy a lower end card $20 or less without a back scan but prefer to see one. I'll buy higher end with no back scan depending on the sellers description. If its a unique description to that card I'll buy it, if its a blanket description I wont. I offer a blanket description so provide scans of both sides to let the buyer decide if he likes the condition or not.

[sportscards722]

Anything under 10.00 a front only should be enough, unless its something unique and the back is what makes the difference. Like Heritage and A&G minis for example.
This. Also to show serial numbers (if printed on back) is very important. Especially in dealing with returns.

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