Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions

Koala-T · Aug 9, 2014

TheNeedMachine said:
Is that near Sag Harbor? If so, tell them to just stop making jackets that goodwill workers place in the menswear section.

Not exactly, but it is right by Coldwater Creek.

Koala-T · Aug 9, 2014

Koala-T said:
Not exactly, but it is right by Coldwater Creek.

Finally broke down and ordered a pro lighting kit today:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171378555744?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Will supplement with my shop lights to erase background shadows, but I'm excited to see how it effects my pics. I also got some studio gray backdrop paper, and revamped my setup a bit. instead of a cube, it's now a half cube, cut on the diagonal. Will take pics once I get new lights, but it's already better all around, even with my old Home Depot cone lights.

txwoodworker · Aug 9, 2014

Frys. I Love Frys.

jebarne · Aug 9, 2014

Brianpore said:
Thanks to breakaway01 with a little help on the camera setting I can now get them all pretty consistent without adjusting the camera at all. These are right out of the camera no editing. Same setting, not adjusting. Just point and shoot. AMAZING

what settings did you end up with?

Brianpore · Aug 10, 2014

jebarne said:
Quote: I ended up with ISO 800 F:7.1 and shutter speed 1/20 or 1/25. Here is a full unedited set right out of the camera. All I did was either move closer/further and zoom in and clicked away. AMAZING. This just cu5 about 1/3 off my photo time. Will post process in a automatic batch which takes no time and then list. Between good lights, decent camera and now knowing how to use the camera a little better its becomes pretty painless to do photos. A much better lens is hopefully on the way next week also to make the photos a little more crisp.

TheNeedMachine · Aug 10, 2014

Brianpore said:
I ended up with ISO 800 F:7.1 and shutter speed 1/20 or 1/25. Here is a full unedited set right out of the camera. All I did was either move closer/further and zoom in and clicked away. AMAZING. This just cu5 about 1/3 off my photo time. Will post process in a automatic batch which takes no time and then list. Between good lights, decent camera and now knowing how to use the camera a little better its becomes pretty painless to do photos. A much better lens is hopefully on the way next week also to make the photos a little more crisp.

Ok now I'm inspired to give this a go with my Canon DSLR. Thanks for posting deets!

tben · Aug 10, 2014

So I had a guy initiate a case prior to contacting me, it happens I am ok with it. He claims the item is about an inch larger in the shoulders than I claim, ok, that happens too. But his description in the case details goes as far as to call me a liar, using a little more complex English vocabulary, and to demand that I repay his return shipping cost.

How would you proceed?
Thanks!

hbkshin · Aug 10, 2014

Brianpore said:
I ended up with ISO 800 F:7.1 and shutter speed 1/20 or 1/25. Here is a full unedited set right out of the camera. All I did was either move closer/further and zoom in and clicked away. AMAZING. This just cu5 about 1/3 off my photo time. Will post process in a automatic batch which takes no time and then list. Between good lights, decent camera and now knowing how to use the camera a little better its becomes pretty painless to do photos. A much better lens is hopefully on the way next week also to make the photos a little more crisp.

******* beautiful pictures. I'll have to mess with my settings so I can achieve something similar.

Snoogz · Aug 10, 2014

Blue is always a struggle for me to photograph, it always comes out darker. I'm not sure what settings I should start tweaking to achieve a more balanced color.

noob in 89 · Aug 10, 2014

tben said:
goes as far as to call me a liar...

Not knowing the shoulder make-up of potential buyers, what reason would anyone have for flat-out lying about almost an inch of shoulder width? Are there really people out there twisting their mustaches and evil-laughing over this ****?

Brianpore · Aug 10, 2014

Snoogz said:
Blue is always a struggle for me to photograph, it always comes out darker. I'm not sure what settings I should start tweaking to achieve a more balanced color.

I find the blue is actually "flat" so auto adjust the contrast so it "pops" a little more. That said, if they are too dark all 3 settings will make the photo lighter, not really sure which is best. Increase the shutter time letting in more light, lower the f stop (prob not the right way as from what I read you want to be 2 clicks over your lowest possible stop for a sharp image) and increase the ISO depending what it already is at. Prob want to max out at 800 where 200 or 400 is ideal but prob dont have enough light.

tben · Aug 10, 2014

noob said:
Not knowing the shoulder make-up of potential buyers, what reason would anyone have for flat-out lying about almost an inch of shoulder width? Are there really people out there twisting their mustaches and evil-laughing over this ****?

Yeah? I have no clue? The return doesn't bother me. I'm sure there are thousands of discrepancies regarding measurements a year, hell, probably a month. So no big deal his measurement differed from mine. It was just alarming that not only did he open a case immediately, but he called me a liar and demanded return shipping. How do I proceed in a situation like that? Call him a liar back.

Usually, if someone contacted me I would just refund and move on, but there is something about being called a liar as a sell/buyer with 297 feedback and 100% rating. Just pissed me off.

TheNeedMachine · Aug 10, 2014

Brianpore said:
I ended up with ISO 800 F:7.1 and shutter speed 1/20 or 1/25. Here is a full unedited set right out of the camera. All I did was either move closer/further and zoom in and clicked away. AMAZING. This just cu5 about 1/3 off my photo time. Will post process in a automatic batch which takes no time and then list. Between good lights, decent camera and now knowing how to use the camera a little better its becomes pretty painless to do photos. A much better lens is hopefully on the way next week also to make the photos a little more crisp.

Dude. His Dudeness. Dude-a-rino. This is going to help a LOT in my pics! I always get really crappy pics when using the mannequin against my beige walls.

Old, tweaked in IrfanView and still not great:

New, straight from the camera, no tweaking - looks much better to me:

I also realized that, with these settings, stepping back a bit and zooming in is better than getting up close. At least, with my camera (Canon EOS xti).

Thanks again for the tip! Haven't dialed it in completely but I'm already happier with the results!

And for anyone interested, the mannequin/light set-up:

...the table to the left is 6' x 6' (two 3' x 6' folding tables), covered in white matte vinyl, for flat shots. Two overhead lights, going to add a third. Got a snake-pit of extension cords because one socket can't handle the power draw if I plug them all in.

rhyme · Aug 10, 2014

Brianpore said:
I ended up with ISO 800 F:7.1 and shutter speed 1/20 or 1/25.

Are you using a tripod? My pictures at 1/20 have little bit of bluriness.

NeedMachine: Your background looks great in the 2nd picture but the coat seems be a little over exposed but it could be the actual color. I like the coat picture better in the 1st picture.

I also have the same lighting set up.

cdgreg · Aug 10, 2014

tben said:
Yeah? I have no clue? The return doesn't bother me. I'm sure there are thousands of discrepancies regarding measurements a year, hell, probably a month. So no big deal his measurement differed from mine. It was just alarming that not only did he open a case immediately, but he called me a liar and demanded return shipping. How do I proceed in a situation like that? Call him a liar back.

Usually, if someone contacted me I would just refund and move on, but there is something about being called a liar as a sell/buyer with 297 feedback and 100% rating. Just pissed me off.

As far as I know, you're not required in any situation to pay the return shipping. With that being said, it's bs. In a situation where the seller is completely in the wrong, why should a buyer lose money? I'm not saying you're completely in the wrong here by the way, just my person feelings on ebay's policy.

Did he provide you a photo with the measurement he claims? Obviously this can be fabricated pretty easily based on how he lays the garment, but it's about the only hoop I'd force him to jump through. When he provides the photo I'd apologize up and down, offer to pay the return shipping, and say you hope that he is left with a positive feeling so he will consider buying from you again in the future. At worst, you pay an extra $8 for non-negative feedback.

At the end of the day, put your pride aside, and treat it like a business. Do whatever you think is best for the future of your sales, not because an internet user called you a liar v. a classy gentleman.

Buying and Selling on eBay: Tips, Tricks, Problems & Questions

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

B&S (BS) ambassador-in-chief

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Stylish Dinosaur

B&S (BS) ambassador-in-chief

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: