Is it common to pay for pictures ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

greazzer · #1 08-18-2011, 09:36 PM

Any views out there ?

Is it common for a prospective seller to want $35.00 per hour to take pictures of the parts he or she is selling? Most folks readily post pictures. I know I freely offer to take as many pictures as the prospective buyer may want. I would like the public's views on this open question. I think I am going to post this same exact question on the other MB forums as well. Thanks.

Biodiesel300TD · #2 08-18-2011, 09:58 PM

That's ridiculous. If some wants to sell something online then they should be willing to snap a few pic of a part. If they aren't willing take pics than I wouldn't do business with them. They are just trying to make more money.

greazzer · #3 08-18-2011, 10:02 PM

I agree, but it was suggested I was being pushy because I wanted a picture to verify I was getting the correct part. Actually, I was really concerned about the seller selling me the wrong part. Silly me. I readily offer pictures, with ZERO limit on the pictures. I would rather someone be super informed which should equate to a happy customer versus a guessing game or paying a penalty for a picture or two. Thanks for your input. Any one else out there ??????

Aquaticedge · #4 08-18-2011, 10:07 PM

Sounds line a nutball. Run.... if someone cant be inconvenienced a little to push a button on a camera a few times then it aint worth your time

gatorblue92 · #5 08-18-2011, 10:46 PM

Yeah not worth your time if they will not take a picture to verify the item and condition for a prospective buyer.

Hogweed · #6 08-18-2011, 11:07 PM

yes charging for pictures is absurd, but of course there is always the "concerned" buyer who asks for numerous pics, wants to verify that the parts is working and then informs you that they bought it elsewhere. not that this has happened to me

...oh, wait...yes it has

tbomachines · #7 08-19-2011, 12:54 AM

That is crazy, find a new seller

daw_two · #8 08-19-2011, 06:58 AM

Great Idea!!!!

$35 per pic it is.

I will begin sending out invoices to all of those past purchasers of parts that I posted and or sent pics to you about the parts. In addition, I'm guessing this rate also applies to cars, right? I can count all the pics I posted on the Coda thread (sold that car to Chad) and the Ben thread (sold that car to Tyler).

This will probably stimulate our economy given the magnitude of pics I've posted on this forum or emailed over the course of the past 4.5+ years.

ps --- just reread the original post; I think $35 per hour is too cheap: It needs to be $35 per pic.

Stretch · #9 08-19-2011, 07:02 AM

What a load of BS - tell the seller to stuff his head even further up his arse - if he goes deep enough he may start seeing the light.

greazzer · #10 08-19-2011, 07:21 AM

Thanks guys. I also agree with Hogweed's concerns, but from my own experience buyers generally fall into two broad camps: those who are serious or somewhat serious about buying a part and those just browsing. Although there is nothing "wrong" with browsing, I feel it is somewhat a inconsiderate. However, the upside is that one has pictures for the serious or somewhat serious buyer. So far, I have been very lucky in the parts that I have bought off the forums, BUT I have never heard of someone asking for money for a picture and being told I should not push too hard for information because that person could always sell the part for a lot more money. Just sounded odd to me. Also, generally sellers are pretty straight forward with information. I get somewhat concerned when terms or words start being used interchangably so that the part is not being described accurately. Let's see if the prospective seller answers my last effort for a straight foward answer to a very simple question.

mgburg · #11 08-19-2011, 11:34 AM

To me, it sounds like a stalling tactic..."I'll need $35.00/hr. to take and send pictures."

The ball is in your court...

You send the $35.00 for the pics to be taken and sent.

Two things are possible...

#1.) Seller takes pics and sends them...you're out the $35.00 before you even know what the parts look like or even if they are the right ones...

#2.) You're taken...there were no PARTS to begin with, the "seller" has $35.00 of yours, and where do you go from there?

Tell the seller to grab some tin-foil and practice that long-ago-forgotten art of rectal-origami. Then, like Army said, follow it up with a sincere attempt at "cranial upitis rectumus" to be followed with a size-12 boot.

Make sure he has a 55-gallon drum of Preparation-H on the side.

($35.00/hr. my @55!!!)

Hogweed · #12 08-19-2011, 11:46 AM

are the parts very unique or hard to find? if not, then i would in all likelihood, move on to someone who isn't put out w/ simple requests to verify compatibility/functionality.....like me

or Daw2 (at least he was before he started charging $35/picture

)

Quote:

Originally Posted by greazzer

Thanks guys. I also agree with Hogweed's concerns, but from my own experience buyers generally fall into two broad camps: those who are serious or somewhat serious about buying a part and those just browsing. Although there is nothing "wrong" with browsing, I feel it is somewhat a inconsiderate. However, the upside is that one has pictures for the serious or somewhat serious buyer. So far, I have been very lucky in the parts that I have bought off the forums, BUT I have never heard of someone asking for money for a picture and being told I should not push too hard for information because that person could always sell the part for a lot more money. Just sounded odd to me. Also, generally sellers are pretty straight forward with information. I get somewhat concerned when terms or words start being used interchangably so that the part is not being described accurately. Let's see if the prospective seller answers my last effort for a straight foward answer to a very simple question.

Zacharias · #13 08-19-2011, 12:29 PM

The simple answer is I think that the vendor is doing what is known as 'creative dismissal'. You are being asked to buy somewhere else... politely.

But if you wish to play his game....well lessee... $35 per hour to take the pic, if I understand correctly. It takes how long to take the lens cap off (if applicable), put the lanyard around your neck (safety first!), press the ON/OFF button, press to focus and then snap?

I say about a minute per item.

Which indicates to me the rate should be about 60/35 per pic.

This sounds an awful lot like some of the 'policies' and demands I see from shops and old-fashioned businesses who are trying to apply the old ways of doing stuff on the Internet.

BTW, I used to pay for pics in the old days, before digital photography, but only when it was a car and I would specify to the vendor when the pics would be taken and exactly of what. So I would pay for film, processing and postage.

Had its faults but no worse than relying on jpeg images online....

greazzer · #14 08-19-2011, 01:03 PM

Some follow-up -- very interesting. After I posed my "definitive question", I was told by the prospective seller that he's no longer interested in selling to me. He already wasted too much time on me. Rather, he is going to post pictures on EBAY and sell the item where the forces of supply-and-demand will fetch the real price of the item. I don't think it was creative dismissal as I got the the pictures for $35.00 demand rather quickly when I pointed out either an unresponsive email or terms being used too loosly so that the item to be sold was somewhat vauge. Or at least that was my concerns. I did point out that I cannot wait to see the pictures and maybe I did lose out on an incredible deal. Or, is that person now posting pictures and hoping someone bids on his item? At least I was ready to ship off a money order. Now, looking at Ebay lately, most items never get any bids. I guess it is better to have a bird in the hand than in the bush?

vstech · #15 08-19-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greazzer

Some follow-up -- very interesting. After I posed my "definitive question", I was told by the prospective seller that he's no longer interested in selling to me. He already wasted too much time on me. Rather, he is going to post pictures on EBAY and sell the item where the forces of supply-and-demand will fetch the real price of the item. I don't think it was creative dismissal as I got the the pictures for $35.00 demand rather quickly when I pointed out either an unresponsive email or terms being used too loosly so that the item to be sold was somewhat vauge. Or at least that was my concerns. I did point out that I cannot wait to see the pictures and maybe I did lose out on an incredible deal. Or, is that person now posting pictures and hoping someone bids on his item? At least I was ready to ship off a money order. Now, looking at Ebay lately, most items never get any bids. I guess it is better to have a bird in the hand than in the bush?

that all depends on the bush...

what were you trying to buy?

I've charged 50.00 to DRIVE and take pictures of a car someone else was selling... but I know what to take pics of...