Hosting pics-does it really help a sale?

[Rapidnick]

It has been suggested on my other thread that hosting pics directly on a sales thread really helps. I have avoided doing this up to now but can anyone honestly say that if an item interests them-even slightly-they wouldn't proceed unless there was a pic already hosted? I have always emailed pics on demand so I can keep track of those members who are potentially interested. I appreciate that good pics help a sale and am always willing to send them even knowing that most of the time they are just wanted out of curiosity or for a collection. I don't mind that even though I know that some members do. Sending them myself also enables me to take 'larger ' pictures if a potential buyer is interested in a particular aspect of the item being offered.

[lightning22]

What Andy said, plus it keeps the pic hunters happy without stressing my bandwidth.

Rich

[ora8i]

• Yes it helps
• It's less trouble than emailing pics

Ora

[Kingplinker]

What Andy said, plus it keeps the pic hunters happy without stressing my bandwidth.

Rich

Can I have a pic please What do you think I am , a photographer ??? lol

I always post a link to pics , it works for me .

atvb

Dave

[Murphy]

If I could see that something is mint then I would be more likely to buy.

[Rapidnick]

Fair points and thanks for your responses chaps but surely if the item is wanted then a message-either PM or email asking for a pic doesn't take TOO long surely?
What I am after is understanding whether the act of HOSTING makes the difference between achieving a sale or not. I know that PICTURES help a sale-I have no doubt about that- but that is not what I am asking.

[Murphy]

Fair points and thanks for your responses chaps but surely if the item is wanted then a message-either PM or email asking for a pic doesn't take TOO long surely?

But is not hosting it once so they click it not better than sending 20 emails out??

[Rapidnick]

But is not hosting it once so they click it not better than sending 20 emails out??

That is what I am asking! My argument for not hosting straight away is that i can keep track of who is interested.

However, the overwhelming response to my question indicates clearly that yes, hosting is better than sending so I thank you all for your time in responding.

[Kingplinker]

Fair points and thanks for your responses chaps but surely if the item is wanted then a message-either PM or email asking for a pic doesn't take TOO long surely?
What I am after is understanding whether the act of HOSTING makes the difference between achieving a sale or not. I know that PICTURES help a sale-I have no doubt about that- but that is not what I am asking.

Not everyone likes to ask for pics due to the following :

If you ask for pics and don't buy you are sometimes seen as a photo collector as opposed to someone who is genuinely interested in a trade .
Sellers seem to tire of this

On the other hand if you host the pics buyers can checkout the goods without anyone knowing ! Sad but true Nick .

Its usually the same people who ask for pics , they are the same people who never buy anything IMO . Perhaps they are the ones looking for the holy grail or airguns in minter than mint cond ?

atvb

Dave

[Punchsteve]

But is not hosting it once so they click it not better than sending 20 emails out??

Have to agree with Murphy, I always like to see pics unless I have dealt with the seller a few times. And putting it on a site like suprfile or photobucket once has got to be better than sending an e-mail to every tyre-kicker that asks for pics.

Though I have heard some say that they prefer people asking for pics as it lets them know who might be interested.

[E-B]

It's kind of annoying to have lost a purchase to a 'leap of faither' whilst waiting for pics to arrive. Many dickheads like to post their sale threads on the very weekend that they've 'lent their camera to a mate' for some reason

Good quality pics are essential.

While we're at it, a good description is useful aswell and don't forget:

Calibre
Hand
Condition
Beech/Walnut
Silencer?
3/7/12/15 litre - Bar?
25/30mm
One/Two piece

you get the idea.

Oh yeah, one more: When you have a sales thread running check in every now and then to field enquiries

[Rapidnick]

Though I have heard some say that they prefer people asking for pics as it lets them know who might be interested.

That has been my thinking up to now but I think this thread has put me straight.

[MattLin]

I prefer to host/host when selling for all the reasons as stated by everyone else up there. ^^^

[Punchsteve]

That has been my thinking up to now but I think this thread has put me straight.

Aye, the problem with that theory is that I've seen a lot of people ask for pics just out of curiosity with no intention of buying. Far better just to put one up at the start of the sale IMHO.

I know that a Supersport (for example) looks like any other Supersport, but I always like a pic when buying as what the seller considers "mint" might differ from what I consider "mint" to be.

[lightning22]

That is what I am asking! My argument for not hosting straight away is that i can keep track of who is interested.

However, the overwhelming response to my question indicates clearly that yes, hosting is better than sending so I thank you all for your time in responding.

Why go to the stress of keeping track Nick? First with the brass gets it.

On a personal note, I tend to look at an advert once, possibly twice. After that it gets ignored, so you could post all the pics you want on the second or third page.

I have spent ages posting large attachments to people who just want to look at something they don't, and never will own.

So by hosting I absolve myself of something that irritates me and am in a better frame of mind to deal with those who are asking questions about whatever it is I'm selling. Also, hosting as opposed to attaching the pics via the BBS system means that the first page of responses are a little more original than 'can't see the pics'.

Rich