Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ Gutshall
OK you "veteran posters" out there - how about some suggestions on how to properly post photos - and how many - angles ? - doors open ? - top up ? - etc. Maybe not thru Drop Box - as you have to sign in to view anything -- the more brick walls to break thru - the fewer people will view your images and slower sales of rigs being sold ? Just sayin' ?
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As someone who doesn't shop for sportsmobiles, but does shop for other vehicles, I will offer this as very broad, general advice to anyone selling any vehicle:
First and foremost, use a camera that is decent. No, doesn't have to be a $10,000 camera, but don't use a potato. Most modern smart phone cameras can be decent. Use Landscape/horizontal, not vertical. Don't be one of "those" people. (And, Don't go digging through Instagram for five year old pictures with crappy filters over them, either). We want to see what it is you are selling today- not what you would have been selling five years ago. So take recent photos. The higher the resolution, the better.
Second, Take your pictures in a location with decent light. Full light. Not under a tree, not at sunrise, not at sunset, but in
full early afternoon light.
Third, With camera and lighting issues now talked about, things people want to see photos of:
>> FULL frontal, sides
(both), rear.
>> Pictures of the undercarriage. If a vehicle is AZ and located in MI, people will want to verify that the undercarriage is clean and rust free, or that people have not spray-painted the rust black to "appear" rust-free.
>> The drivers seat. This is where people will spend most of their time in the vehicle. Open the drivers door, and take a photo from between the A-pillar and the door itself. Again, if the lighting is dark, try and park in a manner that the lighting is at least respectable.
>> Try to get a picture of the other "touch" surfaces. Steering wheel, interior door skins, other seats. If the carpets have always been covered/something is in REALLY good shape, maybe take a photo peeling back the Weathertech mats to show a pristine floor beneath.
>> A picture of the mileage. For vehicles that may genuinely have "low miles", don't be the guy who says "450" and means "450,000", or more commonly someone who says "12,345" and neglected the "2" to make it "212,345". (This could be combined with a picture of the steering wheel).
>> A window sticker. Factory-Equipped options are nice to be able to see.
>> Some picture indicating what maintenance was done. For us, that's the owners manual that is up and down scribbled (neatly) with what was done, when, and the miles. We also have an excel file after we filled up the owners manual. For others, it's a stack of receipts/dealer invoices.
Some people may say the engine bay just for the sake of showing the motor... Unless your vehicle has a seriously impressive engine bay or there is an issue you are documenting with the motor/trans, I'd skip it. If your car has been affectionately cared for, and has a long list of "good maintenance", most people aren't going to care what the engine looks like- especially if it isn't a show car.
>>>>> If the vehicle was in an accident, no matter if it was a bumper kiss or you significantly damaged the vehicle, provide photo(s) of the damage, at the time it occurred.
Same if it was wrapped (Essentially to show the wrap is not hiding shoddy paint).
Lastly, in the body of the text, things people will probably be interested in knowing:
>> Which owner you are, Original, second, third, etc.
>> If you aren't the original owner, the year of acquisition and mileage.
>> What it was used for (Commercial, taxi, grandpa's weekend grocery getter, etc). If you know what past owners used it for, that can be good to know, too.
>> Where it's been (Salty/always-wet roads? Arizona?)
>> What modifications have been done with appropriate info (Cost, installer, mileage, etc.)
>> If your price is above or below what the "market value" is, and the modifications or condition of the vehicle don't clearly point to why your price is different, say so.
>> BE HONEST.
TL;DR: If you want to know "how to list your car", go to Bring a Trailer (Online/social media platform for auctioning vehicles), and look at how they do it. Very professional, and I personally have never seen them inaccurately represent a car.
Regarding avoiding of log-in to see photos, I use imgur. There are many other sites that host pictures, free of charge. With Imgur you can make unlisted "private" albums and arrange the photos in an order of your choice.
Sorry for the longwinded $0.02.
Erik
Sportsmobeebs, Sporty for short
Vandit
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