Fake Photos and Misleading Descriptions

One of the problems with online auctions is the buyer's inability to inspect an item. The buyer can only view the item's picture and rely upon the seller's description of an item. It is bad enough that miscommunication arises with face to face conversation, but the likelihood of miscommunication with images and seller descriptions is even greater. Sometimes the seller innocently uses a bad photo and does not accurately describe a product. Other times, a seller will attempt to enhance the description of the item that he or she is selling or where the item is less than perfect, to describe the item more vaguely or to post a poorer quality picture. In the worst case a seller might be intentional trying to deceive you. With all these risks, it makes it extremely important to know exactly what you are buying.

So what to do? Before bidding on an item, some due diligence is in order. First, look at the picture carefully and print a copy for future records in case you get something that doesn't look like the picture at all. Second, read the description very carefully and try to objectively interpret what is being describe as opposed to what you think the seller is trying to describe. Here are some questions you should be asking yourself:

• Is the description complete by giving you all the information necessary for you to determine whether the item is the one you are looking for? Does the description match the image? If the item is an antique but looks to good to be true, then it probably is.
  
• Does the picture look like it was taken from a professional catalogue or taken at home? Some sellers will make the picture blurry or darker to cover up the item's defects.
  
• Does the photo look touched up or somehow electronically enhanced? If you feel that the picture might be touched up or too blurry or dark, then contact the seller to get a better photo.