eBay New Picture Policies --Spring Seller Update

quote:

The photo only has to be 500 pixels on the longest side, so if your image is 350x500, it will be in compliance. Again, this is only for the top image--not the ones you have down in the listing template.

It should be noted that the 500 pixel requirement is the "minimum," whereas, when you upload directly to eBay picture hosting, the recommended pixel dimensions are 1600 pixels.

Unfortunately, eBay did a very lousy job communicating to sellers, as to their "reasoning" for disallowing text and borders. Though I suspect it has more to do with persons artificially inflating the pixel size of their photographs with computer imposed objects, such as text and borders. In order to sneak pass their bots, which will be disallowing uploads of photos which do not meet those minumums.

Of course, that would defeat their purpose for "better quality" images. So, they manufactured all kinds of ridiculous fabrications like, borders have relevence to google searches, etc.to justify their "technical" desires.

While it is true that text and borders do inflate the pixel dimensions of your photos. As long as you have clear sharp pictures, which also happen to have borders and text on them, then there really should not be an issue with technical compliance with their desires.

There are those who actually believe that eBay will have the pixel police out, to enforce these "no borders and text" rules. I just don't happen to be one of them. So, I guess I'm gonna be an outlaw.

My photos are my intellectual property, they serve the purpose of marketing my catalogue of inventory to buyers. As long as I'm not purveying pornography on eBay, I don't see they have any legitimate, or more importantly LEGAL reason to instruct me how to format my marketing photos, aside from technical compliance with their software.

In essence...computer screen resolutions have improved. And eBay has upgraded their photographic capabilities to meet these technological upgrades of internet commerce.

As long as you are using the best quality output on your digital imaging device, whether a scanner or camera, and not editing those photos down, below their mimumum pixel requirements, then you should be okay.

There is some good information on the Photo & HTML Discussion Board on eBay, if you are confused on the technical matters.

I'm not quite understanding this new "no borders" part of the new photo policy.

"Borders around pictures, and text added to pictures, will no longer be allowed. Watermarks for attribution purposes only will continue to be allowed."

What's the difference between a border and a template? I spoke with an eBay Customer Service representative a few minutes ago and he was very wishy-washy with his response. All he could tell me is that the reason for this new policy is so that Buyers have less reason to use the "Not As Described" excuse. He also said that the "no borders" policy only applied to the thumbnail photo to the left-hand side of the "Buy It Now" button. I explained it does not say that anywhere in their announcement nor does it say that in the Photo section of the eBay Help Center. So will I be violating the new policy by using templates?

THANKS!!

The template is the border/design that is down in your listing description. They are referring to borders around the actual image (as part of the actual image.) Many users have borders around the image to make it stand out better on the eBay search results page.

The header/gallery image that is at the top of the eBay listing is an eBay-hosted image, and therefore has to conform to their new "no borders/text" rules. However, images that are down in the listing description are hosted by Auctiva, and do not need to meet the no borders or text rule.

I hope that clears up any confusion

You can check the size of your photo by going into Image management and enter the name of the photo. it shows the pixels and you can modify it there.

You can also use image management to crop the photo if there is a border.

For me, I have or had 1500 photos to edit. I started when i heard the announcement so that doing ten per day, I would be done in 150 days, approximately 5 months.

So clearly if listings need to be modified in terms of size or borders, it is prudent to start now to meet the fall deadline.

The new border rule and picture size seems to be what everyone is talking about and I agree they are a pain but it is this statement that has me really worried:-

"Be sure you upload your pictures to eBay picture services, to give shoppers the best view of your item—no matter how they shop. It’s the only way to have your item pictures show at the top of the item page and be optimized for mobile shoppers "

Does this mean that if I use Auctiva to host my images then I won't have an image at the top of my item page and my images won't display correctly for mobile users?

Could do with some clarification on this asap??

Messaged Ebay and got this response:-

"I checked this for you and found that you can list the item with Auctiva and images will appear normal and there wil be no isues with it."

Panic over.