# Selling on eBay: Use of pictures **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 30, 2012, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307 "2012-10-30T06:55:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307/1 "2012-10-30T06:55:19Z")
I recently came into possession of a set of volumes of the Complete Works of Shakespeare–published about 1924, and in excellent condition. Is it possible to take the necessary picture of them–with a cell phone? And if so, how would I transmit it to eBay? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307/2 "2012-10-30T06:58:17Z")
Don’t use a cell phone. Put them under some proper light and use a real camera. Presentation matters when you’re trying to hock stuff on eBay. There is a spot in the eBay listing form for uploading pictures. I believe they will still also let you use a third-party image hosting site like Imgur to embed the pics via HTML, if you want. ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307/3 "2012-10-30T07:06:30Z")
You can get a decent picture with almost any camera as long as you keep it steady and have good light. A room with big windows is perfect - do it when it’s bright but not in direct sunlight. Do you have a flatbed scanner? They can work pretty well for book covers. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307/4 "2012-10-30T08:15:07Z")
The easiest way is usually to email the pictures to yourself. Or you can try a data cable if your phone supports one. We don’t know what kind of your phone you have, so ask your carrier if you need help. It should be a basic, supported function. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307/5 "2012-10-30T08:16:16Z")
The easiest way is usually to email the pictures to yourself. Or you can try a data cable if your phone supports one. We don’t know what kind of your phone you have, so ask your carrier if you need help. It should be a basic, supported function. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307/6 "2012-10-30T08:50:17Z")
You can say that again! Actually, ‘Cell phone’ isn’t a good enough description to be able to answer the OP’s question. What kind of cell phone? If it’s a smartphone with a decent camera, you can probably create the listing using no other devices. If it’s a Nokia 62SomethingOrOther, use a proper camera instead. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307/7 "2012-10-30T08:58:36Z")
Using the Android Ebay app I was able to create a listing, take and attach a photograph and upload it. So, so easy. If cellphone means smartphone, check out the appropriate app store for your phone and give the app a whirl. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307/8 "2012-10-30T10:28:45Z")
Now that you know how to take the pictures, I should warn you to be prepared for massive disappointment when you realise that old books are usually not even worth enough to make the shipping costs worthwhile. I had lots of old and heavy books that went to landfill because nobody wanted them. I hope I’m wrong but 1924 doesn’t strike me as old enough to be collectible if we’re talking Shakespeare. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307/9 "2012-10-30T11:51:23Z")
If they are actually a collectible edition, Amazon Marketplace might be a better place to sell. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selling-on-ebay-use-of-pictures/639307/10 "2012-10-30T19:32:55Z")
If you have a non-smart phone and it and your computer both have bluetooth you can transfer the pics to your computer that way for upload to ebay.