Question
I just tried relisting an item left over from a non paying bidder and the picture didn't come up. When I tried uploading it again I got the message:
To use the full version of the new eBay Picture Services you may need to switch to a Windows Operating System and an Internet Explorer browser 5 or above. Sorry for the inconvenience this may be causing.
It was working just a few days ago before everything crashed. Why is eBay doing this to Mac users??? Is there anything I can do??
Answer
Sorry this happened to you.
I took an eBay survey yesterday regarding OS's & connection type (dial-up, cable, DSL, etc.). Perhaps that may help.
Regarding the OS you "need to upgrade to", I'm no help. Sorry. All I have is Windoz.
Survey (for those of you who don't get them) also asked about type & frequency of "jewelry" & "fine jewelry" purchases--made at eBay or elsewhere on the Internet.
Also asked about purchasing software, DVD players for TV or computer, TIVO and/or Satalite, and some other uninteresting items.
If you don't have your preferences set to receive them, you won't. Sometimes the surveys give a clue as to where eBay may be looking for direction. If nothing else one gets to push a few buttons for amusement.
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Answer
I use a Mac to list on eBay but I don't use their photo service. I use the free space my ISP gives me to host my auction images. Then I use simple html to put the urls into my auction descriptions. If you can do that, it would resolve your immediate problem, I think. If you don't know any html, there are plenty of sights that offer the basics.
There's also software available so that you can run Windows programs on your Mac.
I've learned that there will always be programs and options that won't be written for Macs so I've gotten used to finding work arounds... Good Luck!
Carol
Answer
Carol gave you great advice! I concur. I'm another Mac user, and I get pretty annoyed at being so discriminated against, on every front... but in this case my opinion is that it might be the best thing that ever happened to you.
Why would I say such a thing? Because ebay's photo services are the epitome of mediocrity. Truly WEAK.
Getting a buyer to look at your auction is it's own challenge, but once a potential buyer has clicked on your auction, it's pretty much your photo(s) that determine whether a buyer will bid, and how much they're willing to spend. For all the time and effort you devote to your auctions, you deserve better than what ebay's photo hosting has to offer you! I mean, what can you expect from them? tiny little pictures that, 9 times out of 10 look blurry or distorted...hefty FEES for each additional photo...FEES to supersize, which you need to do with most items if you are serious about getting top dollar for them...forget that! It's so not worth it!
I have my own web space, write my own HTML, and usually put around 5-10 photos in each auction. My photos can be supersized. I can't tell you how many buyers have emailed me thanking me for including such nice photos with my descriptions, and telling me how much they enjoyed browsing and bidding on my auctions. Anybody using ebay's photo hosting ever experienced that?
Yes, it is a bit more work. But in my opinion, well worth it.
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I agree with lilac, get rid of ebay's picture service.. you will be glad you did.
I have never used the ebay picture service, but the seller I work with did. We bugged at her, then DH showed her how much money she would be saving by going to another picture hosting service. Now, every so often, we get something back to repicture because 'it first ran when she was using the ugly little pictures and shes going to pay us to repicture because she just couldn't relist with the ugly little pictures'
I don't use my web space, I use a picture hosting service (auctionworks) as its a bit more user friendly. It is worth the fee I pay for the convenience and nice pictures.
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I don't have time to do all the extra linking and uploading. And I only use one picture because I don't have time to take a bunch and crop them and so on. One picture uploaded through eBay always worked fine for me.
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well, then I think you have 3 choices -
1. Pay a service like Auctionworks to host and include your photos in the ad. I've tried quite a few services and the learning curve on some of them is pretty steep...
2. Purchase the software that will give your Mac compatibility with PC programs. Virtual PC is one that's available (no financial in or connection to the manufacturer). I'm not sure about how they work with web-based programs like eBay's pix, so check that out.
3. Buy a PC. http://community.here.com/infopop/em...s/icon_eek.gif
Carol
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Linux users are affected by the new eBay Picture Service as well. Here's one of a number of threads on the eBay Boards about the problem:
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/thread.jsp?forum=99&thread=2318373&modifed=2003092 0115308
Blanche
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eBay gives a different answer to this problem depending on who you ask and how far they got caught out of the hole they have dug for themselves. So far none of there responses have been found true/honest/helpful.
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Answer
I didn't mean to be flippant before, but eBay has never offered any support for Mac owners. None of their listing platforms is Mac compatible and neither is their new menu icon (whatever it's called). I've asked in the past and have been told that it's unlikely they will modify their software to be Mac compatible, so I've just assumed that whenever things change I have to find another way to get the auction listed.
and... if you look in the upper right corner of their menu, you'll see that IBM powers eBay... doesn't look good for the Apple! http://community.here.com/infopop/em...icon_frown.gif
Carol