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Question about charging for pics

Back40Reptiles

Back40Reptiles

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Has anyone heard of a business charging for pics on a snake that they have for sale? There is a snake I wanted to buy but the pics really didn't show any detail. I asked if they could send me a pic of the two so I could choose which one I wanted to buy. They charge $15 per pic and I get my money back on the snake I bought. My only problem is that if I didn't like either I am out $30. Thanks, Brandon Bennett
 
Back40Reptiles said:
Has anyone heard of a business charging for pics on a snake that they have for sale? There is a snake I wanted to buy but the pics really didn't show any detail. I asked if they could send me a pic of the two so I could choose which one I wanted to buy. They charge $15 per pic and I get my money back on the snake I bought. My only problem is that if I didn't like either I am out $30. Thanks, Brandon Bennett
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It is a new wrinkle in the business model for me. :shrug01:

However, I can see the logic behind it. Too many people that just want to "window shop" are asking for pictures. Taking nice pictures is both time consuming and can be an added expense depending on the camera.

Instead of wondering about their business practices, if you do not like the terms..just keep searching.:shrug01:
 
I am not wondering about someone business practice. I'm just trying to figure out if that what people are doing now. If the pics were high quality and showed detail I wouldn't asked for more. If someone emails me about pics on a normal I have for sale, I'm going to send them pics. Thanks, Brandon
 
I've never heard of charging for extra pics of a possible new purchase before. It can be a real pain to get good pics on the fly, especially if you are dealing in any quantity at all. Setting up the lighting and area, making sure the snake is looking it's best (not going in blue or just ate), cropping/resizing and uploading; it all adds up.... The person must feel that's how much their time and effort is worth. It's an interesting approach that's for sure. Businesses are always trying new things. Not my cup of tea but hey, if it works for them...
 
AbsoluteApril said:
I've never heard of charging for extra pics of a possible new purchase before. It can be a real pain to get good pics on the fly, especially if you are dealing in any quantity at all. Setting up the lighting and area, making sure the snake is looking it's best (not going in blue or just ate), cropping/resizing and uploading; it all adds up.... The person must feel that's how much their time and effort is worth. It's an interesting approach that's for sure. Businesses are always trying new things. Not my cup of tea but hey, if it works for them...
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I just thought of another perspective.

If a "customer" pays for a picture even without buying the corresponding animal, is it then their picture and they have the right to use it as they wish?

It seems, to me, that trend could possibly open a new can of worms...:ack2:
 
I think it's a great idea. For example I have a reptile building that's not very close. I try to have 2-4pics of every animal I sell. But sometimes people want pics from the side or face. It's a pain because then you must drive take new pics,upload them and email them to the person that more then half the time won't purchase the animal. I give this charging for pictures 2thumbs up in my book
 
deborahbroadus said:
I just thought of another perspective.

If a "customer" pays for a picture even without buying the corresponding animal, is it then their picture and they have the right to use it as they wish?

It seems, to me, that trend could possibly open a new can of worms...:ack2:
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It could definitely open up a new can of worms.. but if the originator doesnt sign over copyrights.... he/she still retains them and the buyer cant use it as they see fit.
 
Let me first say that this is the day of internet convenience. There are more then enough choices of breeders out there on the web and at shows that it would be foolish to pay for a picture to view a potential future purchase. Move on and find a breeder who is willing to work with you.

I understand that taking good pictures is a time consuming effort, but it comes with the business. You want to sell your animals, cough up some pics. If your not willing to help me out prior to the sale, how much support will I get from you after the sale.

And as far as paying for a pic, once paid for the pic is yours to do as you please. Written permission is only needed for copyrighted material. You cannot copy from a book, or take from a website without expressed written consent from the owner, but if the owner charges you for a product, that product is yours.
 
mikety:
No! If you purchase a work, you cannot copy and distribute, pass it off as your own, etc. You can sell that copy of the work if you so wish but you cannot replicate it to sell. That's how the RIAA/MPAA keep suing people for uploading copyrighted works (and winning: see Jamie Thomas). They may have purchased a work legally, but they illegally distributed it.

Also, I'm torn on the photo thing; if you want 15 pictures of a 20 dollar generic corn, then NO. If you want one or two? Sure.
 
Written permission is needed regardless. You must at the very least have something stating from the owner that it is a royalty-free photo.
 
mikeyt said:
Let me first say that this is the day of internet convenience. There are more then enough choices of breeders out there on the web and at shows that it would be foolish to pay for a picture to view a potential future purchase. Move on and find a breeder who is willing to work with you.
Click to expand...

Agreed

I understand that taking good pictures is a time consuming effort, but it comes with the business. You want to sell your animals, cough up some pics. If your not willing to help me out prior to the sale, how much support will I get from you after the sale.
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And this is my thinking as well. I chalk it up to customer service... but my service has a limit. If your asking for 6-7 pics of the same snake... or 6-7 pics of all my animals.. .Im gonna tell ya to go get bent.

And as far as paying for a pic, once paid for the pic is yours to do as you please. Written permission is only needed for copyrighted material. You cannot copy from a book, or take from a website without expressed written consent from the owner, but if the owner charges you for a product, that product is yours.
Click to expand...

You are wrong. Unless the photographer signs over their copyright... you can not do with it as you please. As soon as I take an image... that image is copyrighted to me! How do you think marketing photographers stay in business. Lets say you want to run one of my pics on your website. Im gonna charge you XXX for the use of that pic. But if you also want to include it in your magazine... that is another usage all together. And if you dont pay for that useage... you WILL get sued for copyright infringment and you will loose.
 
I can see if your actually interested in an expensive animal, but not an animal under like 200-300. I can see 500+ like someone said, but thats only if the pictures they have are already good quality, but really not how you would like them, like you want the reptile, whatever it is in a certian pose or such. I can see that, but not just because they took blurry pictures just so they can make some money by adding more pictures. If people start charging a few dollars every picture, whats going to stop people from just shaking the camera when they take the picture, so then people must ask for more pictures and get charged.
 
I only wish I could show people the pic of the snake for sale. I know people would ask for more pics. I don't think I was asking for too much.
 
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