[Leslie B]

I would bet 9 times out of 10, there isn't a pic because it's tricky to post them unless you are moderately computer/www savvy. You have to have the pic already uploaded to a server, website, or photo sharing site and then you have to have the URL to the pic. Many people don't have access to a server and many might be able to set up a photo-sharing account, but then not understand copy and pasting a URL to use in their ad...

Beyond that, some folks either don't want to take the time to or, for whatever reason, don't think it's necessary.

That's their perogative, whether they are marketing geniuses or not.

So it comes down to how hard YOU want to work to find the perfect dog and whether or not you care to call and ask for pics, etc.

I agree that it takes more effort to post pictures than some buyers think. It is also more difficult to get good pictures of dogs/puppies than buyers think. Thankfully, there are digital cameras that let us delete pictures.

I think that I take 10 or 12 pictures to get 1 or 2 okay ones. To get a really good picture takes camera and lighting savy that most dog people dont have. I struggle and my dad was a TV producer/director for 35 years. I grew up with camera's and home movies like we were on a set - not the family vacation!!

 

[2YD]

To the prior constructive posts on helping the buy-sell occur and from this 1st time buyer...

1. This is my 9th post so I still can't PM a seller;
2. No website for a seller doesn't bother me as I'm smart enough to figure out what the dogs background is;
3. Include an email. Initial contact with emails provides a mutual first step in the purchasing dance. I don't want to waste a seller’s time but "phone calls only" when you're listing on the INTERNET???
4. My time zone is different than yours…phone calls don’t always work and I'm not scheduling a call time for an initial inquiry;
5. Pictures can be done later.

I did buy from a seller and poster on this site. They included an email address in the ad. This person was just as busy as anyone else training, trials, test Chair/Sec, etc... I sent an initial inquiry to which I received a reply a day or so later. A picture was emailed and enough information was exchanged so that over the course of 2-3 weeks the entire cross-country purchase was completed with maybe 2 phone calls. Questions for both of us were more throughly explored than if we were simply talking on a phone and limited by time. A level of trust was built that allowed me to part with many thousands of dollars and nothing more than a proverbial "hand-shake". YMMV

 

[jtfreeman]

It was not meant to be sarcastic. I am willing to spend thousands of dollars so I am trying to help someone out who has a dog to sell and would benefit from my money and I would benefit from their dog.

Like the person said, it was a marketing suggestion.

Angie, my apologies if I offended you. BTW, I was referred to your website by another breeder who said you may be able to help me. Your dog Amy was on my short list.
Just trying to help.

Mark

Ooooops..............

 

[K G]

Ooooops..............

Like I said....helps folks make decisions.... ;-)

k g

 

[Julie R.]

So I'm one that thought this whole thread was pretty good entertainment. Angie and Pete always make me laugh even if I disagree with them. Although I do think the original poster had a good point. And to those that say it's hard to upload photos, look how many geezers are on facebook now!

Right there Julie is what I'm talking about. Thats marketing. Covering up an ugly dog with an action shot is mis-leading.

So Pete, if you found something on the classifieds you'd been looking for and it sounded perfect, you wouldn't even bother calling if the ad was well written and had nice photos? I mean let's assume you were looking for a hunting dog, not a show dog.

Marketing is what keeps me from buying anything. When someone tries to paint over something,,,,they automatically get nixed and are crossed off my list . it doesn't matter to me if its a car,dog,or tooth paste.

Hell I don't drink pepsi because of Michal Jackson. We live in a world full of Bullchit and moving products by pleasing the eye.

Wouldn't you rather see an action shot of a working dog than one of it perching prettily in someone's flower garden? And although I agree in principle with this:

Very few people are straight shooters when trying to unload a product of any kind. If they try to sneak by an ugly dog by putting up an action shot then they are probably putting things over on the buyer in other area's as well,and that includes being subjective instead of objective which by nature is not intentional ,but can be inadvertently misleading

pete

People aren't always misleading about dogs. When I was ditching dogs after our house fire and subsequent financial woes, I tried to be honest about them. Of course I brag up my puppies as they're too young to have any faults. If I'm selling an older dog, I won't list the flaws in the ad, but I won't lie about them over the phone. The point of the ad is to make the phone ring, then you have to talk to the prospective buyer to find out if you have what the person wants. And don't forget, buyers are liars too--I might not want to sell the caller a gerbil, much less a dog! After we talk is when I figure out if the buyer wants what I'm selling, and if they do I also reveal why I'm selling along with the flaws and foibles. Remember, one woman's trash can be another man's treasure. So yes, I do think photos add a lot to ads. And if you're selling a needle-nosed, curly tailed uggerly-arse dog that can retrieve like a champ, well, put a nice action photo in the ad, and when the talk gets serious then send a standing, side shot so the person can see what the dog actually looks like.

Incidently my beef when looking at dog photos, because I do care about looks, is the ubiquitious sitting shot. You can't tell anything except what the head looks like, and I like to see the wheels. Show people are good at this, but very few field people know how to stand a dog. It doesn't have to be a show stack. I guess I learned about this because in my younger days I worked with bloodstock agents at Thoroughbred sales. Mostly weanlings, yearlings, 2 year olds in training, very few of racing age. You learned to stand a horse for buyers and for photos. Unless it had a race record, people look at conformation when they're buying race horses. So posing a retriever is a piece of cake.

 

[Gun_Dog2002]

Heck, what I love most about Angie and half the women on this forum is that they're nasty. I really like the discussion on properly using a healing stick.....

Jello Babe Fan Club President

/Paul

 

[Todd Caswell]

Jello Babe Fan Club President

Everyone needs somebody to look up to

Angie, my apologies if I offended you. BTW, I was referred to your website by another breeder who said you may be able to help me. Your dog Amy was on my short list.

Off the list now

 

[Angie B]

Everyone needs somebody to look up to




Off the list now

Not a problem!! My dogs/puppies sell just fine without listing them on this site...

Can you say the same???

Angie

 

[Troy B]

Everyone needs somebody to look up to




Off the list now

Thats funny.

 

[Angie B]

My oh My,,, How much fun everyone has had on this thread....

Is that a bad thing???

When was the last time??? Like never in forever....

Jello babe regards...

My business is fine and dandy thank you...

For the record if I offended you I apologize, if I stepped on your toes I'm sorry... Didn't men to hurt your feelings.

Let's get a coffee and talk about it... I'm all ears,,,

Life is so hard for so many....

Angie

 

[Angie B]

Thats funny.

Only if it matters....

Which it doesn't.....

Angie

 

[MarkyMark]

Here ya go if you want to learn how to post pics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guM6eMKyDAs

 

[Troy B]

Only if it matters....

Which it doesn't.....

Angie

Maybe to some it does, maybe to some it doesn't, it's still funny.

 

[Todd Caswell]

Not a problem!! My dogs/puppies sell just fine without listing them on this site...

Can you say the same???

Angie

Everyone should try and pat themselves on the back at least once a day..

 

[RJG]

Here ya go if you want to learn how to post pics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guM6eMKyDAs

Hey thanks! The tinypic.com website worked for me!

 

[Ryan M]

When I was in the market for a dog I didnt bother calling the posts that have no pics no information, just a phone number. Too many scams on the internet these days to not have more information. Granted, yes someone could post a pic of any dog up there, but I still feel more comfortable when bombarded with information rather then just 1 number.

 

[M&K's Retrievers]

Folks, I am no professional so please don't take this post as me telling you what to do or not to do. I just wanted to share a suggestion that may help you in selling your started dogs since I am in the process of looking for a started dog.

As I have been looking through the started dog ads I am surprised to see so few pictures posted or even a web site referenced. Most just give a phone number. And they often say "serious inquiries only".

I am trying to be sensitive about calling people to get a picture because I know how busy people are and they are often working dogs when I call. I am hesitate to call to just get a picture or more information out of concern for taking their time and then not buying.

I just wanted to mention it may help to post pictures so amateurs like me don't bother you, or worse, never contact you for concern they may bother you. It helps to see pictures of the dog and the sire and dam would be a plus.

Just a suggestion. Apologies if I offended anyone. Thanks

Mark

If I'm going to spend serious money, time and a lifetime commitment to a companion, I think I will do most of the work when looking for a dog. Pedigree, breeder research, etc are more important than advertising. For example, we bought a dog from Angie last year before the litter was born. Our decision was based on Angie's reputation, pedigrees of both parents and other information. Couldn't be happier with our pup.

Pig in a poke regards,

 

[Shayne Mehringer]

Angie told the guy his post was retarded, and she's probably going to end up selling him a dog. THAT, my friends, is what you call a smooth operator. VERY impressive.

SM

 

[Buzz]

For the record...

Am I hard on newbies?? Maybe....

I at first I thought the op was being sarcastic..

Everyone is so much cooler online...

My opinion only..

Angie

Angie, the only thing that disappointed me about your original response was that you didn't say anything about "pretty is as pretty does."

Pictures? Really? I have a couple of dogs that aren't the best looking, but they sure as heck look good scooping up birds on the run. Even the ugliest dog looks pretty darn good in a picture sitting next to a blue ribbon! Now, I don't like dogs that look like whippits or have poor coats, etc. But looks wouldn't be at the top of my list if I were looking for a started dog.

As far as you being hard on Newbies, what's new about that? I remember 5 years ago I put up my very first post on RTF and you ripped me a new one about collar corrections. I'm still trying to recover! LOL

 

[Lenore]

Well I wasn't going to reply and try to ingore it but I am very offended by Angie using the "R" word in her post. As a sister to a handicapped person, I find the use of that word very offending. Honestly a better word could not be used? And for the person that said those who complained about the word and us being the teacher pet or whatever. I am so not a teachers pet, if anyone said that word and happened to look in my sisters direction or any other handicapped person, I would be putting your teeth down your throat.

Now back to the OP question. What is wrong with giving a picture? I am just as busy as the next person, don't waste my time if your dog has a needle nose and looks like a whippet. Put up a picture and save us both the time. There are a few dogs in the started section I like but no picture. Am I calling not a chance.