The Blog

Most returns aren't
about the item.
They're about the photo.

Research, data, and field notes on why listing photos mislead buyers — and what honest photography actually changes.

The Color Problem: What the Research Actually Shows
A peer-reviewed study followed 9,300+ products and found something surprising: the single strongest predictor of whether an item gets returned isn't price, category, or brand. It's the color in the photo.
How to Photograph a Gemstone Without Lying to Your Buyer
Every seller wants their stone to look its best. There's a line between good lighting and misrepresentation — here's where it actually sits.
Vendor Photos vs. Reality: 16 Years of Evidence from One Forum Thread
PriceScope's community has been quietly documenting this problem since 2009. We went through it.