Misleading preview images - [Discuss]

I keep seeing preview images for flyers/posters that present the flyer to be much larger than it actually is.

They’re being displayed as massive posters on the side of buildings and structures or held up by people as though they are A1 posters etc, when they are actually no bigger than A5.

Now, I’m not an expert on what is and isn’t false advertising, but in these cases, the buyer is being shown a picture that leads them to believe the item is 5 or 6 times (maybe more) the size it actually is.

In several of my items I use a well known A3 poster mock up – but that’s because I include an A3 sized item in the download…

However, the actual dimensions for items are listed in the item details.

What are your opinions on this?

Is it false advertising? Is it acceptable to present an A5 flyer as an A1 poster?

Or, if the buyer purchases what they believe is an A1 poster only to find out it is actually just A5, is it their own fault for not looking at the item details?

Would you not be able to use an A5 as an A1? Its just larger, isnt it?

You could, but the quality would reduce significantly.

Sure, the further away something will be you can print at a lower dpi too, but IMO , to design something at A5, then display it as a 6ft tall banner is false advertising.

I consider it false advertising, definitely the buyer is guided by the preview, if you show me in the preview that I can use in such a way your file correctly and this isn’t true, be sure of that I will demand my money back.

I agree with quikandeasy, it is misleading. Technically some flyers could be easily magnified as long as the resolution of the images allows it, but still the project in terms of readability, font choices etc is completely different for an A5 or for an A1.

Just create it A1 or A2 size. Wouldn’t that get round the “false adverting”. File might be big but worth the shot anyway.

IMO it’s another way to present your files just like most of the people keep models in the flyer previews while actually there is no model included. Also, now one is NOT really misleading people but some part of design do gets hidden behind the models and buyers don’t actually see the whole design in literal sense.

1. The previews do not say that they are suitable or made for bigger size than the dimensions listed in item details.
2. Most of the previews do have the size details included inside preview at a reasonable font size.
3. I’m yet to see any buyer complaining about it. If a big amount of people made that mistake then this is something worth looking into by staff here but I really think that most of the buyers at GR do look into the item details and description before buying them

Edit: I neither consider it as a fair practice nor misleading. Just my personal opinion.

Raincutter said

2. Most of the previews do have the size details included inside preview at a reasonable font size.

That’s a fair comment yes.

3. I’m yet to see any buyer complaining about it. If a big amount of people made that mistake then this is something worth looking into by staff here but I really think that most of the buyers at GR do look into the item details and description before buying them

I have had several emails from people not complaining, but expecting the design to fit any size they dream up – mostly through not having a clue what they’re on about though haha

I have to agree – simple fact is that if you “show” it being that big then it should be either provided at that size or fully vector scalable to any size. There really isn’t an argument about this, it’s false advertising for sure – look it’s a twix bar that’s 40’ high… but not really it’s 6”... wouldn’t cut it in the real world that’s for sure.

Jonathan

Yes, it’s false advertising. IMO .