In the world of car sales, first impressions matter more than ever. Yet, some dealerships, like those telling you “our photos are good enough,” operate under the assumption that customers don’t notice or care about image quality. An email we received at 360Booth this morning shatters that myth—and it’s a story worth telling. It’s about Maxwell W, an engineer who wasn’t even shopping for a photo booth but cared enough about a dealership’s terrible car photos to track us down and offer help. His journey reveals just how much customers value great photography and why dealerships need to rethink their approach.
The Customer Who Went the Extra Mile
Maxwell W. isn’t your typical car buyer. An engineer at a local manufacturing company, he was browsing listings at %&#@$$& Honda when he encountered a 360° photo animation that was, in his own words, “so bad” it spurred him into action. The photos were poorly lit, badly framed, and the car appeared crooked—hardly the polished presentation you’d expect from a dealership. Rather than shrug it off, Maxwell’s curiosity kicked in. He researched car photography, identified that the dealership was using a 360Booth Studio (based on the flooring and setup), and reached out to us directly.
Here’s what he wrote:
“Good morning Jay! I have to make a confession—I personally am not on the market for a booth. I’m just a nerd. I believe a local dealership to me (@#&&$#@%) has and uses one of your booths… the 360° photo animation was so bad I was driven to research car photography and see what they might be doing wrong.”
Maxwell didn’t stop at curiosity. He analyzed the problem—suspecting the camera moved inconsistently because someone was pacing around the car—and even suggested a fix: affixing the camera to the booth’s frame or walls for steadier shots. As an engineer, he offered to sketch concepts, eager to solve what he thought was a 360Booth issue. That’s the kind of initiative most dealerships dream of from customers—but Maxwell wasn’t buying a studio. He was looking for car to purchase just fed up with subpar photos.
The Real Problem: Management, Not the Booth
When I called Maxwell to discuss his email, we uncovered the truth: the issue wasn’t with the 360Booth itself. @$$&$#@ had the right tool, but their management didn’t prioritize photo quality. The poor lighting, crooked framing, and haphazard execution stemmed from a belief that “good enough” was acceptable. Maxwell’s detective work exposed a critical disconnect—dealerships underestimating how much customers notice and care about presentation.
Why This Matters: Customers Are Watching
Maxwell’s story is a wake-up call. Dealerships might think customers gloss over photo quality, but here’s an engineer who went from casually browsing to researching photography solutions in a single morning—all because the images were that bad. His effort shows that buyers aren’t just passively scrolling; they’re judging inventory based on what they see. Poor photos don’t just fail to impress—they actively deter potential sales.
In today’s online-first car market, photos are your digital lot. Listings with high-quality images get more clicks, hold attention longer, and convert faster. Maxwell’s reaction proves that substandard photos can frustrate customers enough to take action—or worse, walk away. Dealerships that settle for “good enough” risk losing buyers before they even get a chance to sell.
Quality Is an Investment, Not an Option
Maxwell’s email wasn’t just feedback—it was a gift. He handed dealerships a real-world example of why photo quality matters and how tools like the 360Booth, when used right, can make a difference. The fix isn’t complicated: train staff, standardize processes, and treat photography as a priority. Maxwell even offered a practical idea—stabilizing the camera—to improve consistency. It’s a small tweak with big potential, but it starts with leadership valuing the end result.
At 360Booth, we see this as a challenge to help dealerships bridge the gap. Great tools need great execution, and customers like Maxwell deserve to see inventory at its best. His nerdy passion for problem-solving is a reminder: people notice the details. Dealerships that listen—and act—will turn browsers into buyers.
