Video &#x2F; images <i>can</i> be reasonably good, but only in a subset of cases.  I find that there&#x27;s frequently no real substitute for seeing the real thing.  There are reasons Amazon initially focused on books:  highly uniform, online competes favourably with storefront on selection, quality is not usually a distinguishing element.<p>Except that sometimes it is.  I&#x27;d recently ordered a book by an author I&#x27;ve just discovered and like greatly.  When it arrived (ordered through a bookstore), I was disappointed to find it was printed on pulp rather than acid-free paper.  Small details can matter, and if I&#x27;m investing in a physical artifact, I&#x27;d like it to last.<p>That said, there&#x27;s some low-hanging fruit &#x2F; reasonable use-cases which might help direct your efforts.<p>I&#x27;ve often been hugely frustrated by how poor existing product descriptions and images are.  <i>Simply ensuring that accurate and useful information are presented is hugely useful.</i><p>Images need to be <i>big</i>, they need to be <i>detailed</i>, they need to be <i>well lit</i>, and if at all possible, they should offer <i>360 views</i> -- rotation or front, side, and back shots, plus angles.<p>On that last:  I&#x27;ve been looking at a particular piece of furniture, actually made several trips to storefront locations hoping it might be present.  It&#x27;s online-only.  And the <i>only</i> view presented is a front-oblique, at  about 30 degrees left and vertical.  Yes, I get an impression of the object, but for a $1500 purchase, you&#x27;d think the vendor would invest just slightly more in presenting the piece.  I&#x27;ve opted not to purchase it.  Either having a piece custom-built, or refinishing an existing older piece, are preferable alternatives.<p>These aren&#x27;t <i>technical</i> problems, they&#x27;re <i>process</i> problems.  Get vendors to address this shit.<p>The other place images are useful is for repeat purchases.  If I&#x27;ve bought item X, then the picture&#x27;s going to help confirm that I&#x27;m buying what I&#x27;d wanted.  Here video&#x27;s not so critical as just having clear product shots.<p>But as a general rule, I find the online shopping experience a strong negative.