QC Photos: What to Look For Before You Ship

Quality Control (QC) photos are detailed shots of your actual product taken by the shopping agent before they ship it to you. Unlike marketing photos from the seller, QC photos show the real item you paid for — with all its flaws, quirks, and surprises. Learning to read QC photos is the single most important skill in the rep game.

For every product, request photos of: the overall shape/profile, the logo/print close-up, the tag/label, the stitching quality, the interior construction, and a measurement shot. For shoes, add: the sole pattern, the insole logo, the box label, and the lace tips. For clothing, add: the fabric texture, the hem stitching, and the pocket construction.

Sneakers: Off-center swoosh, wrong sole color, fuzzy text on the insole. Hoodies: Crooked print, thin fabric, wrong drawstring length. Jackets: Misaligned zippers, cheap fill, loose stitching on pockets. Accessories: Lightweight metal, dull finish, incorrect logo proportions. Knowing the common flaws for each category helps you evaluate QC photos in under 60 seconds.

Always have retail reference images open in another tab when reviewing QC photos. Compare side-by-side. Look for differences in color shade, logo placement, stitching pattern, and material sheen. Community resources like RepArchive and fashionreps subreddits maintain detailed reference albums for popular items. Bookmark these for quick access.

Red Light (reject) when: the flaw is visible from 3+ feet away, the product is the wrong size, the color is completely off, or the damage affects functionality. Green Light (approve) when: the flaw is minor and only visible up close, the product matches your expectations for the price tier, or the flaw can be fixed (e.g., loose thread). When in doubt, post the QC in our Discord #qc-check channel for community opinions.