HomeBlogKakobuy QC Photos: How to Read and Evaluate Them
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Kakobuy QC Photos: How to Read and Evaluate Them

6 min readMay 4, 2026
Kakobuy QC Photos: How to Read and Evaluate Them

What Are QC Photos

QC stands for Quality Control. When your item arrives at the Kakobuy warehouse, their staff photographs it from multiple angles. These photos are your only chance to inspect the product before it leaves China. Once you approve the QC, the item ships internationally. Returns from your home country are expensive or impossible.

The standard QC set includes 4-8 photos: front, back, sides, logo close-up, tag/label, and packaging. Some agents offer additional photos for a small fee. For high-value items, paying $1-$2 for extra angles is worthwhile insurance.

Spotting Common Flaws

Stitching is the most visible flaw. Look for uneven seam lines, loose threads, and skipped stitches. Hardware flaws include tarnished metal, shallow engraving, and misaligned fasteners. Material flaws include color shift, texture inconsistency, and thin spots.

Print and embroidery flaws show up in QC as blurry edges, color bleeding, or misalignment. Compare the QC photo against the retail reference images linked in the spreadsheet. Even minor discrepancies should be noted before approval.

Quick Checklist

Check stitching against retail reference photos
Check hardware against retail reference photos
Check print against retail reference photos
Check embroidery against retail reference photos
Check material against retail reference photos

Using the Spreadsheet Reference System

The best Kakobuy spreadsheets include reference albums for every product. These albums contain retail photos, previous QC examples, and known flaw documentation. When evaluating your QC, open three tabs: your QC, the spreadsheet reference, and a retail photo from the brand website.

Community members often annotate reference photos with red circles and notes. These annotations highlight the exact spots to inspect. Spend five minutes reviewing references before you look at your QC. It trains your eye to notice details you would otherwise miss.

When to Exchange vs Accept

Minor cosmetic flaws that do not affect wearability can usually be accepted. Examples: slightly off-center embroidery on an inner tag, a loose thread on a hem, or a packaging crease. Major flaws require exchange: misaligned logos, wrong colorways, damaged materials, or incorrect sizing.

Exchanges take 3-7 additional days. If you are in a hurry and the flaw is minor, consider accepting with a small discount request. Some agents offer $2-$5 partial refunds for cosmetic imperfections instead of full exchanges.

Head-to-Head Comparison

when to exchangeVSaccept minor cosmetic flaws that do not
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this topic

Most agents allow 72 hours before auto-approval. Set a phone reminder when QC photos arrive to avoid missing the window.
Yes. Most agents accept custom QC requests at checkout. Specify exactly what you want photographed, such as the inner lining or the sole tread pattern.