What Is QC and Why It Matters
QC stands for Quality Control — the process of reviewing photos of your actual item before it ships from the ACBuy warehouse. This is one of the most important steps in any rep purchase and one of the biggest advantages of using a shopping agent over direct purchase.
When you order through ACBuy, the item arrives at their warehouse first. You then request QC photos, which their staff take of the actual product you'll receive. You review these photos and decide whether to approve shipping or request a refund/replacement.
Skipping QC is the #1 mistake new buyers make. Even if a product has great reviews, individual items can vary in quality. QC photos are your last line of defense before the item ships internationally — once it's on its way, your options are much more limited.
How to Request QC Photos on ACBuy
The QC request process on ACBuy is straightforward:
QC Checklist by Category
Different product categories require different QC focus areas. Here's what to check for each:
Sneakers: Toe box shape, heel counter firmness, sole color/texture, logo placement, insole label, box and accessories.
Hoodies & Sweatshirts: Embroidery quality (if applicable), print clarity and color accuracy, fabric weight and texture, zipper quality, tag placement and font.
T-Shirts: Print quality (no cracking or peeling), color accuracy, fabric weight, tag details, overall construction.
Jackets: Zipper function, lining quality, outer material texture, logo/patch accuracy, pocket construction.
Jerseys: Font accuracy (especially player names and numbers), color accuracy, fabric texture, badge/crest quality, overall stitching.
Accessories (Bags, Belts): Hardware quality, stitching consistency, logo accuracy, material texture, zipper/clasp function.
Common QC Issues and What They Mean
Here are the most common QC issues and how serious they are:
MINOR
Slight color variation from reference photos. Usually acceptable unless very noticeable.
MINOR
Small thread pulls or loose threads. Can be trimmed at home.
MODERATE
Logo font slightly off. Depends on how noticeable it is in person.
MODERATE
Sole color slightly wrong shade. Visible to sneakerheads but not casual observers.
MAJOR
Significant size difference from what was ordered. Request replacement.
MAJOR
Obvious construction defects (broken zipper, detached sole, torn seam). Request refund.
MAJOR
Wrong item received entirely. Request immediate replacement.
How to Request a Reshoot
If the initial QC photos don't show what you need to see, you can request a reshoot. Common reasons to request a reshoot include:
- Photos are blurry or poorly lit
- You need to see a specific angle not covered in the initial photos
- You want a comparison shot against a reference image
- The photos don't show the area you're most concerned about
To request a reshoot, leave a comment on the QC photo page specifying exactly what you need. ACBuy staff are generally responsive and will accommodate reasonable requests. Note that reshoots may add 24-48 hours to your processing time.
Using Reference Photos for Comparison
The most effective QC reviews compare the ACBuy photos against retail reference images. Here's how to do this efficiently:
- Before ordering, save 3-5 high-quality retail reference photos of the specific colorway.
- Use Google Images or StockX for retail reference photos.
- Open both the QC photos and reference photos side by side on your screen.
- Focus on one detail at a time — don't try to compare everything at once.
- Pay extra attention to the details that are hardest to get right: logo fonts, sole colors, and material textures.
- Check the rep community (Reddit, Discord) for batch-specific known issues before reviewing.
