Recording visible issues without guessing
A QC photo can show a problem, but it cannot show everything. The reliable habit is to record what is actually visible in the frame, describe it plainly, and mark anything you are inferring as uncertain. That keeps a note useful when you send it to an agent and honest when you read it back later.
Four groups of visible issue
Construction
Loose or trailing threads, skipped or uneven stitches, puckered seams, panels that do not line up, a hem that wanders. These usually read clearly in a close-up and are worth a specific note.
Print and colour
A graphic that sits off-centre, a blurred or double-printed edge, a colour that looks different from the listing image. Colour is the least reliable thing to judge from a photo — screens and lighting shift it — so describe it as "looks lighter/greener than the listing photo", not as a fact.
Wrong or mixed items
A size on the label, a colourway or a style in the photo that does not match what was ordered. This is one of the few things a photo can settle firmly: compare the visible label and colour against your order.
Marks and damage
Glue residue, scuffs, creases, small holes or stains that appear in the frame. Note where on the item they are.
What a photo cannot tell you
- Whether the item is authentic — a QC photo is not an authentication.
- The exact material, fibre content or weight.
- How it will fit, feel or wear over time.
- Electrical or functional safety of anything with parts.
If a conclusion depends on any of those, treat it as unverified and, where it matters, ask for a measurement or a clearer close-up rather than guessing.
Writing the note
Keep each observation to what you can point at: "loose thread, left cuff, about 2 cm" is actionable; "poor quality" is not. Separate the certain ("the size label reads L") from the uncertain ("the blue looks darker than the listing photo"). If you send the note to an agent, that separation is what lets them respond to the specific point.