How HooBuy QC photos work: what you get free, what costs extra and what to check before you approve

What the standard QC photos are

After your item reaches HooBuy's Xiamen warehouse, an inspector checks it and photographs it. HooBuy's help centre says the process "usually provides 3 standard photos" from different angles: front, back, and side or logo [id 88]. The angles follow fixed warehouse standards for each product category and cannot be changed, but a blurry photo can be re-taken at no charge.

"Usually" is the key word. HooBuy does not publish a guaranteed number of free photos, and one article titled "Do you help me to do quality check" says inspection is free [id 25] while another sells extras [id 87]. Both can be true: the standard shots are free, and anything beyond them is a paid service. HooBuy is on Hold on this site, so treat QC as your first checkpoint before you pay for international shipping.

Expect three angles, not a guarantee, and ask for more before you ship.

What inspectors check, and what they do not

HooBuy's inspection scope covers appearance: colour, large areas of damage, stains, size, model and version number [id 75]. Clothing is checked against the size on the label and tag, or your order remark. Minor colour difference, thread details, actual measurements and "use effect" are out of scope [id 15, 75].

Electronics are called special commodities: inspectors check outward appearance and accessories where visible, cannot open sealed boxes to count them and cannot turn the product on [id 15, 75]. Sealed CDs, figures and similar are not opened, so only the exterior is checked [id 6]. If the item has no obvious damage or stain, HooBuy assumes you settled details with the seller [id 75].

So a QC photo answers "did the right thing arrive undamaged", not "will it fit" or "is it good". Those you judge from the photos yourself, which is why the checklist below exists.

QC confirms the item arrived as described and looks undamaged; fit and finish are yours to judge.

QC options and prices

HooBuy's order form showed newer prices than its help centre on 26 October 2026. The form also shows struck-through "original" prices, which are HooBuy's promotional framing.

Detailed photos can be ordered with the product order or after stock-in; if you ask later, name the item number [id 87, 88]. Our HooBuy fees page shows where these sit in a total, and the parcel-stage options are on HooBuy rehearsal packing.

A thorough set of 6 detailed photos plus a video costs ¥21, about €3.04.

Use the item page tabs before you buy

On 26 October 2026 a Weidian item opened through HooBuy's link format showed two tabs, "QC Photos" and "Purchase Record", plus fields for sales, average shipping, weight in grams and volume in cm. HooBuy does not say what the QC Photos tab shows for a given item.

Use them in this order. Open QC Photos and look for flaws you care about, such as stitching or label placement. Open Purchase Record, which may show whether the item sells regularly. Then compare the photos with your row. The HooBuy spreadsheet with QC page covers rows that come with photos, and the HooBuy link converter turns a row link into this format. Photos from other buyers show other copies, so yours can differ.

Read the item page's QC Photos tab first; it is free and it is someone else's inspection.

The 5-day rule: check photos at once

HooBuy's return rules give 5 days (120 hours) from the hour after an item is Stocked in or Stored to request a return or exchange, and the seller must offer returns and the item must be re-sellable [id 7, 1564]. The detail that catches people: for refund requests after 5 days, if QC images were already provided, the seller may refuse and no refund is issued; if none were provided, a full refund is issued regardless of the seller [id 1564].

In plain terms, the clock starts at stock-in, which is when QC photos are taken. Look a week late and the window is gone. Open them the same day, compare them with the listing, and message support before the 120 hours end. Standard return fees and the monthly allowance are on our HooBuy refund page; that page also notes the contradictions in HooBuy's articles.

Check photos the day they arrive; after 5 days the seller can refuse.

A QC checklist by category

These are general checks you can run on any photo set; they are not about a brand. Ask for a detailed photo of any point the standard shots do not show.

• Shoes. Both shoes in frame, same size marking, even stitching along the upper, sole edge glue, symmetrical shape from behind, insole and box label. Ask for a sole and heel photo.
• Knitwear. Colour against the listing in daylight-like light, neckline and cuff seams, no pulled threads or holes, label size and care tag. Request a flat-lay with a ruler: HooBuy checks label size, not actual measurements.
• Bags. Zip and hardware finish, stitching at straps, corners, interior lining and label, and shape when standing. A short video helps with zips and clasps.
• Electronics. Only appearance is checked: casing scratches, ports, accessories in the box. Inspectors do not power the device on, so ask yourself whether you can test it quickly on arrival.

If a photo shows a clear fault, such as the wrong colour, a stain or damage, contact support inside the 5 days with the order number and photo. For small fit questions, pay ¥1 for a measurement photo before approving shipment, rather than after.

One detailed photo of the thing you worry about is worth the ¥1.

Where QC fits on Hold

QC photos appear only after the item reaches the warehouse, so they cannot protect you if a paid order never gets there. Between June and September 2026, Trustpilot reviewers reported orders stuck at "Purchased", and HooBuy answered 0% of 30 Reclame Aqui complaints from 1 April to 30 September 2026. These are reviewers' accounts we could not verify. Our advice is to pay per order and keep a small first order. If you would rather skip an agent account while HooBuy is on Hold, send us the row and pay per order.

QC protects you after arrival; the order stage is where Hold bites.

What HooBuy buyers ask

How many free QC photos does HooBuy give?

HooBuy's help centre says the quality inspection process usually provides 3 standard photos of different angles: front, back, and side or logo. The word usually matters, because a guaranteed free number is not published anywhere we read. Standard photos come from fixed angles set by category, so ask for detailed photos when you need a specific seam, sole or label.

What can HooBuy's QC not catch?

HooBuy's inspectors check colour, size against the label, large damage, stains, model and version number. They do not judge minor colour difference, thread details or how an item actually fits, and for electronics they check appearance and accessories only, with no power-on test. Sealed items such as CDs or figures are not opened, so only the outside is checked.

How long do I have to ask for a refund after QC photos?

Five days. HooBuy's return rules count 5 days (120 hours) from the hour after the status becomes Stocked in. After that, if QC images were already provided, the seller may refuse and no refund is issued; without QC images, a full refund is issued regardless. Check the photos the day they arrive and open any claim inside that window.

Can I see other buyers' QC photos before I order?

Possibly. HooBuy's item page, tested on a Weidian item on 26 October 2026, has tabs labelled QC Photos and Purchase Record. We did not count entries, and what appears depends on whether earlier buyers' photos are shown for that item. Use them to see how an item looked at the warehouse, not as a promise about your own copy.

Why does HooBuy say 20 detailed photos but the order form allows 10?

HooBuy contradicts itself. The Detailed Photo help article says the maximum quantity is 20 at ¥1 each, while the order form's service configuration on 26 October 2026 capped it at 10 per item. Plan for 10, and if you need more, ask support in writing before you pay for them.

Does a QC video cost more than photos?

Yes. HooBuy's order form priced a QC video at ¥15 (€2.17 at HooBuy's rate of ¥6.91 per euro), limited to one per item, against ¥1 per detailed photo. A video suits things photos show badly, such as a zip running, a hinge or a bag opening. The help centre does not list the video, so confirm the price on the order form.