What Is QC and Why It Matters
QC stands for Quality Control. USFans takes photos of your items before shipping. You review these photos and decide whether to approve (GL) or reject (RL) the item. Once you approve, the item is shipped and you cannot return it for quality issues.
Critical Rule
Once you greenlight an item, USFans ships it. You cannot return it for quality issues after shipping. The QC stage is your only chance to catch problems.
How to Read QC Photos
USFans usually provides 4-6 photos per item. Shoes get more photos. Look at each photo carefully and check the following areas.
General QC Checklist
- Logo placement and font weight
- Stitching consistency and thread color
- Color accuracy under neutral lighting
- Material texture and thickness
- Construction details like seams and hems
Shoes: Specific QC Points
Shoes have the most QC points. Focus on the areas that are most visible and hardest to fix.
- Outsole pattern alignment at the heel
- Perforation size consistency on the toe box
- Tongue label placement and font weight
- Midsole texture and "AIR" font spacing
- Heel tab embroidery density
Clothing: Specific QC Points
Clothing QC focuses on construction, materials, and print quality.
- Drawstring aglet quality
- Inside label print clarity
- Hood seam alignment
- Ribbing tension at cuffs and hem
- Cross-stitch at the hood base
How to Compare with Retail
Open the retail version of the item on the brand website or Google Images. Compare the QC photos side by side. Focus on the areas that are most visible: logo, color, and shape.
Comparison Tip
Use a split-screen or dual monitor setup. Place the retail photo on one side and the QC photo on the other. This makes differences immediately obvious.
When to Greenlight vs. Redlight
Greenlight (GL)
Minor flaws not visible at normal distance. Slight color variation acceptable. Stitching slightly off but not obvious. Logo placement 1-2mm off.
Redlight (RL)
Wrong logo, wrong color, poor construction, missing pieces, visible stains, or major flaws. Any flaw that would be obvious to someone who knows the item.
What to Do If You Spot Issues
If you spot issues, redlight the item and request a replacement. For minor issues, you can request additional photos. When in doubt, post the QC photos on Reddit for community feedback.
