The twelve checks

Four groups. The measured group is the one that requires the listing to be open alongside the photographs.

Print and graphic (checks 1 to 4)

Where most visible mismatches on this category occur.

Print placement: centred on the chest, or offset high, low or to one side
Print size relative to the garment: a large graphic on a small body reads as a different product
Registration and edge quality: sharp boundaries, or bleeding and cracked edges
Colour match against the listing image, allowing for the lighting in a warehouse

Construction (checks 5 to 8)

The structural checks. These find defects rather than mismatches.

Collar ribbing: does it sit flat, and does it recover when stretched
Cuff and hem ribbing: matching tension on both, with no twisted seam
Shoulder and side seams: straight, with no puckering along the line
Drawstrings and eyelets on hooded items: both cords present, aglets intact, eyelets seated

Measured figures (checks 9 to 11)

The group that needs the listing open. Record the figures rather than a verdict.

Chest measured flat, pit to pit, against the figure in the listing
Body length from the high point of the shoulder to the hem
Sleeve measured from the shoulder seam, and compared with the listing

Fabric and finish (check 12)

One line, and it is a visual observation rather than a composition test.

Surface: whether the fabric reads as the weight the listing implies, and whether a fleece-lined item shows the lining it claims

Checkboxes work on paper; nothing is stored.

Record measured figures as numbers in centimetres rather than as "fits". A number can be compared with something you own; a verdict cannot.

Five things to have open while inspecting

An inspection is only as good as the claim it is checking. These five are the claim.

The listing image for the variant you chose: Print placement and colour are variant-specific, and a listing with dozens of styles shows only one.
Where to look: The recorded listing on this site links to the source.
Any stated measurements: Chest, length and sleeve are the only figures that can be checked against the item in a photograph.
Where to look: The listing itself, or a measurement request.
The fabric weight or composition claim: Useful as a visual reference — does it look like the weight claimed — even though composition cannot be confirmed.
Where to look: The listing description.
Your own best-fitting garment: A flat measurement of something you own converts the photographed figures into a decision.
Where to look: Measure it once and keep the numbers.
The dispatch deadline: An inspection that finishes after packing produces information you cannot act on.
Where to look: Your own account, which this site does not access.

Two of these five come from outside the listing, and those two are the ones that turn measurements into a decision.

What this list cannot do

Four questions a garment photograph is often asked, and what is actually true.

Questions beyond a photograph
Question	Can a photograph answer it?	What to do instead
Is the fabric what the listing claims?	Partly	Weight can be judged visually; composition and blend cannot
Will it shrink?	No	A property of the fabric and the wash, and not visible at any inspection
Is the print going to crack?	No	Durability of a print is a function of wear and washing
Does the brand label match the product?	Consistency only	Labels can be compared between items, which says nothing about authenticity

Three of four rows end in "no". That ratio is why this site describes inspection as a narrow instrument rather than as a quality guarantee.

Tops inspection questions

Four answers specific to garments.

What is the most useful photograph to request?

A flat-laid shot of the whole garment with a tape measure across the chest. It answers the print group and the measured group at once, which is most of the list.

Should I care about the collar on a cheap item?

Yes, more than about almost anything else. Collar ribbing is the first thing to fail on a low-cost top and the most visible sign of it, and it is plainly visible in a photograph.

How do I check print placement without a reference?

Take the listing image and the warehouse image side by side. Placement errors are relative rather than absolute — a print is off-centre compared with what was advertised, not compared with a standard.

Is a measurement request worth the delay?

On a garment where fit matters and the listing gives no figures, yes. On a listing that already publishes chest and length, the photographs answer the question without an extra round trip.

QC checklist for tops