UK shopping notes · Reviewed 18 October 2026
The warehouse pause: inspect the item before paying to send it home
Read actual QC photos, ask for missing evidence, and separate the short return window from warehouse storage.
What QC checks, and what it cannot prove
QC means the warehouse inspection and photographs of the received item. The official inspection policy reviewed on 18 October 2026 covers opening the parcel and checking quantity, colour, size or label information, obvious condition and prohibited goods.
Standard photos are generally three, not a promise of every angle. They do not authenticate a brand, certify materials, guarantee fit or prove that electronics work. Request a particular measurement or close-up when it changes your decision.
For these trainers, check that there are two shoes, their visible colour and the box. Ask for the size label and measured insole if those matter; the edge of a warehouse mat is not an insole measurement.
How to check QC before saying yes
- Match the order. Compare the saved seller listing, quantity and selected colour/size with the warehouse record. A familiar product photo is not enough.
- Zoom into evidence. Inspect seams, edges, labels, attachments and visible marks. Ask for an additional angle where lighting or packaging hides the answer.
- Make a specific request. “Measure flat chest width with the tape endpoints visible” is actionable. “Is the quality good?” is too vague.
- Record a decision. Accept, request evidence, or request an eligible return. Keep the case number and deadline. GL/RL are community opinions, not an official approval or refund.
Returns and exchanges: decide before the clock runs out
The official return policy reviewed 18 October 2026 describes a conditional five-day / 120-hour window beginning at the next whole hour after “Stocked in”. Seller eligibility, resale condition and excluded items still matter. Read the actual item deadline and ask support if the record and policy disagree.
For example, if a seller sent the wrong size, save the selected size screenshot, QC label photo and order ID, then open the return request promptly. Do not wait for another item to arrive. Ask who pays domestic return freight and what service charge applies before approving it.
A service-fee exemption for a first eligible monthly return is not free return shipping. A return request also is not proof that the seller accepted it. Follow the refund back into the account and keep evidence of any deduction.
Storage is a different deadline
The storage page reviewed 18 October 2026 describes normal storage for 90 days from receipt and an abnormal-package period of 30 days from signing. It describes extensions at 10 CNY per 30 days, with expiry and disposal risk. Use the dates and item type shown in your account, and resolve conflicting wording with support before relying on it.
That storage allowance does not extend the return window. If one item arrived on Monday and another has not shipped, inspect Monday’s item now. Track each item’s receipt, return deadline and storage expiry separately.
If you need more time, confirm extension eligibility and payment before expiry; simply leaving a balance in the account does not establish an extension. Official storage policy.
Release only the items you want shipped
Keep unresolved items out of the parcel. List any box removal, reinforcement or protective packing instructions explicitly. Removing a shoe box can change protection and dimensions; compare that trade-off before authorising it.
Then check the destination and goods restrictions for each line. Liquids, batteries, fragile goods and branded goods may limit options. If a route will not take an item, ask about an eligible alternative before paying rather than assuming the warehouse can bypass the restriction.
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