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Not PandaBuy, and not connected to it: PandaBuy closed in 2024. This is an independent guide to the agents and shops people moved to, and none of them runs or pays for it.

PandaBuy QC

PandaBuy QC Without PandaBuy: Finding QC Photos Before You Order, and Reading Them After

Checked · the PandaBuy Alternatives desk

Short answer

QC (quality control) photos are pictures the agent's warehouse takes of your actual item before it ships. PandaBuy sent 4 per item and also let people browse other buyers' QC photos of the same listing, which is what 'PandaBuy QC finder' searches were after. Those pages went with PandaBuy. Today you can do the same in two ways: a free QC finder such as rep.tools', which accepts plain Weidian, Taobao and 1688 links and links from several agents, and your own agent's photos once the item arrives, usually 3 to 7 free per item, depending on the agent.

4photos per item on PandaBuy
3–7free per item, by agent
FreeQC finders, no login
Beforeshipping is when to reject
Find QC before orderingHow to read QC photos💬 Want a second opinion? Ask

8 finds with big photo sets

Listings whose sellers post at least six photos, so you can compare details before you even get QC. Each opens on repbuysheet.com. We cap the grid at 8 finds so it loads quickly; behind it sit 10,000+ products.

Sponsored links. Photo, name and button all open one listing on repbuysheet.com, where the seller's full photo set, the size options and the source shop link live. Dollar and yuan prices are copied from that catalog on the check date and move with the exchange rate.

How to find QC photos before you order

Looking at other buyers' QC photos before you order is the closest thing to trying an item on. With PandaBuy gone, here's how to do it:

  1. Get the clean listing link. Convert any old PandaBuy link with the link converter; QC finders search by the marketplace item number.
  2. Paste it into a QC finder. rep.tools' QC finder is free with no login and searches photos from several agents for the same item. It also takes links from closed agents such as CNFans.
  3. Check the dates. Photos from a year ago may show an older batch; sellers change factories without changing the listing.
  4. Compare several sets, not one. Consistent photos across buyers tell you more than one great set.

No results doesn't mean a bad item; it often means a new or small listing. Then your own agent's photos become the first check, and it's worth asking for an extra angle or two.

Verdict: Search QC by the marketplace item number, and trust recent sets from several buyers over one old one.

How many QC photos does each agent send?

Once you order, the agent's own photos are what you judge your item on. Free photo allowances vary:

Free QC photos: PandaBuy then, open agents now
AgentFree photosSource
PandaBuy (closed)4 per itemCNBuyPilot
KakoBuy7 per itemKakoGuide
Sugargoo7 free photos per parcel (5 of the items, 2 of the packed box)W2C Spreadsheet
MyCNBox4 per item, video on most itemsCNBuyPilot
VigorBuy5 for trainersCNBuyPilot
GTBuy3–5 per itemCNBuyPilot
HubBuyCN4 per itemCNBuyPilot

Third-party figures; agents change their allowances. Extra photos or video usually cost a small fee per request.

More photos only help if they show the right things. A free set of seven that includes the label, the sole and a measurement is worth more than ten flat-lay shots of the front. Most agents let you ask for specific angles; it's worth paying for one or two on trainers and watches.

Verdict: Pick an agent that gives at least five free photos, and pay for extra angles on expensive items.

Reading QC photos: a five-point routine

A quick routine works for almost anything:

  • Match the listing. Same colourway, same details, right size tag. Wrong item is the most common real problem and the easiest to fix in China.
  • Look for defects. Stains, loose threads, glue marks, scratches on hardware.
  • Check measurements where the agent provides them: chest and length for tops, waist and inseam for trousers, foot length for shoes.
  • Compare against other buyers' QC from the finder if you found any.
  • Decide quickly. Exchanges and returns are possible while the item is in the warehouse and the seller's return window is open, usually a few days.

Shoes and watches have their own checklists on the shoes sheet and accessories sheet. And if you're unsure, send us the photos on WhatsApp; a second pair of eyes is cheaper than an international return.

Verdict: QC is for catching the wrong item and real defects. If either shows up, return it before it ships.

QC photo questions

What is PandaBuy QC?

QC meant the warehouse photos PandaBuy took of your actual item before it shipped, 4 per item, plus a public archive where you could browse other buyers' photos of the same listing. Both vanished when PandaBuy closed in 2024. Open agents still take QC photos, usually 3 to 7 free per item, depending on the agent. Use them to approve or reject an item while it's still in China.

Is there a PandaBuy QC finder that still works?

PandaBuy's own archive is gone, but independent finders do the same job. rep.tools' QC finder is free, needs no login, and searches by Weidian, Taobao or 1688 item number across photos from several agents, and also accepts links from closed agents such as CNFans. An empty result usually means a new or small listing, not a bad one. Search there before ordering, then rely on your agent's photos.

How do I check QC for an old PandaBuy link?

First turn the PandaBuy link back into the original marketplace link with the link converter, since QC finders search by item number. Paste the clean link into a finder, then look at the photo dates: sets from a year back may show an older batch. Short pandabuy.page.link codes stopped working on August 25, 2025 and can't be converted, so hunt for a long copy of that row.

How many free QC photos do agents give?

Between 3 and 7 per item at the agents we list. KakoGuide counts 7 at KakoBuy; CNBuyPilot reports 4 at MyCNBox with video on most items, 4 at HubBuyCN, 3 to 5 at GTBuy and 5 for trainers at VigorBuy. PandaBuy gave 4. The angles matter more than the count, so choose an agent offering at least five and pay for extras on pricey items.

Can I return an item after seeing QC photos?

Usually, as long as the item is still in the agent's warehouse and the seller's return window, often only a few days, hasn't closed. A wrong colourway, wrong size tag or visible defect are the common reasons, and all are easy to sort out while the item is in China. Once the parcel leaves, an international return is rarely worth it. Decide promptly after the photos arrive.

Are seller photos the same as QC photos?

No. Seller photos are listing images of a sample, sometimes dozens of them, while QC photos show the exact item the warehouse received for you, typically 3 to 7 shots. A seller's set can be accurate and still differ from your piece in colour, stitching or batch. Use listing photos to shortlist and warehouse photos to decide, comparing the two side by side.

Questions that follow QC photos without PandaBuy

QC photos without PandaBuy — sources and dates

Put together by the PandaBuy Alternatives desk; every claim was checked against the list below on . The PandaBuy history leans on court records, police-side reporting and Wikipedia; agent fees, storage and review counts come from each agent's own pages or the named trackers. Where sources disagree we print both. A finds tile was only published if its main photo and its link showed the same item.