Your tee has arrived at the warehouse and the QC photos are waiting. This is your one chance to inspect it before it crosses the planet, so it pays to know what you are looking at. This guide to LitBuy Spreadsheet T-Shirts turns those photos into a calm, five-minute checklist instead of a squinting contest.
Step One: Stitching
Zoom into the hems, the sleeve openings and the shoulder seams. Good stitching looks like a neat, even row of little dashes with consistent spacing.
- Look for: straight lines, even tension, no gaps.
- Red flags: loose loops, skipped stitches, a hem that wanders off course.
- Usually fine: a short tail of thread. That snips off in two seconds with scissors.
Pay special attention to where the side seam meets the bottom hem. That corner takes stress every time you pull the shirt on.
Step Two: Collar Ribbing
The collar is the first thing to lose shape, so it deserves a close look. In the flat-lay photo it should sit as a smooth circle or gentle oval.
- Ribbing should look evenly textured all the way around.
- The join, usually at the back, should be flat and tidy.
- Waves, puckers or a collar that flares outward are worth asking about.
Step Three: Print Alignment and Cracking
For graphic tees, the print gets its own inspection.
- Centering: imagine a line down the middle of the shirt. The print should sit evenly on both sides of it.
- Height: a chest print usually sits a few finger widths below the collar. Too low looks odd once worn.
- Straightness: compare the print edge to the hem. They should run parallel.
- Surface: look for cracks, flaking or bubbles. Fine texture on a vintage-style print can be intentional, so check the listing photos for comparison.
Step Four: Measurements and Tolerance
Ask for chest width and body length in your order remarks, and the QC photos will show a tape measure laid across the shirt. Then compare against the listing. Hand-measured garments always vary a little, so think in tolerance ranges rather than exact matches.
| Measurement | Listed | Measured | Difference | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest width | 56 cm | 55 cm | 1 cm | Fine |
| Body length | 72 cm | 70.5 cm | 1.5 cm | Fine |
| Sleeve length | 22 cm | 19 cm | 3 cm | Ask about it |
As a worked rule of thumb, a difference of around 1 to 2 cm is normal for most tees. Beyond that, compare to a shirt you already own and decide whether it actually changes the fit for you. If it does, it is a fair reason to speak up.
When to Request an Exchange
Not every flaw is worth the wait of a swap. Use this quick filter:
- Exchange: wrong size or color, a hole, a visible stain, a badly crooked or cracked print, measurements far outside tolerance.
- Probably keep: loose threads, slight fold creases, tiny measurement differences.
Write your request plainly and reference the exact photo, for example: “Photo 4 shows print tilted to the left, please exchange for a straight one.” The same method works for other tops too; see how it applies to jerseys and hoodies. If you need to find a replacement listing, LitBuy Sheets makes that quick, and the T-shirts category is the place to start browsing.
FAQ
Why does the color in QC photos look different?
Warehouse lighting and camera settings shift tones. Compare against a neutral object in the photo, like a white tag, before worrying.
Can I ask for more QC photos?
Usually yes. Name the exact area you want to see, such as the back collar seam or a print close-up.
A few minutes of careful looking saves weeks of regret. Find your next tee on the LitBuy Spreadsheet home page, browse everything on the main LitBuy site, or return home for the latest picks.