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Hipobuy Index Desk

Forty answers, and the case where each one fails

Every answer here gives a verdict first, then the evidence behind it, then the exception. That last part is the one most answer pages leave out, and it is the part that decides whether the answer applies to your parcel.

QC photos

  • What do standard QC photos actually show?

    A standard set shows the item exists and broadly matches the listing. It is not designed to catch subtle defects, and treating it as a defect inspection is the most common misread we see.

    430 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • How many angles should I request for a garment?

    Four extra angles cover almost everything a garment can hide: laid flat front, laid flat back, a close seam shot, and the size label.

    425 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • What happens if I never open the QC folder?

    The parcel proceeds on the assumption of approval, and a defect found afterwards is handled as a return rather than as a rejection, which is a materially more expensive path.

    428 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • Are QC photos enough to judge a pair of sneakers?

    They are enough to judge shape, colour family and variant. They are not enough to judge material feel, and material feel is where most sneaker disappointment lives.

    440 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • How should I word a re-photograph request?

    Name the angle, name the reason, and name the reference the angle will be compared against. A request that does all three is usually fulfilled in one exchange.

    435 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • How long is the QC window and can it be extended?

    The standard window is measured in days rather than weeks, and extension is available at some warehouses as a paid holding service rather than as a standard option.

    430 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • Do QC photos cost extra?

    A standard set is normally included with the warehouse step. Extended sets, extra angles and re-photographs sit in the value-added services list and are charged per item or per request.

    425 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • How do I spot a wrong variant in a QC photo?

    Read the label photograph, not the item. The label is the only part of a standard set that speaks to the variant directly rather than by resemblance.

    432 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

Broken and stale links

Clearance and holds

  • Will I pay duty on a small parcel?

    It depends on the destination threshold and on what is inside, not on how small the parcel looks. A light parcel of dense goods can carry more value than a bulky parcel of clothing.

    432 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • What actually triggers a customs hold?

    Three things, in our sample: a value that requires an entry nobody filed, a description too generic to classify, and a restricted category inside an otherwise unremarkable parcel.

    428 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • How long can a parcel be held before it is returned?

    Long enough that buyers assume it is still travelling. Many destinations apply a window measured in weeks to months, and unclaimed parcels are returned or disposed of at the end of it.

    430 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • Can I split a parcel to stay under a threshold?

    Sometimes, and less often than buyers assume. A split only helps when the threshold is assessed per consignment and when the split reduces assessed value rather than only weight.

    435 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • What happens if the declared value is lower than what I paid?

    You save on the assessment and you carry a real risk, because a declared value you cannot evidence is the most reliable way to turn a routine clearance into a documentation request.

    432 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • Who pays the duty invoice, me or the seller?

    The recipient pays, and where a courier advances the amount it invoices you afterwards. The seller has no part in the border assessment.

    435 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • What happens if one item in my parcel is restricted?

    The hold attaches to the item rather than to the shipment, but in practice the whole parcel stops while the item is resolved. Splitting before dispatch is cheaper than resolving after.

    438 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

  • Do I need a tax identifier to import a parcel?

    Sometimes, and the requirement is destination-specific. Where it applies, the identifier needs to exist before the parcel moves rather than after it lands.

    440 words · reviewed 2026-09-30

Fees and totals

Providers and payments

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