Frequently asked questions about clothing examination
Answers about defects, washing, dry cleaning, labels, laboratory work, timeframes and documents.
Answers to your questions
What can a clothing examination establish?
The existence and signs of a flaw, its possible cause, the condition of fabric, seams, lining and fittings, dimensions and conformity with agreed documents. The extent of the answer depends on the item, materials and methods.
Is there a charge for a telephone consultation?
Telephone consultation is free for up to 15 minutes. The cost of an agreed inspection, opinion, review or other work is determined separately before the order is placed.
Can a final conclusion be obtained from photographs alone?
Photographs help with preliminary assessment. Inspection is often needed to establish the cause or verify properties. The feasibility of examining materials alone depends on the specific questions and data quality.
What should I do if an item shrank after washing?
Keep the current condition, labels and information about the settings and products used. Provide pre-wash photographs and dimensions where possible. Shrinkage alone does not establish its cause.
Can an item be examined after dry cleaning?
Yes, if suitable signs and materials survive. Provide the service receipt, the item’s description on acceptance, treatment information, photographs and documents about the detected flaw.
Do missing labels rule out an examination?
Not always. Feasibility depends on the questions and other materials. Missing care instructions and identification details may limit some conclusions.
Can fabric composition be determined by eye?
Visual inspection does not replace laboratory composition testing when required by the assignment. Test parameters, methods and providers are agreed separately.
Should I wash or repair the item before inspection?
Do not do this solely to make an enquiry. It may alter the signs to be examined. Disclose all treatments, repairs and alterations already carried out.
Can construction quality and conformity with an order be checked?
Yes. Comparison requires the contract, technical specification, agreed sample, description, size requirements and other documents relevant to the assignment.
Is the entire clothing batch examined?
The inspection scope and item selection are defined in the assignment. Findings on individual items extend to the batch only when the scope of the conclusions is sufficiently justified.
Can you promise in advance that it is a manufacturing defect?
No. The cause is established from the signs and materials examined. Placing an order and paying do not provide for a predetermined conclusion.
Do you decide whether the seller must refund the money?
The commodity specialist addresses specialised questions about the item and defect. Legal claims, liability and amounts recoverable are resolved through the prescribed procedures.
Can I request a review of the seller’s response or an opinion?
Yes, depending on the document’s content. Provide the complete document with photographs, appendices, source information and the questions asked.
Will the item be returned after examination?
The remaining item is returned as agreed. If alterations, removal of fragments or tests that consume samples are required, their scope and consequences are agreed in advance.
Can someone else pay, and in what format is the result provided?
Third-party payment is allowed under the Offer and order terms, but does not itself confer a right to receive the result or demand a particular conclusion. Documents are delivered on paper and/or electronically as agreed.
What happens to files and subscriptions after an enquiry?
An enquiry without a contract and its materials are retained for up to 90 days after the last substantive message or conversation; contractual materials are retained on the applicable grounds. An enquiry does not subscribe you to advertising: subscription and withdrawal are handled separately.
Describe the item, defect and circumstances
Send photographs of the item, labels, markings and defects, purchase documents, the contract, product listing, seller’s refusal, dry-cleaning documents or the seller’s opinion. Free telephone consultation for up to 15 minutes.
- whether the clothing has a defect;
- whether it relates to manufacture, care, dry cleaning, use or tailoring;
- whether the item matches its size, description, composition and labelling;
- which document is needed: an inspection record, specialist opinion or review;
- when laboratory testing is required.