One thumbnail can hide dozens of sellable units
A product page may group colors, lens types, belt lengths, ring sizes, metal finishes, phone models, or multipacks. Do not save the parent title as one SKU. Break the page into the variants you would actually stock and identify which combinations are available.
When a combination has no stable code or clear image, mark it unresolved rather than naming it yourself.
Build a variant control sheet
Scroll the table sideways to read all columns.
| Field | Examples | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Base product | Cap, belt, sunglasses, ring, phone case | Mixing unrelated product types |
| Variant axes | Color, size, finish, lens, device model | Recording only “assorted” |
| Sellable code | Parent code plus confirmed variant code | Using one code for every option |
| Included pieces | Single item, pair, set, pouch, tool | Assuming the photo shows the package |
| Minimum | Per SKU, color, size, set, or mixed carton | Treating the page total as the MOQ |
| Pack label | Code, variant, quantity, protective material | Losing identity after consolidation |
Ask material questions at the level you can verify
Material names can refer to the main body, coating, trim, lens, plating, stone, or packaging. Ask which component the claim describes and whether any care, skin-contact, or market-specific requirement needs documentation from the responsible supplier.
This guide cannot test composition, allergens, coatings, electrical characteristics, or regulatory compliance. A photo and a material word are not a certificate.
Small items make packing detail more important
Separate
Confirm how variants are bagged, tagged, paired, or divided so similar items stay identifiable.
Protect
Ask what prevents scratches, bending, tangling, moisture, or crushed frames.
Count
Record pieces per inner pack and carton, plus how sets and pairs are counted.
Measure
Keep product dimensions, item weight, and packed dimensions in different fields.
Reconcile
The packing list should add back to the SKU-level order rather than only the category total.
A small-item QC sample should be deliberate
For repeated variants, decide whether QC should show every color, a representative sample, every size, or a count-and-label check. The answer depends on the question. A single hero photo cannot test an assortment.
For jewelry, eyewear, belts, or phone accessories, request the angles and dimensions that separate similar variants. Keep finish appearance and material claims as different evidence types.
Remove the product when the variant cannot survive a spreadsheet
A pack count can change the whole comparison
Illustrative comparison; no specific product has been inspected.
Two accessory pages show the same thumbnail. One describes a pair and the other gives no included-piece count. Keep the second entry unresolved; comparing the two numbers as unit prices would introduce an assumption.
Evidence to request: Exact variant code, included pieces, dimensions, finish claim, quote currency and whether the price applies per piece, pair or pack.
Record each source, variant and check date in the research record. The source and inspection limits apply to this guide.