Service 04 · Stage 2 · Verify & protect

Inspected in China, before the balance, not after the returns.

Our inspectors check your goods in the factory during production and before shipment, to AQL 2.5 or the standard you set, and send a photo and video report within 24 hours. A pre-shipment inspection typically costs $250–400 per purchase order, and because your balance payment is tied to a pass, defects get fixed in China instead of in your returns queue.

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  • $250–400typical pre-shipment inspection
  • 24 hto the full report
  • 1–3 daysfrom booking to inspection
  • AQL 2.5default standard, or yours
At a glance
TurnaroundInspection within 1–3 days of booking, report within 24 h
Required from youPO copy, quality standard, inspection scope (AQL level)
Ideal clientAny first run with a new factory or an order above $10k
Typical fee$250–400 per PO for a pre-shipment inspection in Guangdong; quoted for other provinces

Paid work starts only after you approve the scope and fee. Factory quotes are shown to you unmarked.

What's included

What our quality control & inspection service covers.

Pre-shipment inspection (PSI)

Random sampling to AQL when 80–100% of the order is packed. Workmanship, function, measurements, packaging, labels and carton marks.

In-line / during-production (DUPRO)

A check at 20–40% complete catches a wrong material or process while it can still be corrected cheaply.

Function and safety tests

On-site tests appropriate to the product: drop, hi-pot, load, colour fastness, barcode scan, plug and switch checks.

Photo and video report

Every defect photographed and classified critical, major or minor against the agreed AQL, with a clear pass or fail.

Golden-sample comparison

We inspect against your sealed approved sample, not the factory’s idea of good enough.

Container loading check

Carton count, condition, palletising and seal number recorded as the container is loaded.

How it works

Four steps, no surprises.

  1. 01

    Book

    Send the PO, your quality standard and the factory’s ready date. We confirm an inspector within a day.

  2. 02

    Inspect

    The inspector samples to AQL, runs the agreed tests and documents everything on site.

  3. 03

    Report

    You receive the photo and video report within 24 hours with a pass, fail or conditional result.

  4. 04

    Resolve

    Fail? We agree rework with the factory and re-inspect. Pass? You release the balance and ship.

Pricing

What it costs.

A pre-shipment inspection in Guangdong is typically $250–400 per purchase order, roughly 1–3% of a $20,000 shipment. In-line inspections and loading checks are quoted the same way. Other provinces add travel. Compared with a $5,000 return event or a rejected Amazon shipment, it is the cheapest insurance you will buy. Our guide to QC inspection mistakes explains what to put in the scope.

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Who it's for

When you need this.

When it fits

First order with a new factory

You have no history with them. Inspect the first run and the second; by the third you will know.

When it fits

Orders above $10,000

At this size the inspection fee is a rounding error and the downside of skipping it is not.

When it fits

Shipping into Amazon FBA

Labels, polybags, carton marks and barcodes are checked so the shipment is not refused at the fulfilment centre.

From the blog

Guides that go with this service.

All sourcing guides →
GuideQC inspection mistakes to avoid before shipmentRead the guide GuideApproved sample, different production: China’s quality fadeRead the guide GuideVerify Chinese suppliers before you send paymentRead the guide GuideHow to ship from China to Amazon FBA in 2026Read the guide
Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, ask on WhatsApp. A human answers, in English, in Guangzhou time.

Typically $250–400 per purchase order for a one-day inspection in Guangdong, including the report. Larger orders needing more man-days, or factories in distant provinces, are quoted individually.
When at least 80% of the order is finished and packed. Earlier, and the sample is not representative; later, and the factory has no time to fix anything before the ship date.
We send the report, agree a rework plan with the factory, and re-inspect. Because your balance payment is tied to a pass, the factory has every reason to fix it. You decide whether to accept, rework or reject.
Yes. Standalone inspections for buyers who found their own factory are a large part of our work. Send the PO and the address.
More from one team
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Free assessment

Tell us what you're sourcing.

Send the product, target quantity and destination country. Within one business day we'll confirm feasibility, recommend the right service scope and quote the fee and timeline.

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Paid sourcing work starts only after you approve the scope and fee.