Service

Pre-Shipment Quality Inspection in China

Send an inspector to the factory before final payment. Catch defects on Chinese soil where the factory still has leverage to fix them.

What's included

Pre-shipment inspection covers seven check categories on every order.

  • Quantity verification against the PI
  • Workmanship inspection at AQL 2.5 (major) and AQL 4.0 (minor)
  • On-site measurements against your tech pack
  • Function and safety tests appropriate to the product
  • Barcode, label, and country-of-origin marking check
  • Inner and master carton drop test
  • Carton marking and shipping-mark verification

How it works

  1. You book the inspection at least 3 working days before the requested date.
  2. You send specs, AQL level, and any custom checkpoints.
  3. Inspector visits the factory once production is 100% finished and 80% packed.
  4. Inspection takes 4-8 hours depending on SKU count and pack format.
  5. Report delivered within 24 hours as PDF plus a folder of high-resolution photos and video clips.
  6. You release balance payment on PASS. On FAIL, factory reworks at their cost and we re-inspect.

Pricing

ItemCost
Standard inspection (per man-day)$200-300
Re-inspection after rework$150
During-production inspection (DUPRO)$220
Travel surcharge outside Guangdong/Zhejiang/Jiangsu$50-100
Lab tests (SGS, BV, Intertek)$300-1,500 per test

What you get

  • PDF report within 24 hours with PASS / FAIL / PENDING verdict
  • 50-200 photographs covering quantity, workmanship, packaging, and any defects
  • Short video showing carton conditions and warehouse layout
  • Defect log with severity classification (critical / major / minor)
  • Direct line to the inspector for follow-up questions for 30 days

When to use this vs. alternatives

Use pre-shipment inspection on every order above $5,000 and on every first order from a new supplier regardless of size. The cost is 1-3% of the goods value but it stops bad batches at the factory door, which is the only place leverage exists. For very small orders below $3,000, photo-based remote inspection is a cheaper alternative; we offer it for $80 but it only catches obvious issues and is not a substitute for on-site for any serious order.

Frequently asked questions

What is AQL and which level should I pick? +
Acceptable Quality Limit defines how many defects in a sample batch are tolerable. AQL 2.5 for major defects and AQL 4.0 for minor defects is the retail industry standard. Tighter limits like AQL 1.0 are used for medical and electronics. We default to 2.5/4.0 unless you specify otherwise.
How many pieces are inspected? +
Sample size follows ISO 2859-1. For a 3,000 piece order at General Inspection Level II, the sample is 125 pieces. For 10,000 pieces the sample is 200 pieces. Larger orders do not need proportionally larger samples.
How much does inspection cost? +
Standard rate is $200-300 per man-day. Most orders need 1 man-day. Large or complex SKU mixes may need 2-3 man-days. Travel surcharge of $50-100 applies outside tier-1 city provinces.
When during production should inspection happen? +
Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) runs when production is 100% finished and at least 80% packed. We can also do during-production inspection (DUPRO) at the 20-30% production mark to catch systemic defects early. PSI is the most common and the one we recommend by default.
What does the report include? +
Within 24 hours of inspection: a PDF with quantity verification, workmanship grading, on-site measurements, function tests, packaging and barcode checks, photos of every defect, and a clear PASS / FAIL / PENDING result.
What happens if the goods FAIL? +
You hold the balance payment. The factory reworks or replaces defective units and we re-inspect. The re-inspection fee is $150 (lower than a fresh inspection). This is the main reason inspection saves money: defects are fixed before goods leave China.
Can you do specialised tests like drop test or salt spray? +
Basic function tests, drop tests, and load tests are included. Lab-based tests (salt spray, EMC, RoHS, food contact) require accredited labs like SGS or Bureau Veritas; budget $300-1,500 per test and 5-10 days turnaround.

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