How to Inspect Goods Before Shipping from China

how to verify a supplier before paying a deposit

Check the business licence: legal name, registered address, business scope. Match that address and name to the quotation, invoice or contract. Check the bank account name matches the licence company, not a personal account. Ask for a live video call on the production floor and cross-check the address in the public company registry.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: collect documents, call the registry, run the call. A local interpreter or inspector can visit; expect a per-day or per-visit fee plus travel. A China site visit is quoted at $499 per factory and order.

The buyer still owns the deposit risk. Sourcing agents, inspection firms and lawyers can check documents or visit a site. Cheapurchase checks the registered address against the business licence before a deposit is paid, using its own staff.

what is aql and how should an aql table be applied

An AQL is the acceptance quality limit you are willing to tolerate in a lot. An AQL table links lot size, inspection level and AQL value to a sample size and accept/reject numbers. You must choose the standard, inspection level, AQL value and defect classes before the inspection. Get the table from the standard you name in the purchase order, not from the factory's own sheet.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: write the sampling plan into the order, draw the sample and record defects. An independent inspector can apply your plan; cost is usually per man-day or per lot, with travel separate. A formal pass/fail certificate needs an accredited body, which is a different scope and cost.

The buyer sets acceptance criteria. Inspectors execute the plan. Cheapurchase does not provide pre-shipment inspection with a formal pass/fail against AQL sampling plans; acceptance criteria and standard remain the buyer's.

what should a reference sample cover and when is it approved

A reference sample should cover the product itself and the parts that affect acceptance: material, dimensions and tolerances, colour and finish, labels and markings, accessories, and the retail or transport packaging. It should be made from the same production route and materials as the bulk order. Attach the drawing or specification, the test method and the packaging artwork. Approval happens when the buyer signs and dates a written sample approval against those documents, and both sides keep a sealed sample.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: request the sample, compare it to the drawing, photograph it and sign the approval. A lab test or an inspector witnessing the sample adds a fee, usually per test or per visit. Some firms include sample review in a factory visit.

The factory makes the sample; the buyer approves it. Labs test it. Agents can check documents and seals, but the approval signature stays with the buyer. Cheapurchase can include the sample check in a $499 factory visit, not issue certification.

do I need a third party inspection before shipping

You need an inspection when the order is new, the factory is new, the value is high, the specification is custom, or payment is released before you see the goods. Check against the approved sample and written spec: quantity, dimensions, finish, labels, packaging and shipping marks. Ask for photos of the packed cartons, the loading, and the container seal. Compare the packing list and invoice with what is loaded.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: attend the loading or ask the factory for dated photos and a live video call. A local inspector can visit; expect a per-visit or per-day fee plus travel. A China inspection visit is quoted at $499 per factory and order.

The buyer decides the acceptance criteria. The factory presents the goods; an inspector records what is there. Cheapurchase uses its own staff on site and delivers raw video and a written report, but not formal AQL pass/fail or certification.

what if the goods arrive defective

Preserve the evidence first: keep the cartons, labels and damaged units, photograph and video the arrival, count the defects by type, and compare them with the approved sample and written specification. Check the packing list, bill of lading and container seal against what arrived. Put the claim to the supplier in writing within the contract's notice period, with quantities, photos and the inspection method. Ask for replacement, repair or credit in writing.

Doing it yourself is free but slow: sort, count, photograph and write the claim. A destination inspector or lab can document the defects; cost is usually per visit or per test. A China pre-shipment visit is quoted at $499 per factory and order, but it cannot inspect goods after they arrive.

The buyer owns the contract and the claim. The forwarder or insurer handles transit damage; a lawyer handles disputes. Cheapurchase can check the factory before deposit or before shipment but does not act as a party to contracts or manage claims.