Quality inspection in China: How to verify your order before it ships

Pre-shipment inspection, during-production inspection, container loading — the 3 inspection types every SA importer needs to understand.

Why inspection matters

You can't see the goods until they arrive in Durban. By then, you've paid for them, they've cleared customs, and disputing 200 defective units across a continent is expensive and slow.

Quality inspection at the factory before shipment catches problems while you still have leverage — the supplier hasn't been paid the balance, and your money isn't on a vessel.

Pre-shipment inspection (PSI)

The most common form. An inspector visits the factory when production is at least 80% complete and randomly samples finished goods.

What gets checked

• Workmanship — visual defects, stitching, finish
• Function — sample devices powered on, simple tests
• Quantity — count vs PO
• Packaging — retail box quality, labels, barcodes
• Master carton — outer carton strength, marks, weight
• Random tests — drop test, plug-in test, dimension check

Cost

USD 250–350 per man-day in most Chinese cities. A typical PSI for 1 SKU takes 1 day. Multi-SKU orders may take 2–3 days.

During-production inspection (DUPRO)

Inspector visits when 20–50% of production is complete. The goal is to catch systemic defects early while the supplier can still adjust the production line.

When to use

• First-time order with a new supplier
• Large orders (1,000+ units)
• High-customisation products (OEM logos, custom colour)
• Products with a history of QC problems (electronics, textiles)

Container loading supervision (CLS)

Inspector watches the container being loaded — counting cartons, verifying seal numbers, photographing the load. This protects against last-minute substitution and confirms the actual ship date.

Best for

• FCL (full container) shipments
• High-value cargo (electronics over USD 10,000)
• Suppliers with previous shipping discrepancies

AQL — how to interpret results

AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) is the international standard for sampling-based inspection (ISO 2859). The inspector samples a fraction of the order — e.g. 200 units from a 5,000-unit batch — and counts defects in three categories:

• Critical — safety risk (zero tolerance)
• Major — function affected, customer would return
• Minor — cosmetic, customer might not notice

Standard AQL levels:

• AQL 0 / 1.5 / 4.0 — common consumer electronics
• AQL 0 / 2.5 / 4.0 — typical apparel
• AQL 0 / 0.65 / 2.5 — premium / safety-critical

If actual defects exceed the AQL number, the inspection is failed and you can demand the supplier rework or refuse delivery.

Cost & how BestDealz handles it

For BestDealz Class B orders over USD 5,000, we automatically include a PSI in your landed cost — you don't pay extra. For smaller orders, you can opt in for a flat USD 280 fee at checkout.

The inspection report (with photos and AQL findings) is uploaded to your dashboard within 24 hours of the inspection date. You have 48 hours to approve or reject before the supplier is paid the balance.