Goods and supplier inspection in China

$250
Supplier sourcing
from $270
Factory inspection
5 days
Sourcing turnaround
photo and video
Report from site

We vet Chinese suppliers before you transfer any money, and inspect the goods before they leave. These are two different jobs and we do both. Either can be ordered on its own, without shipping.

Who we work for

We are a logistics company based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, working with China since 2016. Most of our clients are importers from Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia who buy in China and ship through us.

We inspect in the cities where we have our own staff and warehouses: Guangzhou, Foshan, Yiwu and Urumqi. That means the person visiting the factory is our own employee — the same one who will later receive your cargo at the warehouse.

We also work with clients from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Russia on the routes we run ourselves. Office in Bishkek, contract with a Kyrgyz entity.

What a mistake costs

Inspection starts at $270. Compare that with what it covers.

Wrong goods
What arrived is not what you ordered, or a different specification. Returning it from Bishkek to China costs more than the batch — usually it is simply written off.
Short count
You ordered 200 cartons and 180 were shipped. Without a recount at the warehouse in China, proving it a month later is impossible.
Visible damage
Scratches, chips, crushed packaging. Once it has crossed the border, the supplier will blame the carrier.
Mixed batch
Half the batch in another colour, size or SKU. Discovered when you put it on the shelf.

A single batch for a market trader in Bishkek is typically $5,000 to $50,000. An inspection at $270 is between half a percent and five percent of that. It is not a cost — it is insurance against something you cannot send back.

Two checks — do not confuse them

Supplier verification — before payment

Answers the question "who am I dealing with". We check whether the entity exists, whether it holds licences and export rights, whether you are facing a factory or an intermediary, and what its shipping history looks like. We visit the production site where it matters.

Included in the sourcing service — $250, five working days. You receive three vetted manufacturers for your product, with prices, MOQ and lead times.

Goods inspection — before dispatch

Answers the question "what is being shipped to me". Our inspector visits the factory or warehouse, recounts quantities, checks completeness and appearance, compares against the sample, measures weight and volume, and records photos and video.

From $270 — the exact figure depends on the city and the scope. Ordered separately; shipping is not required.

The difference between these two checks costs money. A supplier can be a legitimate licensed entity and still ship something other than what you ordered. One check does not replace the other.

What you receive after an inspection

Not a vague "report" but a specific set. It arrives on WhatsApp the same day as the check.

  • Photographs — the batch as a whole, each package separately, close-ups of the goods, markings, condition of the packaging.
  • Video — a walk through the warehouse or workshop, so you see the volume with your own eyes rather than from one flattering photo.
  • Recount of quantities — how many packages there actually are, and whether that matches the packing list.
  • Weight and volume measurements — taken on site, not quoted by the supplier. This is also what makes the freight quote accurate.
  • Comparison against the sample or the photo from your order — same colour, SKU, specification.
  • A list of discrepancies — if something is wrong, you learn it before dispatch and can demand replacement while the goods are still with the supplier.

What we find most often

These are not scare stories but what actually turns up. Listed by how often we see it.

  • Short count — by package, or by unit inside a package.
  • Mixed batch: part of the order in another colour, size or model.
  • Packaging that will not survive transport — thin cardboard, no crating on fragile goods.
  • Incomplete specification: missing cables, mounts, manuals, adapters.
  • Goods that differ from the listing photo — another material or another version.
  • Markings missing or not applied to requirement.

Most of this is fixed on site within a day — but only while the goods are still with the supplier. After dispatch, nothing can be fixed.

What clients say about the inspection

Two reviews from Google Maps. Both are specifically about the checks, not the shipping.

I ordered equipment from China through these guys — a production line. Before that I shipped myself through intermediaries and it was nerves every time: wrong goods shipped, or a week stuck at customs. This was different. Before dispatch they ran an inspection at the factory — not just a look round, but a real check, and they sent me a photo and video report. I was sitting in Bishkek watching my own equipment at the plant in Henan, from every angle. They also audited the factory itself, which mattered to me — it was my first time with that manufacturer.
Avenirreview on Google Maps · production equipment, translated from Russian
I have been working with them for over three years and never had a single problem. They reply fast, everything is on time, and they always try to help. I also used their inspection service for Chinese suppliers — it costs literally pennies compared with what it covers.
moeen sabisireview on Google Maps

All reviews on Google Maps — rated 5.0 →

What exactly we check: 7 points

  • Match with the order — the right product, model and SKU you agreed on
  • Quantity — count by cartons and items, checked against the invoice and packing list
  • Sizes, colours, completeness — the most common substitution: a different size range or an incomplete set
  • Workmanship — seams, paint, assembly, functionality for equipment, signs of defects
  • Packaging — will it survive the trip: enough protection, does it need repacking or palletising
  • Labelling — labels, composition, barcodes; for shipments to Russia — “Chestny ZNAK” codes
  • Weight and volume — actual, not declared: they determine the shipping cost

When to order the check

The sequence matters more than the check itself. Here is when to do what.

Before you transfer money
Supplier verification. Entity, licences, export rights. After payment it is too late — the money has gone.
When the goods are ready
Inspection. The supplier says "ready to ship" — that is the moment to order, before he hands the cargo to a carrier.
Before the balance payment
If you work on 30% deposit and 70% before dispatch, the inspection goes right before the second payment. That is your leverage.
First deal
Always. With an unfamiliar factory, inspect the first batch without exception, however small it is.

What an inspection does not do

We say this plainly so your expectations are right.

  • It does not reveal hidden defects. We examine what is visible and what can be checked on site. What fails after six months of use is beyond any inspection.
  • It is not laboratory testing. Material composition, strength, electrical safety — those are separate lab tests, not this service.
  • It does not replace certification. If your goods require mandatory certification, an inspection does not remove that.
  • It is not a warranty on the goods. We record the actual condition of the batch at the time of the check. The warranty comes from the manufacturer.

We could have left this out. But a client who expects an inspection to guarantee everything will end up disappointed — and a disappointed client does not come back. Better to agree on this upfront.

How to order

Tell us what the product is and whether you already have a supplier. If you do, we will price the inspection and give you a turnaround. If not, we will propose sourcing — verification is part of it.

Three things are enough for a quote: what the product is, the city of the factory, and roughly how many packages. We give the exact figure the same day.

Frequently asked questions

What does supplier verification and goods inspection cost?

Document and public-register checks are included in the sourcing service: $250, five working days. On-site inspection at the factory with a photo and video report is quoted separately, from $270 depending on city and scope.

What exactly do you check about a supplier?

That the entity exists and its registration details, whether it holds licences and export rights, whether you are dealing with a factory or an intermediary, and its shipping history and reputation. We visit the production site where the order justifies it.

How is goods inspection different from supplier verification?

Supplier verification answers "who am I dealing with" and happens before payment. Inspection answers "what is being shipped to me" and happens before dispatch: count, completeness, appearance, conformity to the sample.

Can I order inspection in China only, without shipping?

Yes. Inspection is a standalone service. You can move the cargo yourself or with another forwarder and use us for the check.

What do I receive after a goods inspection?

A photo and video report from the factory or warehouse, a recount of quantities, weight and volume measurements, and a record of any damage or discrepancies against your order — all before the goods leave.

How long does an inspection in China take?

One to three working days from the moment the supplier is ready to show the goods. Longer if the factory is in another city, or the batch is large and requires sampling across multiple packages.

When is inspection essential?

When you are working with a factory for the first time, when the goods are expensive or fragile, when the batch is large, and when defects cannot be fixed after import — equipment, machine tools, appliances.

Does inspection guarantee there will be no problems with the goods?

No, and we do not promise that. An inspection records the actual condition of the batch at the time of the check: what is being shipped, how many packages, whether there is visible damage and whether the goods match the sample. It will not reveal hidden defects or what fails after six months of use.

How do you inspect goods in China before shipment?

Our staff member visits the warehouse or factory and checks the batch against your order: item names, quantity, sizes and colours, completeness, workmanship, packaging and labelling. Everything is recorded on photo and video, and you receive the report before you transfer the balance to the supplier.

What if the goods turn out to be defective?

If a defect is found before shipment, we present it to the supplier and demand a replacement or a price adjustment: the money has not been paid in full yet, and that is your main leverage. This is exactly why the check should happen before you pay the balance, not after the cargo arrives in Bishkek.

Do you inspect goods bought on 1688 and Taobao?

Yes. The goods arrive at our warehouse in China, we open the packaging, check them against your order, take photos and only then add them to the shipment. For consolidated cargo from several suppliers, we check each item separately.

Can you inspect a sample instead of the whole batch?

Yes. For large batches we use sample inspection: we open part of the cartons according to an agreed scheme. It costs less than a full inspection and in most cases is enough to detect systematic defects.

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