Inspection pricing in China

What does each inspection service cost?

These are all-inclusive rates for one agreed person-day of standard inspection of ordinary consumer goods, including normal inspector travel to the agreed factory location. There are no additional routine travel or handling charges for a confirmed standard one-day assignment. The fee is not a fixed price for inspecting every unit in a shipment. The required number of person-days depends on the scope.

Standard checks focus on directly observable and assessable product characteristics: visible and tactile workmanship, finish, seams, odour where safe to assess, completeness, packaging, labelling and simple functional checks that require no specialist instruments. These checks cannot establish chemical composition, electrical safety, regulatory compliance or hidden performance characteristics. Complex technical inspections, specialist measurements, laboratory tests, multi-day work and other non-standard requirements require separate scope and pricing approval before work begins. Laboratory testing and certification coordination are quoted separately through qualified external providers; laboratory fees are not included.

What is one person-day?

One person-day is a billing unit for one inspector assigned to one agreed working day, not a promise of eight full hours of hands-on checking at the factory. The factory opening hours, distance, transport connections, site access and agreed arrival time determine the practical inspection window. Some sites cannot reasonably be reached before 10–11 a.m. The start time, expected on-site window and access arrangements must be confirmed before payment. Normal travel is included in the stated rate; exceptional scope changes or extra days are never added without prior buyer approval.

Two inspectors for one day normally means two person-days; one inspector for two days also means two person-days. The daily fee does not promise a fixed number of inspected units.

How do we estimate how many units can be checked?

We first reconcile the shipment's carton count and the stated quantity per carton. The inspector then selects the agreed cartons or units, checks product accessibility and performs initial checks to estimate the real inspection pace.

1. Count or reconcile available cartons against the packing list.
2. Confirm the units per carton and total available quantity.
3. Select cartons across the available lot according to the agreed sampling plan; factory staff must not preselect only favourable cartons.
4. Open cartons and measure how long the required checks take per unit.
5. Allow for documentation, photos, defect segregation, carton handling, breaks and repacking; estimate realistic daily coverage.

If factory personnel safely assist with moving, opening and repacking cartons, the inspector can devote more time to checks. If the inspector must handle and repack everything alone, coverage falls. Product complexity, number of test points, available equipment and defect frequency also affect throughput. Inspectors may carry basic tools but do not automatically bring specialist instruments; required gauges, test fixtures, calibrated equipment and operating support must be agreed in advance.

Why not inspect the entire shipment?

Every-unit inspection is possible only when the scope, available time and staffing support it. It is not automatically included in one day. For example, 2,000 pieces requiring five minutes each would take about 167 hours of checking alone, before opening cartons, recording results or repacking.

Some buyers request a practical spot check of 1–10% of units. That percentage alone does not establish a statistically valid sample or guarantee detection of all defects. Where statistical acceptance sampling is required, the buyer and YiwuQC should agree a defined sampling plan (such as one based on ISO 2859-1), lot size, inspection level, AQL and defect classifications. Sampling results apply to the examined sample and agreed acceptance criteria, not every unexamined unit.

For a 100% check, we estimate total checking and handling time, then agree additional inspector-days or staff. Even a full visual check cannot guarantee detection of every latent or intermittent defect.

How are acceptable defects and tolerances decided?

We recommend arranging live buyer participation whenever practical. The buyer can stay reachable by WeChat, WhatsApp, phone or video during agreed checkpoints. The inspector shares observations and, where permitted, photos or video so the buyer can clarify whether particular deviations are acceptable. The inspector records the buyer's decisions and the evidence used; live participation does not replace independent inspection findings.

Buyer approvals cannot erase observed defects or retroactively change inspection evidence. Safety-critical concerns and unverified compliance claims remain explicitly flagged even if the buyer elects to accept a commercial deviation.

What support should the factory provide?

The supplier should confirm the address, production readiness, carton accessibility, packing list, a responsible on-site contact and any photography or video restrictions. Restrictions must be disclosed to both the buyer and the inspector before the visit; they may limit available inspection evidence. Factory staff may help locate cartons, move goods, open packaging and restore original packing without directing which items pass inspection.

Our inspector remains an independent third-party inspector (第三方检验员). Defects should be photographed and recorded before any replacement or rework; rejected and unexamined units must not be mixed. Factory management and the buyer can discuss disposition separately. Gifts, cash envelopes (红包), cigarettes, alcohol or other benefits must not be offered to the inspector.

Read or print the bilingual factory preparation notice to send to your supplier before the visit.

What happens before payment?

Send us the product type, factory location, total quantity, carton count, required checks, target inspection date, packing list and any agreed sampling requirements. Tell us about previously observed defects, recurring failures, critical dimensions or known quality risks so we can prioritise them in the agreed checklist. Identify any specialist instruments, calibration requirements, test fixtures or factory-operated equipment before the visit. Let us know whether you can join live by call or video during the inspection; otherwise send a written checklist and acceptance criteria. We will confirm the scope, inspector availability, expected person-days, any additional costs and reporting arrangements.

PayPal payment does not automatically reserve an inspector. Please agree the scope and schedule with YiwuQC before using the checkout links. Contact us to confirm your inspection.