Question 1

What is pre-shipment inspection (PSI)?

Accepted Answer

Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) is a final quality check performed on finished goods before they leave the factory in China. An independent inspector visits your supplier's facility, randomly samples finished products using ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 (AQL) standards, and checks for defects, packaging, labeling, dimensions, and compliance with your specifications. CloudSpects typically delivers the full report with photos within about 24 hours.

Question 2

How much does pre-shipment inspection cost?

Accepted Answer

CloudSpects charges $169 per man-day with no hidden fees. This includes the inspector's time, the report, photos, and all travel costs within major manufacturing cities. There are no weekend surcharges, no report release fees, and no surprise travel expenses. Most inspections for FBA shipments are completed in one man-day.

Question 3

How do I book an inspection?

Accepted Answer

You can book online through our contact form or email us directly. You'll need to provide: your supplier's factory address in China, the product name and quantity, your inspection checklist or specifications, and your preferred inspection date. We recommend booking at least 5-7 business days in advance to secure your preferred date, especially during peak seasons.

Question 4

What does an inspector check?

Accepted Answer

Our inspectors check up to 15+ points depending on your product category: product appearance and workmanship, dimensions and weight verification, functional testing, packaging integrity, FNSKU barcode scannability, labeling accuracy (including country of origin, suffocation warnings, and Amazon FBA compliance), quantity count, and carton markings. You can customize the checklist for your specific product.

Question 5

What is AQL and how does sampling work?

Accepted Answer

AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) is the industry standard for product sampling inspections. CloudSpects uses ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 General Level II with AQL 2.5 by default. For a 3,000-unit order, this means inspecting 125 samples. Up to 7 units with major defects (and 14 with minor defects) are acceptable within the AQL 2.5 limit. If defects exceed these thresholds, the entire batch fails inspection. You can request different AQL levels or C=0 (zero defects) at no extra charge.

Question 6

How long does it take to get the inspection report?

Accepted Answer

We typically deliver your inspection report within about 24 hours of the inspection. The report includes: pass/fail/rework recommendation, AQL sampling results with defect counts by severity (critical, major, minor), photo evidence of all checked units, measurements, and barcode verification results. Reports are in English and optimized for Amazon FBA compliance decisions.

Question 7

What cities in China do you cover?

Accepted Answer

CloudSpects has 280+ field inspectors covering 38+ manufacturing cities across China, including Yiwu, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Ningbo, Dongguan, Foshan, Wenzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, and more. We cover all major manufacturing hubs and can reach most factories within the same day.

Question 8

Is the inspector really independent?

Accepted Answer

Yes. CloudSpects inspectors are 100% independent third-party. They are not employed by your supplier, have no relationship with the factory, and are not incentivized based on pass/fail results. We are not a trading company and do not source products  - our only business is quality inspection. This independence is critical for unbiased reports.

Question 9

What happens if the inspection fails?

Accepted Answer

If the inspection fails (defects exceed AQL limits), we provide a detailed report showing exactly what failed and why. You can use this report to negotiate with your supplier: request rework of defective units, negotiate a discount based on defect rate, or reject the batch entirely. We can also arrange a re-inspection after the supplier fixes the issues at a reduced rate.

Question 10

Do you inspect for Amazon FBA compliance specifically?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our inspection checklist includes FBA-specific checks: FNSKU barcode scannability, suffocation warning labels for poly bags, carton strength and stacking requirements, pallet compliance, country of origin markings, and ISTA drop test standards. We help you avoid the 12 most common reasons for Amazon inbound rejection.

Third-party QC in China — before your shipment leaves the factory.

Four inspections. Find yours in three seconds.

Pre-Shipment (PSI)

During Production (DPI)

Container Loading

Factory Audit

Meet the team behind your inspection

Traditional inspection vs CloudSpects

Traditional Inspection

CloudSpects

2026 Amazon Inbound Compliance Checklist (PDF)

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Is a $169 inspection worth it?

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