1. What is inspection proxy service, and why is it needed?
Inspection proxy service is a service that checks, on your behalf at a local warehouse, the goods that have arrived from your China supplier. It confirms quantity, appearance, presence of damage and more, and reports any problems to you before shipment.
When importing from China, it is not unusual to receive an item in a different color from the photo, or to find damaged goods mixed in. Shipping them onward without inspection leads to returns, complaints and lower ratings. Inspection is especially essential for the following people.
You run drop shipping (direct shipping)
Goods never pass through youBecause items are shipped directly to your customers without ever passing through your hands, defective goods reach them as-is unless you inspect them.
A supplier you deal with for the first time
Quality unknownThe quality of a new factory or shop is unpredictable. Use inspection for the first few orders to confirm the quality.
High-unit-price items or ones that need strong ratings
One mistake is costlyThe higher the unit price, or the more you need to protect your EC ratings, the better the cost-effectiveness of inspection.
2. Types of inspection: simple vs. detailed
There are broadly two levels of inspection. Even when it says "free inspection," the content differs completely from one company to another.
| Comparison item | Simple inspection | Detailed inspection |
|---|---|---|
| What is checked | Quantity, appearance (scratches, dirt, damage) | Opened to check interior, stitching, size, color, function |
| Does it open the package? | Often not | Yes (checks right to the interior) |
| Cost | Free to a few dozen yen/item | A few dozen to a few hundred yen/item |
| Suited to | Consumables, large lots of small items | Clothing, general goods, electronics, high-unit-price items |
| Risk | May miss interior defects | Almost no problem |
3. Typical inspection proxy fees
Inspection costs vary by the inspection level and the type of goods. Roughly:
| Inspection level | Fee estimate | Main checks |
|---|---|---|
| Simple inspection | Free to a few dozen yen/item | Quantity, appearance, presence of damage |
| Detailed inspection | About ¥100–¥500 per item | Opening, size, color, stitching, function check |
| Option processing | A few dozen yen/item and up | Tag removal, bag replacement, measuring, needle detection, etc. |
You may feel the inspection fee is wasteful, but the cost of one defective item's return, reshipment and lost rating is many times the inspection fee. We recommend choosing the inspection level according to the unit price and scale of your orders.
4. How to order inspection (5 steps)
The flow for ordering inspection proxy service is the following 5 steps. No special procedure is needed; most companies simply require you to specify "with inspection" when placing your sourcing order.
1
2
3
4
5
5. Typical defects found in inspection
Examples of problems actually found during inspection, and how to handle them.
Quantity shortage / overage
The number ordered differs from the number received. This happens more often with large orders of small items.
Countermeasure: always include a quantity check in inspection (possible even with simple inspection).Wrong color / wrong size
A color different from the photo, or a size different from the label. Frequent with clothing and general goods.
Countermeasure: use detailed inspection to confirm color, size and measurements.Damage, dirt, stitching defects
Damage in transit, dirt from manufacturing, or loose stitching. Often only discovered after opening.
Countermeasure: choose detailed inspection that opens the package, or have packing reinforced.Missing accessories / parts
Manuals or parts not included. You may not notice without a function check.
Countermeasure: confirm whether accessory checks and function checks are included.6. allallbuy inspection options
At allallbuy, you can flexibly choose inspection options to match your goods.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Simple inspection | Checks quantity, appearance and damage (easy quality check) |
| Detailed inspection | Opens the package to check size, color, stitching, function, etc. |
| Tag removal | Delivers clothing etc. with tags removed (for resale / EC) |
| Bag replacement / set packing | Handles combining items and repacking |
| Measuring / needle detection | Fine checks such as size measurement and metal-needle detection |
Related guides: How to choose an agent that supports drop-shipping direct delivery ／ China import shipping & fee guide ／ How to choose a Taobao & 1688 proxy service
7. FAQ
8. Summary
Here are the key points about China import inspection proxy service.
- Inspection is quality insurance that "stops defective goods before shipment."
- Even "free inspection" differs by company — always confirm whether the package is opened.
- Inspection is especially important for drop-shipping, first-time deals and high-unit-price items.
- The inspection fee is far cheaper than the cost of returns and complaints.
"Should this item be inspected?" or "I want to know the inspection details" — when that comes up, feel free to contact allallbuy. We will propose an inspection plan suited to your goods.
Import without inspection failures. Start with a free consultation.
No monthly fee, from a single item. All inspection options have published pricing, and you can choose what suits your goods.