The sample was perfect. The bulk order was not. Every experienced importer has lived this once — and it’s almost always because nobody looked at the goods before they left China. A pre-shipment inspection is the cheapest insurance in importing: DE International checks your order in the factory, before the balance is paid and before it ships to Bangladesh.
Why inspect before it ships
Once a container leaves a Chinese port, your leverage is gone. If the goods are wrong on arrival in Chattogram, you’ve already paid, already shipped, already cleared customs — and a dispute with a supplier 4,000 km away rarely ends in your favour. Inspecting before shipment means problems are the factory’s to fix while they still hold your balance payment. That timing is the entire value of the service.
Types of inspection
- Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) — the standard: goods are checked when the order is ~100% produced and packed, before the balance is released. This is what most importers need.
- During-production inspection (DUPRO) — a mid-production check for large or repeat orders, so defects are caught early instead of at the end.
- Container loading check — confirms the right goods, right quantity, and safe loading into the container.
What we check
- Quantity — count against your order; short shipments are common and easy to miss.
- Specification — model, size, material, colour, voltage/plug for machinery, against your agreed spec sheet.
- Workmanship & function — defect check to an agreed AQL level; for machinery, a basic function test where possible.
- Packaging & labelling — export-grade packing that survives sea freight, correct labels and markings.
The report you get
A clear pass / fail with photos of the actual goods, the quantity counted, defects found and classified, and a recommendation: ship, hold, or rework. You make the call with evidence in hand instead of taking the supplier’s word.
How it saves money
Consider a typical machinery order: a filling line where two heads are miscalibrated and the plug type is wrong for Bangladesh. Caught in the factory, the supplier fixes it before shipping at their cost. Caught on arrival in Dhaka, you’re paying for return freight that costs more than the machine, or writing it off. The inspection fee is a fraction of that exposure — which is why we build it into every sourcing order and strongly recommend it even when you sourced the supplier yourself.
Shipping With Inspection vs Without
| No Inspection | With Pre-Shipment Inspection | |
|---|---|---|
| Defects found | After arrival in Chattogram – too late to act | Before shipment, while you still hold the balance |
| Wrong specification | You absorb the cost or return freight | Factory reworks it before it ships |
| Quantity shortfall | Discovered at your warehouse | Counted and confirmed before loading |
| Your leverage | None – money and goods have moved | Full – balance payment is still in your hands |
Frequently asked questions
When should the inspection happen?
For a standard pre-shipment inspection, when the order is about 100% produced and packed but before you release the balance payment — that’s when you still have leverage.
Do you inspect machinery, not just consumer goods?
Yes — machinery is where inspection matters most. We check specification, workmanship, packaging and, where possible, a basic function test before it ships.
What is AQL?
Acceptable Quality Level — an agreed standard for how many minor/major defects are tolerable in a sample. We inspect to an AQL level suited to your product and tell you clearly whether the lot passes.
Can you inspect a supplier I found myself?
Absolutely. You don’t have to source through us to book an inspection. Pair it with supplier verification for full protection.