Practical answers for buyers planning an inspection in China. If yours is not here, write to kelly@cgfiinspection.com or ping 86-15306546882 on WhatsApp/WeChat — a coordinator, not a chatbot, replies.

Does the factory get advance notice that the inspector is coming?

Usually, yes — booking is confirmed with the factory so someone unlocks the warehouse. If you prefer a spot-visit arrangement, tell us at booking: the date window is confirmed with you alone, and the inspector reports any games on arrival, such as “the goods are not ready”, which is itself recorded in the report.

How do you size the inspection team for my order?

One inspector-day covers a typical AQL final check on most consumer orders — sampling, on-site tests and documentation. Large lots, 100% programmes or multi-SKU consolidation days are sized in man-days at quoting, using the sample size the AQL tables produce for your lot, so the team on the day matches the statistical plan.

Should critical, major and minor defects carry different AQL limits?

Yes, and they almost always do. The common starting point is 0 / 2.5 / 4.0: zero acceptance for critical (safety or legal) findings, tighter limits on majors than minors. Children’s products and electronics often tighten majors further. Choose your numbers with the AQL calculator, or ask a coordinator to propose them from your category.

What does a “Pending” verdict mean, and when do you use it?

Pending is a hold, not a hedge. It means the sampled result is close to the acceptance boundary, or part of the order was not ready to sample, and a same-week re-check is cheaper for you than a premature fail or pass. The report names exactly what would settle the verdict — usually completion of packing or correction of a named defect group.

Who actually writes the report I receive?

The inspector who did the visit writes the findings; the coordinator edits for clarity and format — never for substance. Numbers, counts and classifications are the inspector’s. That is why the person who signed the report can answer your questions about it, and why nothing is softened on the way to your inbox.

If a final inspection fails, can I ship the conforming cartons and hold the rest?

You can, and buyers do it when deadlines bite. The report marks which defect groups failed, so a partial-release decision can be made carton by carton. Most clients pair this with a sorting programme on the held portion and a fresh final check before anything ships.

What does a re-inspection after a failed result cost?

Re-inspections are new bookings at the standard man-day rate, quoted as a fixed fee before we travel — we do not bundle “free re-visits” into prices, because honest pricing per visit is what keeps verdicts independent. Repeat clients get predictable scheduling and, where volumes justify it, monthly invoicing.

Are there extra charges for travel, weekends or urgent bookings?

The quoted fee is all-inclusive for factories inside our national coverage network. Outside it, any travel cost is shown separately at quoting — never after the visit. Weekend and short-notice visits are often possible in the major clusters; they may carry a surcharge which, again, appears in the quote up front.

My supplier is in a smaller industrial town — can you still cover it?

In almost every case, yes. Our 95 inspectors are stationed across mainland China, from the coastal deltas to inland clusters, so the nearest team member is usually local. For genuinely remote sites, the quote simply shows any additional travel — and the visit proceeds the same way.

Can you check goods somewhere other than the factory?

Yes. We routinely work at forwarders’ warehouses, consolidation depots and showrooms — for example, verifying a mixed-vendor container at a consolidation warehouse before sealing, or checking display samples before you place the order. Loading-day work at a depot follows the same evidence rules as the factory gate; for display rooms, the standard for a supplier audit applies.

Worth knowing: inspection is one pillar of a larger station. CGF also runs rework, manual assembly, warehousing and a sourcing agency from the same company — the home page shows how the services fit together.

More on how bookings work from day one: see contact and the product inspection overview.