Warehouse checks in China: what to request before shipping
A practical 1688 and Taobao inspection brief covering quantities, variants, photos, measurements and dispatch decisions.
Products and trial ordersStep 4 of 4
Why a photo of the box is not enough
An AliExpress buyer reported missing items after consolidation in a community discussion [2]. This is an unverified personal account, not a loss statistic. It raises a useful question: can every purchased item be matched to what is actually packed?
Write an item-by-item brief
Send the warehouse the link, SKU, colour, size and quantity. Specify the views you need: model label, accessories, stitching or a damaged area. For clothing, identify measurements and acceptable variation. Ask for order numbers on the photo records so similar items remain distinguishable.
Define the level of inspection
QIMA describes pre-shipment inspection against agreed criteria using sampling [1]. Ordinary warehouse photos do not establish that this inspection took place. Agree separately on functional checks, the number of units checked and the report. This article does not imply that 1688BUY provides QIMA services.
Decide what happens after a mismatch
Agree in advance whether the warehouse should pause packing, contact the seller or prepare a return. Specify who can approve substitutions and which price changes need your confirmation. A visible-defect photo does not automatically establish who must reimburse the costs.
Close the inspection before dispatch
Request the final item inventory, package count and packing photos. Keep the agreed resolution for each mismatch. For Ukraine or Moldova, also confirm the contents, documents and acceptance on the chosen route. Agree on the price and availability of each check before it is performed.
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