Pre-shipment inspection
A pre-shipment inspection checks finished goods at the Turkish factory before the balance payment is released. BuyerSide inspects using ISO 2859-1 AQL sampling, classifies defects as critical, major or minor, photographs every finding, and delivers a pass, conditional pass or fail verdict within 24 hours. From €320 per man-day. We are paid by the buyer only.
When it happens
The inspection is booked when production is complete — or at least 80% complete and packed — and before the balance payment leaves your account. That timing is the entire point. An inspection after payment is a document for a claim; an inspection before payment is leverage.
The mistake that costs the most
Buyers routinely release the balance against photographs sent by the supplier, then book an inspection to "confirm". At that moment your only remaining remedy is goodwill. Build the inspection into your payment terms: balance payable against a passed third-party inspection report. Turkish exporters accept this clause routinely; it is standard in the trade.
What we check
- Quantity — cartons counted, units verified against the packing list and the purchase order
- Workmanship — sampled against your specification, drawing or approved golden sample
- Function — where the product has a function, it is operated, not just looked at
- Dimensions and weight — measured with calibrated equipment, tolerances applied as specified
- Materials and finish — visual and, where agreed, simple field tests
- Packaging — carton strength, inner packing, drop resistance where specified
- Labelling and marking — barcodes scanned, destination-market marking checked, language requirements confirmed
- Loading readiness — whether the goods are genuinely ready to ship on the stated date
AQL sampling, explained once
You are not paying for every unit to be checked; that would cost more than the goods. AQL sampling under ISO 2859-1 selects a statistically valid sample from the batch and sets a maximum number of defects at which the batch is still accepted.
| Batch size | Sample (Level II) | Accept at 2.5 major | Reject at |
|---|---|---|---|
| 151 – 280 | 32 | 2 | 3 |
| 281 – 500 | 50 | 3 | 4 |
| 501 – 1,200 | 80 | 5 | 6 |
| 1,201 – 3,200 | 125 | 7 | 8 |
| 3,201 – 10,000 | 200 | 10 | 11 |
Our default is General Inspection Level II with 0 critical, 2.5 major, 4.0 minor. If your company has its own standard, we use yours. The level is fixed in the scope before you pay, so nobody renegotiates the pass mark once the defects are on the table.
The report
- Verdict on the front page — pass, conditional pass or fail, with the sampling maths shown
- Defect table classified as critical, major and minor, each linked to a photograph
- Quantity reconciliation against the purchase order
- Photographs of the goods, the packing, the labelling and every defect found
- Loading readiness and a realistic assessment of the ship date
- A recommendation in plain English
Price
| Scope | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard inspection, one site, within 150 km of Istanbul | €320 per man-day |
| Second and subsequent man-days on the same order | €280 per day |
| Re-inspection after rework, same site, within 14 days | €160 |
| Urgency booking (attendance within 48 hours) | + €120 |
| Travel beyond 150 km | at cost, quoted in advance |
Frequently asked questions
How many units can you inspect in one day?
Roughly 1,000 to 3,000 units of a simple product at one site, and far fewer for complex assembled goods or many SKUs. We state the number of days in the scope before you pay.
Can we join the inspection remotely?
Yes. We can run a live video call from the factory floor at an agreed time so your quality manager sees the sample being opened. This is included at no extra cost if scheduled in advance.
What if the goods are not ready when you arrive?
We confirm readiness with the factory before travelling, but it still happens. If the goods are not ready, you are billed for the wasted day at half rate and we tell you honestly whether the ship date is still realistic — which is usually more valuable than the inspection would have been.
Do you inspect against a golden sample?
Yes, and it is the single best thing you can give us. If you have an approved sample, either courier one to us or confirm the factory holds a sealed counter-sample we may open.
Is your report accepted by banks for LC purposes?
Our report is a commercial inspection report, not a bank-nominated inspection certificate. If your letter of credit calls for a certificate from a named body, tell us at scoping and we will say plainly whether we qualify.