In this guide
What should a 1688 inspection brief include?
Identify the order and actual batch, attach the current specification and sample references, and agree the checks, method and units to be examined. Ask the report to record findings, evidence and excluded checks. Review unresolved issues before giving a separate instruction about international dispatch.
Identify the goods that will be checked
Start with the purchase order, supplier, SKU, variant and expected quantity. Add the location and readiness of the goods, including any cartons still to arrive. WorldFirst’s Africa sourcing articles connect written requirements and approved samples with checking goods before shipment. One highlights the risk of a difference between a sample and the goods dispatched. Apply that broad principle to the actual batch: ask the checking team to confirm what was available and which order it belongs to.
Attach the current references and acceptance criteria
Name the specification revision and any approved sample, drawing or packing reference. Explain which features each reference governs. A sample might show the required finish while a drawing defines a dimension. Resolve conflicts before the work begins. For each requested check, state what will be assessed and the agreed acceptance criteria. Ask the checker to flag an instruction that cannot be assessed with the available access, equipment or references. Product-specific safety, testing or regulatory requirements need a separately defined assessment and qualified review.
Agree the method and number of units
List the checks you want performed, such as counting selected cartons, measuring a feature or comparing visible finish. Agree how units will be selected and how many will be examined for each check. Sampling examines selected units; a full check examines every unit for the agreed features. Neither description defines the work on its own. Record the method, access needed and limitations. Ask whether opening packs or performing a check could affect the goods, and agree any repacking work. Confirm feasibility, timing and charges before inspection starts.
Use a brief that can be acknowledged
The following is our original suggested worksheet. It is a starting point to adapt with the checking team. Complete the fields before authorising work and ask the team to acknowledge the same version. Keep unanswered scope questions visible. For a mixed order, identify the checks and quantities for each SKU so one completed line cannot imply that every variant has been examined.
| Field | Agree before checking | Record in the report |
|---|---|---|
| Batch identity | Order, SKU, variant, location and expected quantity | Goods available and carton or batch references |
| Current references | Specification revision and approved sample or images | References used and anything unavailable |
| Scope and method | Features, criteria, unit selection and quantity for each check | Method and actual units checked; work omitted |
| Evidence | Required views, measurements and finding identifiers | Results linked to identifiable units or cartons |
| Decision | Buyer review owner and any agreed hold instruction | Open issues and the buyer’s later dispatch instruction |
Ask for findings you can trace
A report should let you connect a result to the relevant product and reference. Request an overview of the goods available, the actual units examined and any departures from the brief. Ask for finding identifiers that link descriptions to photos or measurements. A close-up may show a mark clearly but still need a wider view to identify its position. Keep the recorded result separate from a proposed remedy. Where a check was omitted or a reference was missing, ask the team to state that explicitly.
Review exceptions before deciding what happens next
Compare the report with the acknowledged brief. Check whether all requested work was completed and whether the evidence supports the reported result. If something is unclear, request the missing information before deciding. Record affected units, the supplier’s response and any proposed sorting, rework or replacement. Confirm who would perform that work, its cost and how completion would be checked. A supplier’s proposed remedy still needs your decision. Keep issue records alongside the original report so the reason for each action remains clear.
Give a separate dispatch instruction
After reviewing the findings, record your decision against the order and report version. Identify any goods you authorise for dispatch and any you want held, subject to the agreed handling arrangements. Confirm that the person arranging freight has received the current instruction. If cartons are repacked, relabelled or changed after checking, consider what needs to be checked again. Inspection evidence describes the work completed at that point; use the final packing record when planning the shipment.
Define the checking work before it starts
Our quality-control service covers agreed checks and supplier coordination. The order reference, current specification and requested checks help establish the scope and reporting requirements.
Questions before you order
Does sampling confirm every item in my 1688 order?
Sampling records findings from the units examined under the agreed method. Confirm the selection, quantity and features checked, then consider the report’s limits when deciding what further work you need.
What if the inspection report says a requested check was not completed?
Ask why it was omitted and what would be needed to complete it. Record the unresolved requirement and decide whether to arrange further work before authorising dispatch.
Can I approve only part of a batch for dispatch?
Discuss whether the affected goods can be identified and separated under the agreed handling scope. Your written instruction should identify the released and held quantities, along with any rechecking or repacking requirements.
Sources & further guidance
- WorldFirst Africa: AliExpress vs 1688 (samples and pre-shipment checks)
- WorldFirst Africa: Supplier verification guide for Moroccan importers (written requirements and batch checks)
These references provide platform, payment or import background. The purchasing checklists are our practical guidance. Check the current terms and official requirements for your product and destination.
Product acceptance, inspection scope, charges and delivery arrangements need to be agreed for your order.