How to Read a China Inspection Report: Critical vs Major vs Minor Defects for FBA Sellers

The report landed in his inbox at 4:00 pm. He replied at 4:07: "So... did it pass?"

That question is the most common one we get, and it is the wrong one. ⚠️ A China inspection report is not a single pass/fail stamp. It is three buckets of defects, two AQL numbers, and a verdict you can act on.

Read this once and you will never have to ask again. We write 2,000+ inspection reports a year, and every one follows the same structure.

Why the report exists

Your money is already with the factory. The report is the last checkpoint before the container ships, usually delivered within ~24h of the visit. It tells you: does this shipment meet the quality level you paid for?

Think of it as a neutral referee's scorecard. The inspector has no incentive to pass a bad batch or fail a good one. The photos and measurements are the evidence; the buckets and AQL numbers are the rules; the verdict is the call.

Critical vs Major vs Minor: the three buckets

What each bucket means for your listing

🔥 Critical defects are the ones that get you banned. Wrong FNSKU labels mean Amazon cannot route your inventory. A missing UL mark on an electronic device can get the listing suppressed. Lead in paint on a children's product is a recall event. One critical defect anywhere in the lot, and the report says Fail. No AQL math needed.

Major defects are the ones that get you bad reviews. A charger that stops charging, a mug that leaks, a toy that breaks on day three. These are counted against your AQL accept number, and too many of them fail the lot.

Minor defects are the ones customers mostly forgive. A scratch inside the lid, a slightly off-center logo, a thread that is a shade darker. They are photographed and logged so you know what your supplier's quality actually looks like, but they rarely sink a shipment.

Step 1: Find the sample size and AQL level

Every report lists the lot size, the AQL level (1.0, 2.5, or 4.0), and the sample size. Most FBA orders use AQL 2.5 general inspection level II. On a 3,201-10,000 unit lot, that means 200 units get opened and checked, not 20. If you see a sample size that looks too small, ask why.

Step 2: Count defects against the Ac/Re numbers

The Accept (Ac) and Reject (Re) numbers sit right next to the sample size. At AQL 2.5 with 200 samples, Ac is 10 and Re is 11: up to 10 Majors passes, 11 or more fails. ✅ Your report will print these numbers in plain English, so no table math required.

Step 3: Read the verdict and the photos

Pass, Conditional Pass, or Fail. Every defect has a photo, a measurement, and a location note. Use the photos as your rework list — suppliers respond much faster to pictures than to words.

Conditional Pass: the gray zone

Sometimes a lot lands right at the edge of the accept number. We mark it Conditional Pass: the goods are shippable, but with a written list of fixes we recommend before they reach your customers. Smart sellers use that list to negotiate a small discount or a priority on the next order. 💰 Either way, you go into the shipment with your eyes open.

5 mistakes buyers make when reading reports

1. Reading only the verdict. The verdict is the conclusion, not the story. The defect photos are where the rework conversation starts.

2. Ignoring the sample size. A report on 20 units from a 10,000-unit order proves almost nothing. Confirm the sample matches the AQL table.

3. Fighting over Minor defects. Negotiate on Majors and Criticals. Nitpicking Minors makes the supplier defensive and costs you goodwill.

4. Not sharing the photos. Suppliers fix what they can see. Forward the photo log the same day and the rework starts faster.

5. Skipping the re-inspection. A verbal promise to fix is not a fix. Book the re-check before the container is sealed.

Here is the 10-minute reading routine we teach every buyer: check the sample size first, scan the Critical column, count the Majors against Ac/Re, look at the photos of the Majors, then read the verdict. Ten minutes, and you know exactly what to tell the supplier.

Real inspection: 14 majors on 125 smart plugs

An FBA seller of smart plugs ordered 2,400 units. Our inspector sampled 125 and found 14 Majors: three units that would not pair, five with loose charging ports, and six with misaligned casing. Ac at that sample size is 7. ❌ The lot failed.

The supplier re-labeled two boxes carrying the wrong FNSKU and reworked the affected units. The fix cost $860 and delayed the shipment three days. Without the inspection, those 2,400 plugs would have hit Amazon with a bad pairing rate. Refund requests, removal fees, and a crushed listing rank would have cost far more than $860.

Want the exact numbers for your order size? Use our free AQL calculator before you book.

FAQs

What does Fail mean in a China inspection report?

Fail means the number of Major or Critical defects found in the sampled units exceeded the AQL accept number. The shipment needs rework, re-inspection, or a negotiated discount before it should leave the factory. Most suppliers will rework for free if you send the defect photos quickly.

How long does it take to get an inspection report?

Reports are typically delivered within about 24 hours of the inspection. You get the verdict, defect photos, and measurements in one document you can share with the supplier. Rush reports can be arranged for time-critical sailings.

What is AQL and why does the sample size matter?

AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) is the maximum defect rate you accept from the factory. The sample size comes from the AQL tables: a 3,201-10,000 unit order at AQL 2.5 general level II means 200 units get checked, not 20. Too small a sample gives the factory an easy pass.

Can I request a re-inspection after a Fail?

Yes. After the factory fixes the reported defects, we re-inspect the affected units or a fresh sample. Re-inspection is quoted per man-day and typically takes half a day. The re-inspection report uses the same format, so you compare like for like.

Who writes the report, the factory or the inspector?

The inspector writes it independently, on site, from measurements and photos. The factory never edits it. You receive the original report directly from CloudSpects, and the supplier gets a copy only if you forward it.

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