PSI China for Amazon Sellers: What Pre-Shipment Inspection Covers and Costs ($169)
Inspection cost mainly depends on scope, location, man-days, reporting requirements, and whether follow-up checks are needed. Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) in China catches product defects before your container leaves the factory. For Amazon FBA sellers, it means fewer returns, lower storage fees, and zero inbound rejections.
Pre-shipment inspection (PSI) in China catches product defects before your container leaves the factory. For Amazon FBA sellers, it means fewer returns, lower storage fees, and zero inbound rejections. A typical PSI costs $169 per man-day and covers quantity, appearance, function, packaging, and labeling — the five things that cause 90% of FBA issues.
What does PSI China actually check for Amazon products?
A pre-shipment inspection covers five critical areas. First, quantity verification — your inspector counts every carton against the packing list. Second, appearance check — visual defects, color matching, surface finish. Third, functional testing — does the product actually work? Fourth, packaging integrity — carton strength, inner padding, poly bag thickness. Fifth, labeling accuracy — FNSKU barcodes scan correctly, country of origin is present, and safety warnings are in English.
These five checks catch roughly 80% of defects that would otherwise trigger an Amazon inbound hold. The most common failure? Incorrect or missing FNSKU barcode. It accounts for nearly 30% of FBA rejections at inbound.
How much does PSI China cost for Amazon sellers?
Pricing starts at $169 per man-day. One inspector typically checks 200-500 units per day depending on product complexity. Simple products like phone cases or kitchen gadgets at the higher end. Electronics with functional testing at the lower end. There are no travel fees for inspections in major manufacturing cities — Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Yiwu, Ningbo, Shanghai. For factories in remote areas, a small travel surcharge applies.
Compare that to the cost of a single FBA inbound rejection. Each rejected unit costs storage fees while it sits, a removal order fee ($0.50-$2.00 per unit), and the original shipping cost. One bad shipment can easily cost $500-2,000 in penalties. PSI at $169 is the cheaper choice every time.
When should Amazon sellers book PSI China?
Book your inspection when the factory confirms 80% of production is complete. This is the sweet spot — enough finished goods to inspect a statistically valid sample, but early enough that the factory can fix issues before the final 20% is produced. For most orders, that means booking 7-10 days before your cargo readiness date.
Never book on the day of container loading. If the inspection finds defects at that point, you have no time to rework. You either ship defective goods or delay your container. Both options cost money.
Step 1: Choose your AQL level
AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) is your pass-fail threshold. For Amazon products, AQL 2.5 is standard — meaning 2.5% of units can have minor defects and the shipment still passes. Critical defects (safety issues, fire hazard) have AQL 0 — zero tolerance. Major defects (functional failure, wrong color) use AQL 1.0. Your inspector will explain each category and help you choose the right level.
Step 2: The inspector arrives at the factory
Your inspector shows up unannounced within the agreed window. They photograph the factory exterior, the production line, and the warehouse. Random sampling begins — the inspector pulls units from different cartons across the batch, not just the cartons the factory offers. This prevents the factory from staging good units on top.
Step 3: Inspection and reporting
Each unit is checked against your specifications. The inspector photographs every defect — close up and with a ruler for scale. Results go into a report with three sections: critical defects (0 tolerance), major defects (AQL 1.0), and minor defects (AQL 2.5). You get the full report within 24 hours by email, with photos and a clear pass-fail recommendation.
What happens if the shipment fails inspection?
If defects exceed your AQL limit, the shipment fails. You have three options. Option one: negotiate with the factory for rework — sorting and fixing defective units. Option two: request a reduced price for the defective goods and sell as "used" or "warehouse deals." Option three: reject the entire batch. Most Amazon sellers choose rework. The reinspection after rework costs another $169, but it beats shipping 200 defective units to FBA.
FAQ: PSI China for Amazon sellers
Do I need PSI for every shipment? Not necessarily. First-time orders from a new factory — yes, always. Repeat orders from a proven supplier — every third or fourth shipment is reasonable.
Can the inspector check Amazon FBA labeling? Yes. FNSKU barcode scan, country of origin,窒息warning, and poly bag thickness are all standard checks.
How do I book PSI China? Email your PO and product spec to CloudSpects. We assign an inspector and confirm within 24 hours. Inspections available in 50+ Chinese cities.
What if my product needs special testing? Drop testing, button force, battery safety — just tell us before the inspection. We add the checks to the scope at no extra charge.