Sourcing glossary
Third-party inspection
Also known as: Independent inspection, QC inspection service, 第三方验货, 제3자 검사
A quality inspection performed by an independent company hired by the buyer, rather than by the supplier's own QC team, to report objectively on goods before payment or shipment.
A supplier's own QC report is useful but not independent. A third-party inspector follows your checklist and AQL plan, takes photos and measurements, and sends you a report the same day or the next, so you can decide whether to release the balance payment.
Book the inspector yourself and pay them directly; an inspector arranged or paid by the supplier is not independent. Give them the golden sample, specifications and packaging requirements in advance. See the pre-shipment inspection checklist.
Related terms
Guides that use this term
Platforms
Alibaba Trade Assurance: What It Covers and How to Claim
What Alibaba.com Trade Assurance covers and excludes, which payments qualify, refund windows, delivery-delay compensation and how to file a claim.
Updated 2026-09-23 · 5 min read
QC
Defective Goods from China: What to Do When Your Order Arrives Wrong
Defective goods from a Chinese supplier? How to document evidence, use your PO terms, negotiate a fix, file Trade Assurance or insurance claims, and prevent repeats.
Updated 2026-09-21 · 5 min read
Compliance
How to Calculate Landed Cost When Importing from China
A step-by-step landed cost formula for China imports: product cost, freight, insurance, duty, VAT, fees and delivery, with why US and EU/UK duty bases differ.
Updated 2026-09-17 · 6 min read
Platforms
How to Verify an Alibaba Supplier Before You Pay
Check an Alibaba.com supplier step by step: what Verified and Gold Supplier badges mean, business license lookups, factory vs trader signals and red flags.
Updated 2026-09-15 · 5 min read
Trade terms
How to Pay Chinese Suppliers Safely: T/T, L/C, Trade Assurance and More
Compare the ways to pay a Chinese supplier: T/T bank transfer, deposit terms, letters of credit, Trade Assurance, PayPal and Wise, plus how to stop bank-detail fraud.
Updated 2026-09-06 · 7 min read
Suppliers
Factory vs Trading Company in China: How to Tell and Which to Use
How to tell a real Chinese factory from a trading company using the business license scope, capital records and audits, plus when a trader is the smarter choice.
Updated 2026-09-02 · 7 min read
Part of Quality Control.