FBA pre-shipment inspection,
before your stock reaches the fulfilment centre
We check the four things Amazon rejects inbound shipments for most often — quantity and case pack, FNSKU labelling, packaging and carton marking — at the factory in China, while it is still a sticker instead of a returned container.
Why inspect before the freight, not after
An inbound problem does not get cheaper with distance. The same missing suffocation warning is a sticker at the factory and a returned container at the fulfilment centre. Six reasons this check earns its fee.
Rejection at the dock
Amazon can refuse non-compliant inbound, return it at your cost, or hold it as unsellable. Once the cartons are at the fulfilment centre, fixing anything is out of your hands and on your invoice.
Chargebacks and noncompliance fees
Wrong labels, wrong case pack or unreadable barcodes can trigger charges against the shipment. Each one is small; the pattern across a container is not.
Stock-out exactly at launch
A rejected or delayed first shipment means zero inventory while ads and reviews need stock. Sales rank does not wait for a re-shipment from Shenzhen.
Freight is already committed
Air or sea cost is paid whether or not the cartons are acceptable. One avoided re-shipment usually covers the inspection several times over.
Leverage with the supplier
A report with time-stamped photos is what makes a factory rework the batch — before you release the balance payment, not after.
Requirements drift
Labelling, packaging, carton limits and battery documents differ by marketplace and change over time. A checklist from two years ago is not evidence for this shipment.
The cost ladder: where the defect is found decides who pays
| Found at | What it costs | Who absorbs it |
|---|---|---|
| Factory, before trucking | Relabel, repack, rework — days | The supplier, if you hold a written report |
| Forwarder / consolidation warehouse | Extra handling, relabelling, missed cut-off | You |
| Fulfilment centre, at check-in | Refusal or return freight, chargebacks, disposal | You |
| After the listing is live | Stranded stock, lost sales, damaged rank | You |
The ladder is a decision aid, not a quote: actual charges depend on Amazon's current fee schedule and your freight terms.
What we check before the cartons leave the factory
Six checkpoint groups on every shipment, plus two add-ons. The list is set per destination marketplace — US, CA, EU, UK, JP and AU do not share one rulebook.
1. Quantity and case pack
- Carton count against the packing list and purchase order, SKU by SKU
- Units per carton against the declared case pack — counted, not assumed
- Mixed-SKU cartons checked against the marketplace's mixed-carton rules
- Every carton weighed and measured, recorded in the report
- Carton condition: no crush, water damage, or re-taped second-hand boxes
2. FNSKU and barcodes
- FNSKU scanned and matched to your listing — not just "a label is present"
- 100% scan where volume allows; otherwise a defined sample with the method written down
- Print quality: contrast, no smudge, no fold or crease across the bars
- Position flat on the unit, not over a corner or seam; original barcode covered where required
- No duplicate, obsolete or wrong-variant label underneath the current one
- Unit data verified: model, size or colour variant, batch or lot where applicable
3. Unit packaging
- Poly bags: suffocation warning where the opening is 5 in / 12.7 cm or more, transparent, barcode readable from outside
- Bags and boxes sealed; nothing loose inside the carton
- Fragile items: filler and dividers, no movement when the carton is shaken
- Sets and multipacks: component count against the listing
- Accessories, manuals, warranty cards and inserts present as specified
4. Carton marking and shipping labels
- FBA box ID labels present, legible, and matching the shipment in Seller Central
- No old box labels, carrier labels or previous shipment IDs left underneath
- Heavy or "team lift" marking where the carton exceeds the marketplace weight limit (commonly 23 kg / 50 lb for standard cartons — confirm per marketplace)
- Carton size against the standard-size limit (commonly 25 in / 63.5 cm on the longest side — confirm per marketplace)
- Pallet build, corner boards and strapping where the shipment moves LTL or FTL
5. Product compliance evidence
- CE / UKCA / FCC marking where the category requires it, and the declaration to match
- Children's products: CPC or test report, age grading and tracking label
- Lithium batteries: UN38.3 test summary, MSDS, Wh marking on cell and pack
- Liquids and creams: leak test and secondary containment
- Restricted and dangerous goods screened against the marketplace's category rules before freight is booked
6. Expiration and lot data (consumables)
- Expiry date printed on the unit and, where required, on the carton
- Format and language as the marketplace specifies
- Remaining shelf life at delivery checked against the marketplace's current minimum — verified at inspection, not assumed from the spec sheet
- Batch and lot traceability consistent across unit, carton and invoice
Add-on A · Container loading supervision
Container number and seal recorded, carton count witnessed as loaded, photos taken before the door closes. This is the evidence that ends "short-shipped" arguments later.
Add-on B · Document pack for the factory
Inspection report, defect list with severity, photo set, carton count statement and a corrective-action list you can forward to the supplier as the rework instruction.
Six steps from booking to a cleared shipment
Typical turnaround: two to three working days to schedule, one day on site, report within 24 hours of the inspection.
Send the shipment data
SKU list with FNSKU and case pack, purchase order, packing list, label artwork, target marketplace and fulfilment centre code. That is enough to quote and to build the checklist.
Checklist set for your shipment
We assemble the checkpoints from that marketplace's published inbound requirements plus your own specification, and agree the AQL level and sampling plan before anyone travels.
Inspection at the factory
Production complete, labels applied, at least 80% packed. Inspecting cartons before the FNSKU is on leaves the single most common failure point untested.
Scan, measure, open
FNSKU scanned; cartons weighed and measured; sampled units opened for packaging, accessories and marking. Findings photographed in place, not reconstructed afterwards.
Report within 24 hours
Pass, fail or observation at every checkpoint; defects classified critical, major or minor with counts; and a corrective list the factory can act on the same day.
Release, rework or re-inspect
Pass: book loading supervision if you want the container witnessed. Fail: the factory reworks, and we re-verify only the corrected points — faster and cheaper than a second full inspection.
The eight defects that stop an FBA inbound most often
From our inspection files: what fails, why the fulfilment centre refuses it, and the fix that has to happen before the truck arrives.
| Defect | Why it stops the inbound | Fix before trucking |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong or duplicated FNSKU | Units scan into the wrong listing, or are flagged as mislabelled stock | Reprint the correct FNSKU and rescan 100% of the batch |
| Poly bag without suffocation warning | Packaging non-compliance; units can be rejected at check-in | Apply the warning label to every bag of the required size |
| Carton over the weight limit | Manual-handling refusal, or a relabel to heavy marking at your cost | Split the carton, or apply the correct heavy / team-lift label |
| Old box labels left underneath | Shipment cannot be identified reliably at check-in | Remove every obsolete label and re-apply the current box ID |
| Mixed SKUs in one carton where not allowed | Receiving error, misplacement, and count disputes | Separate by SKU, or follow the marketplace's mixed-carton rule exactly |
| Crushed corners and insufficient filler | Damage claims, unsellable units, negative first reviews | Add filler and dividers, replace the damaged cartons |
| Missing accessories or manuals | Returns, "incomplete" reviews, and a listing that sells then refunds | Count against the bill of materials for every sampled unit |
| Expiry date missing or too short | Inventory blocked as unsellable on arrival | Reprint with the correct date, or ship a fresher batch |
Where our service ends
- VICC is an independent third-party inspection body. We are not Amazon, we do not issue Amazon compliance certificates, and acceptance of an inbound shipment is decided by Amazon.
- We verify against the destination marketplace's published inbound requirements as they stand on the inspection date, plus your specification. Requirements differ between US, CA, EU, UK, JP and AU — the checklist is set per destination, not copied from a generic template.
- We do not operate Seller Central shipments, do not act as customs broker or freight forwarder, and do not book inbound placement or warehousing.
- A "pass" means the checked points met the requirements on the day of inspection. It is not a product certification and it does not guarantee that Amazon's own scanners will agree.
Categories we inspect most for FBA
Consumer electronics and accessories, home and kitchen, apparel and textiles, beauty and personal care, toys and juvenile products, pet supplies, sports and outdoor, and automotive accessories.
Inside the report
- Result per checkpoint: pass / fail / observation
- Defects classified critical / major / minor, with counts
- FNSKU scan result: codes read, mismatches, unreadable labels
- Carton count, weight and dimension table by SKU
- Time-stamped photos of every checked item and defect
- Corrective actions to complete before loading
Send the SKU list, get the checklist
Share the SKU and FNSKU list, case pack, destination marketplace and expected ship date. We will tell you what has to be checked before the truck is booked — no obligation.
Request a quote
Scan the WhatsApp codeto reach our sales team directly
FAQ
Will the inspection guarantee that Amazon accepts the shipment?
No. Acceptance of an inbound shipment is decided by Amazon. What the inspection removes is the predictable failure: wrong or duplicated FNSKU labels, non-compliant poly bags, carton marking that does not match the shipment, and missing battery or children's product documents. Anything outside the rules is reported as found, with photos, rather than guessed.
When should the inspection take place?
Production complete, FNSKU labels already applied, at least 80% packed, and three to five days before the truck or container is booked. Inspecting cartons before the labels are on leaves the most common failure point untested.
How long does it take and what does it cost?
Scheduling usually takes two to three working days from confirmation. On site it is normally one day for shipments under about 2,000 cartons, longer for mixed or high SKU counts. The fee depends on man-days and volume and is quoted after we receive the SKU and carton data.
Do you scan every unit barcode?
For FNSKU the scan is the only reliable check, because a label can look correct and decode to the wrong code. We scan 100% where the volume allows, and otherwise apply a defined sample with the method written into the report.
Can you inspect at a forwarder or 3PL warehouse instead of the factory?
Yes, anywhere in China and most of Asia, including consolidation warehouses. Send the address and the cut-off time. The only constraint is that the cartons must still be openable when we arrive.
What happens if the shipment fails?
You receive a corrective list with photos, the factory reworks, and we re-inspect the corrected points. Re-inspection is quoted separately and is usually a fraction of a full inspection, because only the failed points are re-checked.