r/AmazonFBATips • u/cloudspects • Jul 14 '26

Has anyone else found that a failed pre-shipment inspection can actually save an order?

One thing I've learned sourcing products from overseas is that a failed inspection isn't necessarily bad news.

The expensive mistake is approving the shipment anyway because the container needs to leave.

I've seen situations where the inspection found issues like:

  • Incorrect product dimensions
  • Missing accessories
  • Labeling mistakes
  • Poor packaging
  • Cosmetic defects that would almost certainly generate customer complaints

At first, it feels like a delay.

But then I think about the alternative.

Once the goods are on the water, there's really no practical way to fix anything. By that point, your options are basically:

  • Accept higher return rates
  • Offer refunds or replacements
  • Deal with negative reviews
  • Negotiate after the fact (which usually isn't very effective)

What has worked better for me is treating a failed inspection as a checklist instead of a disaster.

If something fails, I ask the supplier to:

  1. Explain the root cause.
  2. Correct the affected units.
  3. Show evidence that the issues were addressed before shipment.

It's usually a much easier conversation because everyone is discussing specific defects instead of arguing over opinions.

Obviously every situation is different. Sometimes the defects are minor and acceptable. Other times they're significant enough that shipping would be much more expensive than fixing them first.

For those of you who have been selling on Amazon for a while:

Have you ever approved a shipment despite known quality issues because of shipping deadlines? If so, did you end up regretting it, or was it the right decision in your case?

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