Pre-shipment quality inspection for corporate gift orders (with video)
What an AQL 2.5 inspection actually checks on a promotional gift order — logo placement, packaging, carton marks, weights and the report you should receive before shipping.
The last chance to catch a problem cheaply is on the packing floor, not at your client's reception desk. Every order we ship goes through a documented pre-shipment inspection, and buyers should know exactly what that covers.
Sampling follows AQL 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor ones. Cartons are pulled at random across the whole batch rather than from the top pallet, which is where a rushed line tends to place its best work.
Logo checks come first: position measured against the approved sample, colour compared to the physical Pantone chip under D65 light, and adhesion tested with a tape pull on printed surfaces. Engraved marks are checked for depth consistency across trays.
Function and safety follow: lids and seals on drinkware, zip and handle stress on bags, and connector read-write tests on a sampled percentage of USB drives. Food-contact items are matched against their existing FDA or LFGB report numbers.
Packaging is inspected as a product too — insert fit, box crush, ribbon finish, barcode placement and neutral-packaging requirements when the gift is drop-shipped under a distributor's own brand.
Finally the paperwork: carton count, gross and net weight per carton, shipping marks and packing list. You should receive a photo and video report plus the measured weights before the container is sealed, so any dispute is settled before the goods leave.