1. You book, we confirm within 24 hours
Use the booking form, email hello@cleartoload.com or message us on WhatsApp. Tell us four things: the service, the product, the factory's city and the date the goods will be ready. A purchase order, specification or tech pack and photos of the approved sample help us plan the checks.
Within 24 hours we reply with:
- the inspector who will visit, and whether they are a staff inspector or a vetted freelance inspector;
- the travel band for the factory's location (see coverage) and the notice we need;
- the number of man-days, based on the sample size and the number of styles (see what a man-day is);
- the total price, fixed before you book. It does not change with the result.
2. We agree the checklist before the visit
Every inspection runs to a written checklist built from your specification. For a typical furniture order it covers quantity and packing status, dimensions, construction, finish and colour against the approved sample, function and assembly, moisture content for wood, labels and markings, carton condition and a drop test. Product-specific checks are added where they matter, such as a tip-over check for chests of drawers sold in the US (see the STURDY Act guide).
We also agree the sampling plan in advance: the inspection level and the AQL limits for critical, major and minor defects. Most buyers use general level II with 0 / 2.5 / 4.0. The AQL calculator shows the sample size for your order.
3. On the day: random samples, our hands
The inspector starts by checking how many goods are finished and packed. Samples are then drawn at random from packed cartons by the inspector, not handed over by the factory. Pieces the factory has set aside are refused.
Each sample is checked against the checklist. Every defect is recorded with its classification (critical, major or minor) and photographed, with a measuring tape or reference in frame where it helps. The inspector also photographs the overall lot, carton markings and packing, so you can see what was inspected, not just what failed.
If the factory refuses access, or the goods are not ready, the inspector reports it straight away so you can decide what to do the same day.
4. Supervisor review before release
Before any report leaves us, a supervisor reviews it: the defect classifications, the counts against the AQL limits, the photos and the wording. This applies to every report, from staff and freelance inspectors alike, so the standard does not depend on who visited.
The report goes only to you, the buyer. We do not share findings, photos or results with the factory unless you ask us to.
5. Report and verdict within 24 hours
You receive the full report within 24 hours of the inspection. It opens with one of three verdicts, defined in our verdict glossary:
| Verdict | Standard term | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Cleared to load | Pass | The lot meets your specification and AQL limits. The goods can ship. |
| Hold | Pending | We found issues you need to decide on before the goods ship. |
| Not cleared | Fail | The lot fails your specification or AQL limits. Rework and reinspection are needed. |
See real, anonymised examples in our sample reports.
6. After the report
If the verdict is Hold or Not cleared, we can explain each finding, help you agree corrective actions with the factory and book a reinspection of the reworked goods. For loading, we can supervise the container being loaded and sealed so the goods that passed are the goods that ship (see container loading supervision).
Existing clients can reach the quality team at qc@cleartoload.com for reports, scheduling and questions about findings.