Short answer: yes to both. You are welcome to send your own third-party inspector before shipment, and payment can go through Alibaba Trade Assurance. The rest of this page covers when to book the inspection, what the inspector should check on a cabinet order, and what each protection does and does not cover.

When to book the inspection

Book it for the end of production, once the cabinets are finished and packed but before the container is loaded. That is the last point before the goods leave the factory.

It also lines up with the payment schedule. Our standard schedule: after we issue the quotation, a 10% deposit starts the 3D rendering stage. When the 2D drawings and the electrical and plumbing layout drawings are completed, payment reaches 20% of the total. Once all designs are confirmed and signed off, payment reaches 50% and production begins. The remaining 50% is due before shipment. Booking the inspection before that last payment means you pay the balance after you have read the report.

Production takes 35–45 days from the day the final drawings are approved, so you can give the inspection company a realistic window early.

What the inspector should check on a cabinet order

A general product inspection is not enough for custom cabinetry. Give the inspector the signed drawings and ask them to check against those, not against a generic checklist:

• Sizes — carcass width, height and depth for a sample of units against the drawings, including any non-standard units.
• Board and edges — the board type named in the order, edge banding fully bonded with no lifting at corners.
• Door and panel finish — colour matched across doors from different batches, no chips, runs or scratches, grain direction as drawn.
• Hardware — the hinge and runner brand named in the order, drawers open fully and close softly, doors aligned after adjustment.
• Packing — corner protection, cartons labelled by room and unit number, and the carton count matching the packing list.

Ask for photos of each point in the report. A report that only says "passed" is hard to act on if something turns up after delivery.

We also run our own inspection before shipment and can send you photos or video of it.

What an inspection does not cover

An inspection checks the goods on the day. It does not check whether the drawings were right in the first place, and it does not cover damage in transit. Get the drawings right before sign-off, and read the after-sales page for what to do if something arrives damaged.

How Alibaba Trade Assurance fits in

Trade Assurance is Alibaba's order protection for buyers. The order and its terms, such as product description, quantity and shipping date, are recorded on the platform, and payment is made through the platform. If the goods or the shipping date do not match what the order says, you can raise a claim with Alibaba rather than only with the supplier. Claims are handled under Alibaba's own terms and time limits.

Through Trade Assurance, the order is paid as an 80% deposit and a 20% balance. The deposit covers everything from design through production up to inspection; the 20% balance is paid at the inspection stage, before shipment. The staged schedule above applies to orders paid outside Trade Assurance.

For a custom order, the protection is only as good as the order description. Attach or reference the signed drawings, the board, finish and hardware you agreed, and the shipping date, so there is something concrete to hold the goods against.

Common questions

Can I use both an inspector and Trade Assurance?

Yes. They protect different things: the inspector checks the goods before they leave, and Trade Assurance records the order terms and handles claims.

Which inspection company should I use?

You can use any established third-party inspection company that works in Guangdong. Choose one that will inspect against your drawings.

What if the inspector finds a problem?

The report gives both sides the same list to discuss before shipment.

To plan an order with an inspection built in, send your drawings through our contact page. For what else to check between quotes, see how to compare quotes from different factories.