Terms of Service
These terms govern your use of SourcInspecify's services. Please read them carefully before placing an order.
Definitions
In these Terms, the following definitions apply:
- "SourcInspecify", "we", "us", "our" — the supplier verification and factory audit firm providing Services under these Terms
- "Client", "you", "your" — the individual or entity that places an order for Services
- "Services" — the supplier due diligence and factory audit services described at sourcinspecify.com, including Background Checks, Sample Reception & Review, Pre-Order Inspections, In-Progress QC, Pre-Shipment Assurance, and Seasonal Audits
- "Report" — the written audit or verification report delivered to you as the output of a Service
- "Supplier" — the Chinese manufacturer or trading company that is the subject of a requested Service
- "Order" — your confirmed purchase of a specific Service as submitted through our website or via email
Our Services
SourcInspecify provides independent, financial-grade due diligence on Chinese suppliers. Our Reports contain factual findings, risk assessments, and an Auditor Verdict based on information available at the time of audit. Our six core service types are:
- Background Check — company registration verification, legal status, credit risk, litigation history, and beneficial ownership review using Chinese public databases and proprietary data sources
- Sample Reception & Review — physical receipt, inspection, and independent assessment of product samples at our China facility
- Pre-Order Inspection — on-site factory audit conducted before you place or confirm a purchase order
- In-Progress QC — quality control inspection conducted during active production to verify conformance to specifications
- Pre-Shipment Assurance — final inspection and compliance check before goods are released for shipment
- Seasonal Audit — periodic, scheduled factory health and compliance assessments for ongoing supplier relationships
Important: Our services are advisory in nature. A Report reflects conditions observed at a specific point in time. We are not responsible for changes in a supplier's circumstances after the audit date.
Placing an Order
An Order is accepted when you complete our order form, provide the required supplier information, and make payment in full. We will confirm acceptance in writing by email.
Your responsibilities when placing an order
- Provide accurate and complete supplier information, including the factory name, address, and your contact at the supplier
- Ensure your supplier is willing to cooperate with our audit team; we cannot guarantee access where the supplier refuses inspection
- Notify us promptly of any changes to your requirements after an Order is placed
Scope changes
If you request a change in scope after an Order is confirmed (e.g. adding factory locations, expanding the audit scope, or changing the product line under review), additional fees may apply. We will notify you and obtain your written approval before proceeding with any scope change that affects pricing.
Payment Terms
100% prepayment required. All Services must be paid in full before work begins. We do not offer credit, deferred payment, or invoice-based billing.
Accepted payment methods
We accept payment via credit or debit card through our secure payment processor (Stripe). Other payment arrangements may be made for clients with special circumstances — contact us before placing an order.
Pricing and currency
All prices displayed on our website are in US Dollars (USD) and exclusive of any applicable taxes, duties, or bank transfer fees, which are the client's responsibility.
Refund policy
- Full refund: if you cancel within 24 hours of payment and before our team has commenced any work on your Order
- Partial refund: if work has commenced but is not yet complete, a refund may be issued for the uncompleted portion at our reasonable discretion, less any costs already incurred
- No refund: once a Report has been delivered, no refund will be issued. If you believe the Report is materially deficient, contact us within 7 days of delivery to request a review
- Supplier refusal: if your supplier refuses access to our audit team and prevents the Service from being performed, we will issue a partial refund reflecting the work completed, less any travel or preparation costs incurred
Service Delivery
Turnaround times
Indicative turnaround times are published on our website for each service type. These are estimates and not guaranteed delivery dates. Delays may arise due to supplier scheduling, travel logistics, public holidays in China, or force majeure events. We will keep you informed of any significant delays.
Delivery format
Reports are delivered as PDF documents by email to the address on your Order. You are responsible for ensuring your email address is correct at the time of ordering. Re-delivery requests may incur an administrative fee.
Your cooperation
Timely service delivery depends on your cooperation. You agree to respond to our reasonable requests for additional information promptly. Where delays are caused by your failure to respond, the estimated delivery timeframe will be extended accordingly.
Reports & Confidentiality
Purpose of Reports
Reports are prepared solely for your use in making informed sourcing decisions. They are based on information available at the time of audit, including publicly accessible databases, physical observations during on-site visits, and documentation provided by the supplier.
Reports are not guarantees. Our Auditor Verdict (Recommend / Proceed with Caution / Do Not Recommend) represents our professional assessment at a point in time. It does not constitute a guarantee of the supplier's future performance, product quality, or financial stability. Sourcing decisions remain entirely your responsibility.
Confidentiality — our obligations to you
We treat your Reports, your supplier information, and your sourcing strategy as strictly confidential. We will not share the contents of your Report with any third party without your written consent, except as required by law.
Confidentiality — your obligations
Reports are prepared for your internal business use only. You may not:
- Publish, distribute, or disclose Report contents to the public or media
- Share Reports with the Supplier who was audited, or with their affiliated entities
- Use Reports to misrepresent a supplier's status to any third party
- Resell or commercialise Reports in any form
You may share Reports internally within your organisation and with professional advisers (e.g. lawyers, accountants) who are bound by professional confidentiality.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, SourcInspecify's total liability to you arising from or in connection with any Order shall not exceed the fees paid by you for that specific Order.
We shall not be liable for:
- Indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages of any kind
- Loss of profits, revenue, contracts, data, or anticipated savings
- Business decisions made by you in reliance on a Report, including sourcing decisions, financial commitments, or contract negotiations
- Loss or damage arising from supplier misrepresentation, document fraud, or information withheld from our audit team
- Delays caused by your failure to provide timely information or by the supplier's failure to cooperate
- Changes in the supplier's condition after the date of the audit
Disclaimer of Warranties
Our Services are provided "as is" and "as available" based on information reasonably accessible to our audit team at the time of the engagement. We make no representations or warranties, express or implied, that:
- A Report will be error-free or complete in every detail
- Our findings will prevent supply chain failures, quality defects, or financial losses
- A supplier assessed positively will continue to meet the same standards in future
- Information provided by the supplier to our audit team is accurate or truthful
Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for fraud, death, or personal injury caused by our negligence, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.
Intellectual Property
All Reports, methodologies, templates, scoring frameworks, and supporting materials produced by SourcInspecify remain our intellectual property. Upon full payment of the applicable fees, we grant you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, perpetual licence to use the Report for your internal business purposes as described in Section 6.
Our website content, brand, logo, and service names are our exclusive property. You may not use them without our written consent.
Cancellation & Termination
Cancellation by you
You may cancel an Order by contacting us in writing. Refund eligibility is determined by the refund policy set out in Section 4.
Termination by us
We reserve the right to cancel or suspend an Order if:
- You provide false or misleading information in connection with the Order
- The Order would require us to breach applicable law or ethical standards
- Payment is reversed, disputed, or charged back after processing
- Circumstances arise that make it unsafe or impractical for our team to perform the Service
In the event of termination by us for reasons other than your default, we will refund the proportionate unused fees within 14 business days.
Disputes & Governing Law
Informal resolution
Before initiating any formal proceedings, we ask that you contact us to describe your concern. We are committed to resolving issues fairly and promptly — most concerns can be resolved within 14 business days.
Governing law
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Any dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms that cannot be resolved informally shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Hong Kong SAR.
Amendments
We may update these Terms from time to time. The version in effect at the time you place an Order is the version that governs that Order. We will notify existing clients of material changes by email.
Contact
If you have any questions about these Terms or wish to raise a concern, please reach out to us:
By placing an Order with SourcInspecify, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service in their entirety.
