A sample order is a small experiment: it helps you discover issues before customers do. It cannot guarantee that every later order will be identical. This checklist gives you a repeatable way to inspect a sample and document what you actually observed, without turning a single result into an unsupported product claim.
Write down your acceptance criteria
Before ordering, record the exact product, variant, print provider, artwork file, print position, and destination. Decide what would stop you from listing it: an unreadable design, unsuitable fit, unexpected print placement, or packaging that does not protect the item. Set criteria before seeing the result so you are not rationalizing a disappointing sample.
Use a representative design
Order the design you intend to sell, or one that exercises the same fine text, solid colors, and placement. A simple logo cannot validate the behavior of a complicated illustration. Compare the design preview with the supplier’s file requirements and keep a versioned copy of the artwork. Check any light-on-light or dark-on-dark details that may disappear on the chosen garment.
Inspect the arrival in stages
- Photograph the unopened package and its condition.
- Record the order, dispatch, and arrival dates.
- Confirm the variant and examine sizing against the listing.
- Check alignment, legibility, color appearance, seams, and obvious defects.
- Record what is different from the mockup before discarding packaging.
Use neutral lighting for photographs and avoid filters that hide defects. If a measurement matters, record your measuring method so another sample can be compared consistently. Production time and transit time should be separate fields; a late arrival alone does not tell you which stage caused the delay.
Test normal use, within care instructions
For clothing, inspect the sample again after following its stated care instructions. Record the cycle and observations rather than making an unsupported durability claim. For another product category, define a relevant, safe use test. Do not perform destructive or unsafe tests just to create marketing content.
Turn the evidence into a listing decision
Choose pass, revise artwork and retest, or reject. If you discover a defect, document it and check the supplier’s current support process. Do not promise customers a reimbursement policy you have not confirmed. Keep the results in a dated log and use only your own photographs or assets you have permission to use. If you recommend a product publicly, disclose affiliate relationships and distinguish your observed sample from untested variants.