Can I rely on my sourcing agent to handle product inspections?

I’m partnering with a sourcing agent on my very first product, and her fee includes a quality inspection service. However, I’m uncertain whether to let her conduct the inspection or to contract a separate, well-regarded inspector for quality assurance. While I fully trust her when it comes to sourcing the product, I’m not as convinced about the inspection process. What opinions or suggestions do you have on this arrangement?

Hey ClimbingMountain, I get where you’re coming from—trusting your sourcing agent for the product is one thing, but when it comes to quality inspection, there’s that whole different ballgame, right? I’ve been down that road and ended up with another opinion: it’s sometimes helpful to get a second opinion, especially if it’s your first product or a high-stakes venture. I was thinking about your situation: would it be possible to run a pilot where you let her do the inspection, and then maybe have a random check done by an independent inspector just to compare notes? That approach might give you some data on how rigorous her process is without costing you too much upfront. Have you considered what kind of red flags or quality issues you’re most worried about? I’m curious to know if you’ve looked into her past inspection reports or perhaps testimonials from others who have used her quality control service. Anyone else here tried a hybrid method like this before? Would love to hear more thoughts on how to balance trust and thoroughness.

hey, i recc on using a third party inspector for a tru independent check, even if it costs a bit more. don’t relaly only on her inspecting stuff, just to be safe.