GUIDE / STORAGE & STOCK DECISIONS
Hold the stock.
Define what is still unknown.
Separate temporary storage from counting, inspection and rework, so each next step has a clear record and approval.
Confirm acceptance before stock is sent.
Identify whether the goods are supplier stock in China, marketplace inventory being removed, or customer returns. Confirm the country, product type, quantities, condition and intended next step with the receiving operator. These routes need their own acceptance and address instructions.
- SKU and variant list, expected units and cartons
- Product and packaging condition, including any handling restrictions
- Origin, current location and shipment or removal references
- Confirmed receiving address and responsible operator
- Agreed storage scope and next decision date
Destination availability, product acceptance and return addresses are shipment-specific. Do not send goods before the receiving plan is confirmed.
Choose the level of inventory evidence.
A temporary hold does not automatically include opening every carton or checking every unit. Decide what must be known at arrival, what can remain unverified and what work is needed before resale or onward shipment.
| Receiving scope | What the record establishes | What still needs a decision |
|---|---|---|
| Carton receipt | Cartons received, shipment references and visible outer condition | Actual unit quantities and variants inside unopened cartons |
| Unit counting | Units recorded within the agreed counting scope | Product condition, completeness or functional checks unless included |
| Condition inspection | Observed condition against an agreed checklist | Resale eligibility, handling of untested stock and seller disposition |
| Prep or rework | Approved labels, packaging or other agreed work completed | Final destination acceptance and shipment release |
Keep expected quantities separate from verified quantities. Describe the scope actually completed rather than treating every receiving record as a full inspection.
Separate storage from the work that follows.
Ask for a written scope covering the work included at arrival and the work that will require a later approval. A storage discussion should also identify how the charge is measured and when it starts.
| Scope item | Agree before approval |
|---|---|
| Intake | Receiving, unloading, carton records and any unit counting |
| Storage | Billing basis, start date and review point |
| Inspection | Units or variants covered, checks requested and evidence format |
| Rework | Old-label removal, new labels, packaging and materials |
| Outbound | Picking, packing, transport and destination handling |
Confirm how a changed quantity, longer hold or new destination affects the scope. No price or free-storage period is assumed by this guide.
Review pricing scopeRecord the instruction for the held stock.
Use one decision record for each batch. Update it when counts, condition or the intended route changes. The seller approves what should happen to the stock; the receiving operator confirms whether the requested work can be accepted.
| Decision field | Information to record |
|---|---|
| Identity | Owner, batch, physical SKU and variant mapping |
| Quantity basis | Expected units, cartons received and any verified unit count |
| Open questions | Uncounted cartons, unknown condition or unresolved labels |
| Instruction | Hold, inspect, repack, relabel, release or disposal assessment |
| Approval | Named approver, date and agreed scope or cost changes |
| Review point | When to revisit the hold and who follows up |
Holding stock is not permission to relabel, restock or dispose of it. Record a separate approval for the next action.
Use stock age to set the next review
For older or seasonal stock, identify the batch, age basis, quantity still available, units already reserved and intended next sales period before choosing the physical action. Agree a review date and ask the seller to approve continued holding, rework or movement to an accepted destination.
The slow-stock batch decision record connects the age review to the approved hold, inspection or movement instruction and the balance that remains.
WFS inventory health reporting can inform the seller’s decision using inventory age, demand forecasts and stock already in transit. Keep that marketplace view separate from a proposed China hold. Confirm current charges and any removal requirements in the seller account before choosing the route.
Source checked 6 October 2026: WFS inventory health report. Recheck the seller’s current configuration and instructions before acting.
Example: the cartons arrive before a resale decision.
Illustrative planning example; this is not a customer case.
A seller expects two similar variants but initially requests carton receipt and temporary storage only. The receiving record lists the cartons and visible outer condition. The unit quantities remain marked as unverified.
Before approving onward shipment, the seller requests a defined counting and identity check. Any mixed variants or damaged packaging are recorded as exceptions. The seller then approves the label files, packaging work and destination for the verified stock.
This sequence keeps the initial hold scope clear while making the unresolved inventory questions visible. It does not promise that deferred counting will reduce the total cost.
Review the hold and choose the next instruction.
Share the SKU list, expected quantities, current location, available photos and the decision you are postponing. Identify what needs verification now and what can wait for a later approval.
For stock remaining in China.
Storage for a later release and a restriction caused by an unresolved check are different decisions. Keep the reason and next review date with restricted quantities. Use the verified balance to scope a future allocation; agree any remaining checks, preparation and release separately.
Prepared by SinoWarehousing · Published · Updated . Platform references carry their own review dates.