Approved Sample

An Approved Sample is a sample that the buyer or seller in international trade finally accepts and confirms with a signature, serving as the physical standard for subsequent mass production and delivery acceptance. It is usually produced after multiple revisions of the sample and mutual agreement between both parties, has legal binding force, and is an inseparable part of the contract. Use scenarios include: after receiving the initial sample and revised sample, the buyer is satisfied with quality, color, specifications, etc., signs the approved sample and sends it back to the seller; the seller arranges bulk production accordingly and ensures that the bulk goods match the approved sample. Precautions: the approved sample should be made in multiple copies, with each party holding one, and if necessary, sealed and kept; if the bulk goods do not match the approved sample, the buyer has the right to reject the goods or claim compensation; the approved sample is different from a Reference Sample, which is for reference only and is not binding; it is also different from a Production Sample, which is a sample drawn during bulk production and used to monitor quality. The difference from a Counter Sample is that a counter sample is a sample made by the seller by imitating the buyer's sample and sent back for confirmation, and once confirmed by the buyer, it becomes the approved sample. Therefore, the approved sample is a key basis for quality control and dispute resolution.