Scratch

In foreign trade, 'scratch' usually refers to linear damage on the surface of goods caused by friction or scraping, and is an appearance defect. It is commonly seen on metal products, plastic parts, glass, painted parts, electronic product housings, etc. Usage scenarios include: quality inspection reports, inspection standards (such as AQL sampling), customer complaints, claim negotiations, and contract quality clauses. Notes: 1) The determination of scratches requires clear standards, such as length, width, depth, quantity, location (whether on visible surfaces), and whether function is affected; 2) Different customers have different acceptance levels for scratches, so an acceptable range should be agreed in the contract or specification to avoid subjective disputes; 3) Distinguish from 'dent,' 'abrasion,' and 'gouge': a scratch is usually shallow and linear, a dent is a depression or deformation, an abrasion has a larger area and rough surface, and a gouge is deeper and may damage the substrate; 4) Scratches during transportation are often caused by improper packaging, so internal packaging protection should be strengthened; 5) If scratches cause functional or safety risks, they may constitute a major defect, and the buyer has the right to reject the goods or claim compensation. Foreign trade practitioners should keep pre-shipment inspection photos and packaging records to facilitate responsibility allocation.