Direct answer
Before a mixed handset order ships, confirm the commercial document set, how units are packed and labeled, how IMEI lists are shared, and who pays if an inspection fails at origin or destination.
Key takeaways
- Mixed lots need a packing list that matches the invoice line by line.
- IMEI lists belong in a file, not in a chat screenshot.
- Inspection cost and fail rules should be written before the crate is taped.
Unresolved paperwork can hold up an otherwise usable mixed lot. We recommend clearing route-specific document and packing requirements alongside unit checks before dispatch.
Copy the dispatch checklist
Record destination: ___; origin/transit route: ___; booked transport mode and service: ___; list revision: ___. Apply that scope to every row.
| Check | Responsible party | Evidence file to record | Release condition to confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Documents | ___ | Invoice, matching packing list, destination-specific papers: ___ | Required set confirmed for this route |
| Packaging | ___ | Packing photos, battery configuration and applicable carrier instructions: ___ | Acceptance for the booked service confirmed |
| IMEI | ___ | Agreed unit/carton identifier file and unresolved rows: ___ | Counts reconciled; exceptions resolved or explicitly held |
| Failure responsibility | ___ | Inspection scope, notification terms, remedy and cost agreement: ___ | Both parties accept the handling and cost allocation |
Documents
Ask for a commercial invoice, a packing list that matches it, and any origin papers your destination actually uses. Do not copy a document set from another shipping corridor without verifying local customs requirements. If you do not know the corridor yet, say so and get local advice before you book freight.
Packing
Agree carton identifiers and a packing plan with the shipper and booked carrier. For air cargo, IATA’s battery guidance distinguishes requirements by battery configuration and rating. Have the responsible shipper confirm the applicable packing, marking and document requirements; this checklist is not a packing instruction for every route or battery condition.
IMEI
Keep a file linking each unit’s observed identifier to its carton. GSMA’s Device Check FAQs explain device identifiers and reported blacklist status. Reconcile identifiers against the agreed file; use the intake diagnostic workflow for separate blacklist, account-lock and functional results.
Failures
Name who investigates a failure, who authorizes a remedy, and how inspection, return freight and failed-unit costs will be allocated under the agreement. Use the pallet unboxing and tally record to document arrival discrepancies before moving units to diagnostics.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip an IMEI list on a small mixed lot?
Ask for an agreed identifier list regardless of lot size. Record any missing identifiers as pending and agree how they will be verified; a list alone does not establish blacklist or account-lock status.
Who should take origin photos?
The party that seals the crate. Date-stamped photos of the packed cartons belong with the shipping message.
Sources
- Device Check FAQs and device identifiers — GSMA Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Battery transport guidance for air cargo — IATA Accessed October 9, 2026.
