I am new to reloading and recently purchased 500 pieces of once-fired .380 ACP brass from an online retailer. The seller states on the website that "every piece" they sell is usable, but without using any words like "guarantee" or "warranty."
When it arrived, I immediately saw that there were several pieces (turned out to be 11) that were white metal that did not attract a magnet, and which I presume to be aluminum. After tumbling it and handling it, I also found another 23 pieces with the case mouth too mashed to go into a die (in my judgement), and about twice that many that are questionable. The bag says the brass is not inspected in any way, which seems to be anathema to the website statement that every piece they sell is usable.
I am not one to raise a stink for no reason, and I honestly think that I would have accepted a certain number of mashed cases without the website statement that raised my expectations. The aluminum cases stood out so much that even glancing at the product would have allowed them to be sorted out; it is hard to feel good about buying them.
So my question is: How should I respond? Is this within industry standards? Should I make the seller aware of the problem and see how he responds? I don't want to make a mountain out of a molehill, but neither do I want to order again from someone who provides substandard product.
When it arrived, I immediately saw that there were several pieces (turned out to be 11) that were white metal that did not attract a magnet, and which I presume to be aluminum. After tumbling it and handling it, I also found another 23 pieces with the case mouth too mashed to go into a die (in my judgement), and about twice that many that are questionable. The bag says the brass is not inspected in any way, which seems to be anathema to the website statement that every piece they sell is usable.
I am not one to raise a stink for no reason, and I honestly think that I would have accepted a certain number of mashed cases without the website statement that raised my expectations. The aluminum cases stood out so much that even glancing at the product would have allowed them to be sorted out; it is hard to feel good about buying them.
So my question is: How should I respond? Is this within industry standards? Should I make the seller aware of the problem and see how he responds? I don't want to make a mountain out of a molehill, but neither do I want to order again from someone who provides substandard product.