What do I do if a seller substitutes a lower grade of aluminium after we'd agreed on a specific alloy?
Short answer: Document the discrepancy between the agreed specification and what was actually delivered, ideally with independent verification of the alloy if you have access to testing, and treat this as a breach of the original agreement rather than an acceptable minor variance — a seller substituting a materially different, lower-value alloy without disclosure is a legitimate basis to reject the shipment or demand a price adjustment reflecting what was actually delivered.
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Source Scrap →Why a specific agreed alloy matters
When you’ve agreed on a specific alloy for a reason — a particular downstream use, a specific customer requirement — receiving a different, unagreed alloy isn’t a minor technicality even if it’s still broadly the same base metal, since it may not actually meet your real need.
How to verify what you actually received
If you have access to alloy testing or verification equipment, confirming the actual composition gives you concrete evidence of the substitution rather than relying on visual inspection alone, which may not reliably distinguish between similar-looking aluminium alloys.
What a reasonable response looks like
Depending on how significant the substitution is and whether the lower-grade material has any use for your purposes, options range from rejecting the shipment entirely to accepting it at a price adjustment reflecting its actual, lower value — the right choice depends on your specific downstream needs.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Specifying exact alloy requirements clearly when sourcing through ScrapTrade gives you a documented reference point if a seller delivers something different from what was agreed.
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