Can I request a physical sample before committing to a bulk purchase from a new seller?
Short answer: Yes, and for a new or unverified seller it's a reasonable, standard request — most legitimate sellers dealing in any real volume expect buyers to ask for a sample, and a seller who refuses any form of sample or pre-purchase verification is a meaningful red flag rather than normal practice.
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Browse Listings →Why samples matter more with new sellers
With an established trading relationship, you have a track record to rely on. With a first-time seller, a sample is one of the only ways to verify the actual grade, purity, or condition of material before committing real money to a bulk order.
What a reasonable sample request looks like
A small representative sample, sent at your cost or split cost, tested against the specific grade claims in the listing, is standard. Unreasonable would be asking for a sample large enough that it meaningfully reduces the seller’s saleable lot.
If a seller refuses
A seller refusing any sample, video verification, or inspection before requesting full payment isn’t necessarily fraudulent, but it does shift more risk onto you — at minimum, it’s worth asking why, and weighing that against how much you’re being asked to pay upfront.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Requesting a sample through ScrapTrade’s messaging keeps the request on record, which is useful context if a dispute comes up later about what was actually agreed before you committed to the bulk purchase.
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