What's the process if a shipment arrives with visibly different material than what was photographed?
Short answer: Photograph the discrepancy immediately, before unloading further or accepting the shipment as complete, compare it side by side with the original listing photos, and contact the seller with that evidence before doing anything that could be seen as accepting the material as delivered.
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Browse Listings →Document before you do anything else
The moment you notice a mismatch, stop and photograph what you’re actually seeing next to the original listing. Time-stamped photos taken immediately on arrival are far more persuasive than a description written after the fact.
Why “accepting” the shipment matters
Signing a delivery confirmation, unloading the entire truck, or mixing the material with existing stock can all be interpreted as accepting the shipment as satisfactory, which weakens your position in a dispute. If something looks wrong, raise it before you do any of that.
What resolution typically looks like
Depending on how far off the material is, resolution could be a price adjustment, a partial return, or full rejection of the shipment — but that conversation goes much better when you have clear, immediate documentation rather than a delayed complaint.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
A dispute raised through ScrapTrade with photo evidence attached gives both parties, and the platform if needed, something concrete to evaluate rather than a he-said-she-said situation.
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