Maybe items like spreaders ought to have two price points: one for un-assembled, in a damaged beat up box, with a rattle can of paint to be applied by the consumer, and another option of dealer motivated profit margin calculated to the last penny, where delivery of the product is guaranteed to be in pristine condition, for those who actually expect a product of quality to be sold by a, 'insert dealer name here', middleman.
Americans, in general, have come to accept shoddy quality and that is what we will continue to get so long as we accept it.
Why bother painting something at the factory to begin with if the final delivery to the retail consumer is going to be scratch and dent level shoddyness?!
Why have floor model, open box and demo discount levels on all kinds of items across all types of products if one can opt to buy new, in new condition?
As but one for instance, when I bought my box blade it had been fading on the lot for some time. It was supposed to be orange. I asked my dealer to tell me what he could do for me about the faded, scratched condition of the unit and he said he would paint it for the price quoted but I would have to take black instead of the factory orange. I agreed that would be acceptable. It was, like the OP's spreader not a big ticket item, but if I wanted cheaper quality I could have bought from TSC just a block away. I chose to support my selling dealer, for which every sale helps him stay in business. I usually give him first shot at selling me whatever I need, sometimes he gets the sale, sometimes not.
