What should I check before trusting a seller's self-reported copper content percentage?
Short answer: Self-reported percentages should be treated as a starting point, not a verified fact — ask for the actual test method used (XRF reading, visual grading against a known standard, or just an estimate), and for any meaningful purchase, verify with your own testing or a third-party assay rather than pricing purely off the seller's number.
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Browse Listings →Why self-reported numbers vary so much in reliability
Some sellers genuinely test and report accurate composition data; others estimate based on visual grading or experience, which can be reasonably accurate for common categories but far less reliable for mixed or unusual material. The seller’s number alone doesn’t tell you which situation you’re in.
What to ask to gauge reliability
Ask specifically how the percentage was determined — a specific test method and equipment suggests real verification, while a vague “that’s just what it usually runs” suggests an estimate you should treat more cautiously.
When independent verification is worth the cost
For a small purchase, the cost of being wrong is limited, so trusting a reasonable seller estimate is often fine. For a large purchase where the copper percentage significantly affects the price, independent testing — even a quick XRF check on a sample — is cheap insurance against a costly miscalculation.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Asking a ScrapTrade seller to specify their testing method directly in listing correspondence creates a record of what was claimed, which matters if the actual delivered material doesn’t match.
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