how much of what we believe about testing actually comes from vendor threads

Asking properly rather than in a comment on somebody else’s thread: how much of what we believe about testing actually comes from vendor threads.

Started buying small deliberately, tested every lot for the first four, then stopped testing every lot because there was nothing to find.

Kept a spreadsheet of quoted versus actual lead time across 21 orders. The quoted number held.

The order I actually check things in, for anyone building a process rather than asking about one supplier.

First, the record: source page, verification log, and how many separate lots have been tested rather than how many tests exist. Second, the paperwork: ask for a batch-specific certificate and see what comes back and how fast. Third, the logistics: quoted lead time, minimum quantity, which lines are held in regional stock. Fourth, buy small and test it yourself.

Nothing in that list is exotic and all of it is answerable before you spend real money. Most of the disappointment posts on this board skipped step two.

I will update this if the picture changes rather than quietly leaving it up.