Stupid, they made some samples ... on a different machine .. uisng a completely different method and different material to what will be used in production ..., therefore resulting in samples that can not be used to evaluate issues.  Stupidity is all I can say.  I told him to make 20 samples each pin on the same CNC they will use in production, with the correct material, he agreed. But I'm wondering if we should heed their stupidity and look elsewhere?