I'm taking a Stainless steel cage off of my ultimate dream list. So sorry you have to deal with that.
I'm tempted to do the same, but I'm far too stubborn and outraged. I've already decided I'm going to complete a stainless specialist course and then get welding lessons at a welding school near me, then make one myself. It might take me a little while, but I'm determined.
Oh wow, I have never dealt with or seen their cages in person - I hope you get a new replacement cage... I would be so angry if I got sent a cage for my bird with such poor messy welds and rust! Please update with what their solution to this problem is. I am so sorry you are dealing with this.
I believe your SS cages there are of much better quality. Budtrol is a company here in Aus that I found out about a while ago through AA but I think they make more than just cages so not a specialty cage maker or anything like that- I seem to recall another cage here being special ordered for a macaw that I guessed the company made to the customers specs rather than well known needs for macs as it was not anything I would want Burt in.
Well. What a saga this has turned into. They checked their stock and all of their replacement cages are similarly rusty. They offered a full refund with return of the cage, or a partial refund of $300 (total cost was $710) if I kept the cage. Given I desperately need a safe cage for Monty I was prepared to take the partial and hire electrochemical weld cleaning equipment for ~$320 given under Australian Consumer Law I would be entitled to seek reimbursement from the seller for additional financial losses associated with their product. I told them this, and they flat out refused my choice and then told me I could take them to court if I wanted. I literally sent them screencaps and links to the relevant pages of Australian Consumer Law, which they ignored. It's a major failure, therefore it's my choice whether I seek a replacement or refund. They can't replace, so I am entitled to accept a partial refund for the loss in value and seek additional compensation at a later stage for any extra expenses associated with repairing the cage.
Anyway, they told me that Fair Trading would just tell me to return the cage (which is bs because ACL), then told me I'd never get a replacement and that I was trying to rip them off [sic: "You would never get a replacement. Rip off"]. I asked why I'd never get a replacement seeing as they stock the things, and they said "the stock would not meet your requirements. Second time to say that". Funny because I don't recall it being advertised with a coating of rust, so it's not really "my" requirements the cage fails to meet.
After feeling blackmailed, I said I'd post it back if they pay postage (again, as per ACL). It's not what I want. I'm fairly certain that some light grinding with an aluminium oxide dremel bit and an electrochemical bath would fix the thing, as the EC cleaner also immediately repassifies the SS surface. I've sent a complaint to Fair Trading NSW requesting a repair as the solution, and will call them tomorrow to discuss.
Worst customer service. They went from "we have to check the stock to make sure you will be happy" to "we would take the item back and won't accept your choice. You can go to the court if you want" within 24hrs and after a few lines of consumer law quotes. Disgusting behaviour. I've never been threatened like that when seeking a remedy to a purchase problem.