Does stainless steel range hood darken?

Hello everyone,

my name is Christian. I have been reading the forum for quite some time and would like to thank everyone who posts here for the good contributions, from which I was able to take a lot for my own kitchen planning.

Now the planning is complete, the materials and appliances have been ordered and some have already arrived. The new extractor hood also arrived today via DHL. And it is exactly this that now leaves me totally perplexed.

It is a stainless steel wall-mounted hood.

When unpacking, I noticed that at one spot on the hood the protective film was missing on an area of about 20cm x 10cm. The area where the film is missing is noticeably darker and more matte than the surrounding stainless steel surface and stands out clearly. This looks very unattractive.

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Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about metal at all.

Could it be that the unprotected stainless steel simply reacts with the oxygen in the air and therefore changed like this?

I would like to thank everyone in advance who takes the time to read and comment on my post.

Christian

Stainless steel does not simply react with oxygen. My first suspicion is salt or chlorine compounds, therefore, a deep-sea container got caught in a storm and all unprotected areas have corroded. Therefore, claim and have it delivered anew.

Stainless steel does not simply react with oxygen.

I don't know what stainless steel reacts with (actually it's the air!), but our stainless steel surfaces tarnish, which is normal. Then the surface is cleaned and that's that. I assume that it tarnished evenly without protection. I would do a test cleaning on one corner, but document that as well.

I would do a test cleaning on a corner, but also document it.

Since stainless steel surfaces are slightly streaked, be careful not to work across the grain, you will see the grinding and cleaning marks forever.

That can be wiped away and then it will develop evenly. But of course, you can also make a complaint.

I would complain. People easily pay 1,500 scoundrels for such a hood, I wouldn't polish it on my own or use cleaners on it. Even if you document it, the manufacturer will (and does) say in the end that it was not done professionally, the hood is now beyond saving and they won't take it back.