That finish you may have had to run off could be there for a reason. I can’t remember exactly what it was but I bought something metal and it came with something similar to what you were saying on it. It is to protect the metal during shipping. They do send them to every country and then those people ship them to the buyers. I would want the protection. That way it is perfect when you get it. Any deterioration after that is your responsibility by keeping it clean and in a good environment.