Bad cork on TFO spey rod

[PerchEyes]

I recently puchased a two-handed 12.5 ft TFO Lefty Kreh spey rod.
I have only used 5 times and have noticed that dozens of huge pits (.25 inch across and deep) have developed in the cork. To the extent that if it continues I fear that it may be more than a cosmetic problem.
On burfish.com (I did not purchase there) the description of this rod states that it has: "Grade A cork".
If this is grade A, I would hate to see what grade B or C looks like!

Anyone else have similar complaints with the TFO cork?

Can I fix?

I plan to bring it back to the local fly shop that I purchsed from to get their opinion, but I would like to hear yours...

Thanks,
PerchEyes

[Scran]

Without pictures it's hard to tell. Is there anyway that you could post some? That would help a lot.

[kweetech]

I think availability of good cork is tough these days...even a couple of my winstons of what I would call second grade cork...one is ready to come apart....plan on sending it back after the fall season.
Send it back if its unbearable to use...

[sva01]

You bought a "value" priced rod that is made offshore. I'd say you got what you paid for. I don't mean that as a slam either. It's just that TFO rods are meant to be inexpensive. In order to be inexpensive, they need to keep costs down and components and labor are the easiest ways to accomplish that.

Fill the voids with wood putty and sand down. It will be as good as new.

[BDTROUT]

I have been fixing a lot of cork lately on rods that are HIGH END(SCOTT,WINSTON,SAGE)!!!!Back in the day flor grade meant NO imperfections,,,,maybe a scratch.
Guess what they don't build these rods like they used to.I just tried to fix a cork problem on a rod to find out it has burl cork in the middle core, and a thin layer of real cork on the outside , once ya start sanding you end up with a mess, so be carefull if you try and fill and sand,,,,it might not work like ya think.I also was working on a cork handled rod that had had a foam core,,,,what a surprise,the cork on the outside is real ,its only 1/32 of an inch thick !!!!
I do not build anymore rods with real cork, most of the cork now is mislabled and one mans extra fine flora grade is another mans messy
grade A.I use burl, or rubberized cork and wood,,,,lasts longer and looks awsome.
BDT