New Idler pulley defects from pelican?
 

Ordered new idler pulley and it appears there are two grind marks which are covered with what looks like black permanent marker.

MAYBE for balancing? Intentionally large image for detail.

Attachment 19961

Is that supposed to be a factory part?

Notice how they are radial. Doesn't look accidental. Probably for balance...

Well their 'balancing' left lots of shavings in the crevice of the seal.

A portion of the part no. was ground off. Does the factory do that?

I've purchased TRW control arms,that were clearly parts they made for Porsche factory, that had some of the markings ground off. I'm thinking they have to make it look different than the parts they make for Porsche if they are going to sell elsewhere.

TRW makes most of the aluminum suspension parts for Porsche. TRW casts a triangle with a P inside to indicate a genuine Porsche part. If Porsche is not going to buy all the parts that TRW has made, TRW can sell them to someone else after removing the logo.

I was told that these parts have not met quality standards thus part numbers will be partly ground of and cannot be sold as OEM.

Who told you that?

I'll bet the 911 part doesn't have that.....

Except that it is listed as OEM..?

Porsche Boxster (1997-2004) - Engine Miscellaneous - Page 2

OE = original equipment

OEM = original equipment manufacturer

They're not necessarily the same thing.

Certainly not the person selling it!

If it's not a genuine Porsche part it cannot have the identifying genuine Porsche P triangle and part number. Same goes for BMW. It doesn't affect the function of the pulley. For Genuine vs. OEM questions read here.

There are strict guidelines within the VAG group what qualifies as OEM and what not. I know this from higher ups at the Audi headquarters that parts not meeting standards are sorted out and will be marked just like in the picture posted.
The same policy Audi is following is applied to all other brands. As we know parts are shared throughout the group of brands. Example are water pumps, same thing. I have seen these parts fail.

So is my Pelican supplied pulley going to fail? Is it ...'the runt'... of the pulleys?

Why don't you order another one and return the one you don't like.
Yes, you will have to pay the return but you will have a piece of mind...