Well if true, then you just made your decision about this bass. Return it, period.
Any mass produced bass is only going to be as good as the sum of it's parts and the person who does the final assembly and setup prior to shipping. Besides this stuff happens even with custom instruments. You can never be sure, too many parts, too many variables in assembly.
If as you say everybody in your area buys and returns then how can you be SURE you didn't get sent someone elses return?
If you really want a P return it and get another. Or take that one to a local Luthier and have the stuff corrected. I've done that before when in a similar situation where I liked the look and sound but the play-ability was dodgy. Sometimes the selling dealer will give you a discount and credit you back for repairs rather than having to deal with a customer return. I once bought a USA Fender 62 RI that had issues and I had a local luthier give me an estimate on repair and setup on to correct it. I contacted the dealer, faxed the estimate, told them I'd keep the bass if they'd refund me the repair costs, otherwise I was returning it. The dealer refunded me the price of repairs. So you have options.