It comes with a full load of salt and pepper. It is very convenient to use. At first you have to look on top of the mill to retain the sense of rotation which provides the grind salt or pepper. Contrary to questions about the mill, there are no batteries to replace. It is a manual mill. The size of the grind is adjustable either on salt and pepper. In the comments section, it issues Regarding filling. It is best to keep the label attached with an elastic on the mill (but nothing too complicated to implement). The experiment is that there was more simple. The only downside is when you buy salt and pepper, there is a maximum date of use. I have seen anything like this on the label affixed to the mill. As I made the army (PARA commando parachutist ... YES !!!) ... There is 32 years of that (so vaccinated) I have not done the hard !!! I have found (I'm fine mouth) no conservation problem and flavor with salt and pepper. I am very happy with my purchase. When I relied on this, my friends are all admiring the mill so convenient. I have made it 4 stars because it is based in my kitchen recently (I will end the salt and pepper), but it deserves its 5 stars. It is, it seems to me rugged construction. I hope the pieces loaded milling are also !!! (The future will tell me). Cordially