jabadoodle writes:

So that was all just to tell the story. I'm not really looking for
advice on that. Though comments are welcome.

Two things I've learned over the years:

1. Never, ever pay contractors or mechanics ahead of verified delivery. If
they can't float the finances, then they're almost certainly incompetent.
They are experts at weaseling out of disputes over their work; you are just
an unsuspecting novice.

2. If you get in a bad situation like yours, either hire a lawyer to write
nastygrams, or forget about it and get on with your life. Nobody likes to
get taken, but if it isn't worth hiring a lawyer, it isn't worth agonizing
over yourself.

3. Don't get upset when your toys break or otherwise disappoint you.
They're just toys, not your family or career or world peace or your eternal
soul.

4. I can't count.