Originally Posted by
Locomotion81
Here goes.....in my opinion. If a shop offers an opinion on whether something is beyond repair or not without first taking a look at it, that's a dubious business practice. Second, I NEVER build a wheel, custom bike, etc. without a deposit....not paid in full, but a deposit...it allows me to proceed with knowledge that you are in fact willing to buy it and 2nd, it prevents this type of "misscommunication". So that again, is another dubious business practice.
This situation could've easily went in the opposite direction had the shop been reputable. You (OP) have to understand that some repairs just can't be assessed without doing half of it to begin with. Stuff like cones cannot be checked without taking stuff apart, and at that point you're already looking at a hub overhaul charge and it might turn out that they're actually damaged enough that it isn't really worth replacing cones/bearings + associated charge and it would be more cost effective to just buy a whole new wheel.
Just as an example.