kwilly,
you will find that happens more and more and is not limited just to engines etc. rather it has spread like wildfire in any retail situation.
We as customers are getting screwed everyday.
It used to be that if you bought a new washer/dryer and two weeks later your washer started leaking, you called the Company you bought it from and they sent a guy to fix or replace it.
Now you call and they tell you to go through the manufacturer, the manuf. asks for your warranty info, you tell them it was bought through Company X and they say, you will need them to contact us.
So starts the shifting of blame and responsibility. Someone eventually blame you for using city water vs well, or that you overfilled it, or some other lame excuse.
Now, just change washer/dryer for anything else you may buy and it is the same all over again.
Get it in writing, get it notarized if you can, make copies, and record any conversations you have.
This is the only concrete way to ensure you get a good deal.\
On the other hand, there still are some very reputable, honest and ethical builders, salesmen, etc. so do not let one bad experience stop you from having some trust in your fellow man.