I smell bullshit. Your parents could have EASILY retained an attorney and stopped the sale all the way up until the end. They could have given the cash back or place in an escrow account until the details were ironed out. C'mon man.
X2!
Something seems a bit sketchy as the guy was scrapping the stuff but yet he wanted TOP DOLLAR for it... Also As stated above the sale could have been stopped all the way till the end. But it wasent.....
You are also in my prayers as you need some help if you moved across the country due to car parts. I do not have my dad (He has not talked to me since I was 6....) It eats at me every day thinking I only saw him a few times and he will not answer the phone to me nor will he make any effort to contact me... I dont even exist to him no more (**** father but nothing I can do and nothing I did caused him to act this way...) I have my mom thank god and the rest of her side of the family but none on my dads side..... You need to cherish the fact they are still here!!! Run towards the problem and straiten it out not away from it and let it get worse!!They will not be here for ever!!
Your decison though and my thoughts!