Machine shop refuses to install exhaust valve seats

I don't know
He sees a job he doesn't think he can do properly and refused to do it

Exactly. He's not a machinist. He should be flippin burgers.

Compare that to the mechanic we read about in the exhaust section of the forum who put the motor mounts on the wrong side and then claimed it improved the cars handling and this guy doesn't seem so bad, at least he is willing to recognize and admit a job he can't perform

But that still shows he doesn't know how to do a simple machining process that anyone in the automotive machine business should know how to do. You keep takin your stuff there and you deserve whatever outcome you get.