Cylinder bore is scratched up!

This is the classic switcheroo.

They can play this for months, maybe years.

The hard twig breaks. The soft pliable twig just bends.
They suddenly become mush. Nobody knows anything. Nobody is responsible. Nobody has the power to make a decision.
This is why the dealing in the NY area can become "aggressive." Nobody will get anywhere unless they have some sort of power they can bring to bear.
If you don't have an in with someone – cops, lawyers, muscle, a rabbi – you can't get the upper hand.

– Eric