"I know there are some places to avoid like
the plague (the Parts Place in Opdyke Hills Michigan would be one
very obvious example"

What is with this. I have been doing buisness with them for 7 years now and
have not had a single problem. If you think that there recycled parts are
high remember that they have a lot of overhead and burden to pay for. they
are a buisness and not a guy selling out of thee garage.