Request a refund?

Long story short, got my car back from having rebuilt struts installed, they noted some noise from the rear, claimed they'd re-checked all the bolts, blamed a blown strut.
I was doubtful of this, as the struts in question had zero miles since being rebuilt.
Took it to a buddy's shop, where we figured out that the first schmucks hadn't fully tightened the top nuts on either of the rear shocks, hence the noise.

Do I ask for a partial refund from the first shop?
If yes, how much? Just labor for the time it took?
(diagnose, tear apart the rear interior to access the strut tops, tighten (PITA with them installed), reassemble)

Hell, do I even bother telling them? I'd hate to think they'd drop the ball like this on a more crucial set of bolts and kill someone.

These guys are already on my list of 'never again' for a separate incident that occurred when I dropped the car off but that's neither here nor there.

I'd try. You paid them to do something and they didn't do it.

If you don't, you can pay me to not do it too.

Policy at the small shop I once worked at was unless you gave us a chance to make things right (mistakes happen) we would not refund. Reasoning was we had no control over what happens to a car once it leaves the shop and should be allowed to verify and fix the problem.

In reply to vwcorvette:

Once we looked at the top of the struts it was obvious that things were loose, it seems clear to me that they just couldn't be bothered to pull the back seat again.
This wouldn't be the only indication I've gotten that these guys aren't exactly scrupulous.
(in either sense of the term)

Asked for a refund for the shock assembly since that's what was botched, was offered a lesser sum of in-store credit.
...To a shop I have no intention of ever dealing with again.
Owner said that he won't do a refund since I didn't give him a chance to go back through the car again, even after his office guy assured me that they'd gone through it twice and it was a blown strut.
Life was easier back when I drove a miata.

Tell him "Store credit is useless because I never intend to set foot here again, and if I can help it, nobody I know will either. So keep it."

Then move on and forget it.

In reply to SnowMongoose:

I really hate to say it, but seeing how this shop has treated you, just cut your losses and take it as lesson learned. At least it was an easy fix you guys were able to take care of.and it seems you've been much nicer than I would have been, particularly with the built motor turning into an access port. I probably would have gone shopping in their tool boxes and any vehicles on site to make up that difference.

The acquisition of knowledge very frequently involves the spending of money.