Im not saying anything is wrong with machine built wheels, but on the particular bike that MH has, the wheels probably cost the same as a normal spoke on its own would cost.

Mavic make some great machine built wheels, but their hubs let them down. And machine built wheels are fine for the majority of riders.

Im looking at getting some mavic 321s on Kings in the new year, hand built by our award winning wheelbuilder
Beaut!

Id call that shop ASAP and ask for the manager. Then tell him that he/she is full of dookie, and demand a new wheel or at least the price of this bogus "service" be applied to it. If the thing was so bent as to require slack in some spokes, its a dangerous wheel to ride and the shop should have informed you of that, but instead theyre out to make money, not provide a proper service.

BTW, slightly bent axles are par for the course with cheaper bikes as the dropouts are misaligned more often than not, bending the axle slightly  when under tension.

Your shop sounds like its staffed by the same assholes as mine.  Run away, but complain first. If you have something like a local chamber of commerce or similar or even a national way to complain, do. I report people that deliberately try to rip me off to out Federal Trade Commission. It takes two hands to count the number of automotive shops Ive reported. Some people need an ass kicking. :grr:

ugh... to complain would be an arse. its 14 miles in the wrong direction and im too busy for the next few days to go and do it.

Parents say he was a lovely man, and has been in business for years, they admit not noticing a kink in it when they took it in, but say they werent looking for it (which is fair enough considering they were really just dropping it off for me).

At the end of the day, I need the bike working, ive yet to try it on the road yet, so maybe im just seeing stuff that really has no effect. Would like to replace the axle purely for easing my mind of it going "snap!" or something when im riding it, but I just dont have the time to complain.

Thing is... from what my parents say, it doesnt seem like he would benefit from saying its bent and then bending it... as according to them he "fixed it for free".

Bah something about the whole thing just doesnt make sense.