destructionfever any and all or none of the original packaging would help. Just take it to customer service and start from there. Do you know anybody with a Big mouth that can yell for you, maybe your wife or a close relative? Someone that cares enough.
As I told an insurance adjuster one time that wanted partial pieces of plywood replaced on a customers house (for roofing). I asked him if I could come over and do the same type of job on his house? He replied no. And paid for full sheet replacement. Yeah he wanted me to cut plywood into strips to replace rotten plywood!
Just ask them if they would put up with this at their own house. Not the flunky, but a supervisor. As I am sure the flunkies are trained to only save the store money. Always talk to a super since they are the only ones able to make real life judgment's. All the way up to store manager if necessary.
Polite is fine, but do not take a no, without saying "That is not acceptable, may I talk to your boss?" Of course they will take that bad, but to bad. "I want to speak to your boss".
This may beyond what you want to do, but I will ask for the district managers office number if necessary. I can be brutal, if I am thinking how much work and savings I had to do just to earn this particular item.
By the way, the first time you should be expected to be somewhat nervous. That is ok. That maybe what helps you through it. Just stand firm. And don't back down.