ORIGINAL: KC36330
sounds like normal business practice to me, you pay up front till they get your return in hand, it's nothing new or unusual IMO.
I think you missed his point.
He sent in the bad RX and then went out and bought a new RX with the understanding that if his Bad RX was not repairable that they would REFUND his purchase price for the new RX.
Instead of the refund he got another new RX, so he is out the money for the one he bought (although he now has a spare for the next emergency or build).