I recently bought 2 quilting books. I told my husband now watch we hope they go on sale. Sure enough the next day they were 40% off. This have happened to me 3 times and we are an hour and half away, so it sometimes doesn't pay for us to back. But this time it did because I was upset with my timing, plus with buy one get one free batting and other stuff.
The girl at the register took back the 2 books and magazine as a return, and sold them back to me with the 40% books, 10% magazine. She was very nice and didn't give any trouble with it all.
I also bought the batting and got the free one without any problems.
Really sorry you had such problems.