UPDATE:
The shop referred me back to GRE... (uh-huh)
Called GRE and "splained" the situation to them. Let me say that GRE Customer Service has been exemplary---professional and cooperative. I am very pleased with them. GRE seems to understand what good business practices are and seem to value customers.
GRE indicated that they would call the vendor THEMSELVES, and set up an exchange. GRE calls me back (within 15 minutes(!) and indicates that the vendor "can't track a record of a sale to me" (4 weeks ago). GRE indicates that they are familiar with this vendor --- thus, I have to assume that they move a good amount of their product.
You smell something yet? I do.
Well, just dug out the original receipt, and will call GRE back tomorrow. It has all the info correct on the invoice, it's computer generated, and GRE had my name and address, which they read back to me before they called them. In fact, the invoice has the Unit's S/N on it which matches that of my unit, which GRE also has, as I registered the unit via their web-site. All of this and "they can't find the invoice" ????? verrrrrry interesting.
I am starting to smell a rat with this vendor.
Either way I'll be taken care of. I was just trying to avoid being without a $400+ purchase for 1+ weeks, FOUR weeks after that purchase (which GRE agrees with without any argument). If it was 6 months old, and, then something happened, I would be a little more understanding of having to do a "mail in" warranty repair.
I have a funny feeling this is going to get interesting...
Someone above asked if this was a "returned/repacked" unit. NOW I am beginning to wonder. I have a suspicion that GRE would not be pleased with this business practice, and they (vendor) don't want them (GRE) to know that they did this --- but that is just speculation on my part.
More fun tomorrow. And, no, will not be purchasing anything else from them (the vendor) in the future.