No, don't take that from an REI EMPLOYEE, um Associate.
Stinkeye - we use that in HI all the time.
Tell Story(another HI term for talking), working for Home Depot many moons ago I found out every Makita tool returned HD ate as Makita didn't have a full reimbursement agreement with HD. That played into the rise of offering more other power tool brands like DeWalt.
Bring your boy along into the REI next time. Make sure he calls you Dad a lot. While waiting for the return have a conversation that is overheard with him about you buying new backpacks, sleeping bags, and tent at REI for the family. Don't show up like you just crawled out of a box that you live in from behind the store in the woods. Then see how the return goes.
Sometimes, life is about getting what we want not complaining about what we want.