OP, sorry to read about your travails.

There are a few things that feel worse than plunking down your hard earned cash and not getting what you thought you were paying for. Worse than that, is having to deal with an LBS that was initially happy to sell you the product but then is not being as supportive as you had hoped they would be. In this sense, buying from a chain bike store is more satisfying in that they would take the bike back, no excuses, no questions.

Eventually, your bike will get lots of nicks and scratches...but at least those are nicks and scratches that YOU put there.

Let us know how this is finally resolved.