I had been doing the same, but Best Buy (US) reduced its return period to 14 days unless you shell out $200/year for their Totaltech membership. I should do a better job about inspecting orders as they arrive, but I think 14 days just isn't enough. I've been burned by it a couple of times now due to work travel.

So, now I'm back to trying to find a reputable retailer that sells authentic products.

When I bought a Motorola cable modem from Best Buy it stopped working within 24 hours. At least I could return it and only lose time. Name brands and branded stores aren't safe either, though one would hope they're better on average.

If you use best buy's website it has the same problem as Amazon et al since it is a "marketplace" it is just the same sellers listing on both sites.