I forgot to mention, there was a moment during the long back-and-forth with the d-bag assistant store manager where he and the other manager went in the back to discuss something. I was left alone in the store front with only one other customer, my receipts, my core, and the new caliper in a box sitting right on the other side of the counter.

A voice inside me was saying, "Just grab it! Grab it and run out the door - they'll never catch you!" I figured, even if they did call the police, I would be able to prove that I was being shorted even after walking out the door with the product. I'm still imagining "what if"... heheheh - would that be considered shoplifting?