I'm on campus most of the day and therefore not home to sign for the package when it did arrive. It was the same price as online so I (incorrectly) assumed it would be easier.
It seems they have not improved. I did indeed order from the UVic computer store. At least they gave me the refund no-questions-asked after I said I was cancelling because I was getting the runaround. Perhaps they are used to that reason.