Most guns shops (at least the ones I've been in) won't accept returns on firearms. They aren't being unhelpful...it's a difficult process, and once a gun has been sold, it can't be resold as new (supposedly...I have traded a few guns in that I bought new, and were unfired, and I saw them later in the case marked as new.)

Since the dealer is so far away, and since it wasn't a good experience anyway, call S&W. They will send you a shipping label, they will fix it, and then return it to you.