S&W customer service...odd request from S&W

[conn ak]

I lost the plastic plug that sits on the underside grip of my 40VE and butts up against the magazine baseplate. I wrote S&W for a replacement plug. 3 weeks later I get a call from "Wayne" of customer service stating that I'd be required to send the gun in for replacement. Isn't this simply a plug? Why would I be required to send the whole gun? Weird, no? Not like I really need the plug, but what the hey?

 

[conn ak]

I lost the plastic plug that sits on the underside grip of my 40VE and butts up against the magazine baseplate. I wrote S&W for a replacement plug. 3 weeks later I get a call from "Wayne" of customer service stating that I'd be required to send the gun in for replacement. Isn't this simply a plug? Why would I be required to send the whole gun? Weird, no? Not like I really need the plug, but what the hey?