Very disappointed at CW Chattanooga today

This is such a small thing but led to a real disappointment. We live in rural NC and the nearest CW to us is in Chattanooga. We have been happy customers there for years, even bought our last RV from them. In preparation for our trip to Alaska, we bought the 7" electric frying pan from CW in Dothan AL (we do a lot of business there from NOV-May). We did not use it until well into 90 day trip. It was difficult to get the handle onto the pan and the second time we used it, the handle broke. In our entire trip we only actually camped near two large cities, Reno and Anchorage. Neither has a CW. Today we took the pan back to CW in Chattanooga and learned that they have a 90 day return policy....no exceptions! Our relationship with CW has been so good that I was really taken aback. Around the same time that we bought the frying pan ($19.95) we had almost $2,000 work of work, supplies, etc. at CW. Since most folks who buy stuff from CW are traveling, it can be difficult to get items returned. I understand their policy but I am sorry that I hauled that piece of junk with me for almost 15,000 miles. I should have just tossed it in the nearest trash can. Was it worth it to CW to alienate a good customer over an item that cost less than $20? lizzie