Coming in a little late on this must my thoughts.
buying an item so you can copy and make the same unit sounds pretty underhand, let alone blatant cheek,of then trying to return for refund.
I have had dealings with Schnapps Stills for several years and every purchase I have received has been A1. I am in the land of the free(dom to distill) but that distance has not stopped anything from being a cordial relationship
I suspect sour grapes and business skullduggery at afoot