most places the warranty is between the buyer and the manufacturer, not the distributor.

Distributors would normally offer refund or replacement within a certain timeframe. Problem is when you buy stuff for xmas. Often its not opened, or tested until given to someone else. in this case, it just sucks.
We have had stuff missing parts / broken from the box. It completely ruins the gift, and if you brought it early enough, makes it difficult, if not impossible to rectify.