This is what hapoens when you buy through a 3rd party seller. If it were amazon they would pay shipping and give you a replacement with 2 day shipping no questions asked. The seller has the right to have their own policy and apparently this is it. What they want is that business between you and them is done and for you to take up any issue with the device directly with asus as a warranty claim.
Oh I didn't buy this tablet I got it as a gift from my parent's. If I were to buy it I would've gotten it from a Store or from Amazon/Google themselves.