It’s really difficult to say how much is lost without knowing the exact markup but as was mentioned, there is a cost of doing business and an expectation that if you offer a return or exchange policy, that within the normal course of doing business there will be returns and exchanges. B stock items still tend to be priced above “cost” so they aren’t losing anything, but moreover they aren’t losing a customer. 5-15% restocking fees have a way of deterring future business which is probably why they did away with it.
If you’re buying new, you have paid a certain premium that allows for what some industries call a cooling down period, but in traditional US retailers it’s just this return/exchange window. It’s not on the the macro scale of a manufacturer accepting back unsold product or doing warranty exchanges, but a small business is still a business. There is a cost associated with just being a brick and mortar store, but it’s not your fault they are doing busines as a B&M. Also if they would offer free shipping otherwise, by you picking it up, it does save them some money in that regard. The cost of shipping is not equal to the cost of putting an item in B stock, but let’s say someone buys the B stock item and now they’re still back above cost, that person is happy, you’re happy, and people who are happy will come back again.
In other retail industries or even larger music stores they work with distributors and brand reps and there are allowances for if product doesn’t sell - it’s just to say that not all the product a store has may be something they bought in bulk ahead of time, sort of like how the frito lays guy goes to the grocery store and changes out the potato chips with fresh ones.
I’m not sure if perfect circuit operates that way with some of their business associates, but as a company that deals with boutique items I would wager at least some of their product is carried on contingency of sale, perhaps after sale and return it becomes their responsibility contractually to resell but I don’t think they’re unprepared.
My point is don’t be an asshat, but don’t feel guilty about returning something you aren’t happy with.
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