Unable to get Device repaired without paying R500 handling fee

People are always raving about what fantastic service they got from Garmin, but sadly, I experienced something totally different. I have a Garmin Forerunner S45. The battery life is supposed to be around 13 hours when using the GPS, however mine does not even get me through a day hike without dying on me. After emailing the Garmin Support Centre (twice) they responded to say that I should take it back to the store where I purchased it (Sportmans Warehouse in Blackheath) and they will send it in to Garmin to have a look. I took the device there in June, only to be asked when I bought the device (which was late 2023). I was then told that, unless I had the receipt, they would charge me a R500 handling fee to send it to Garmin. I went home and spend hours looking for the receipt. When I finally found it, off I went back to Sportmans Warehouse, only to be told this time that because the device is out of warranty, they would still need R500 handling fee from me to send it for repairs. Many hours wasted and still no further - very frustrating!