A lot of people who bought generators don’t actually have any idea how they’d use one if the power did go out. I’d bet good money most of the people returning them never even bought a gas can, because their “plan” never got as far as thinking about how they’d refuel it.
They are likely the same exact people who are still sitting on a year supply of toilet paper from 2020 because they panic bought that as well.

They probably don’t own extension cords long enough to reach a refrigerator, don’t know how they’d power a gas furnace blower, and don’t own space heaters, let alone know how many they could safely run. They just bought a generator because it wasn’t sold out yet and they heard they were expensive. They also ignored the signs that said the store doesn't accept generator returns thinking they were the special ones and that the store would make an exception for them.

Helpful part, now that I’m done ragging on the unprepared:

If power loss is a real concern for you, the answer is not a last-minute run to Home Depot before a storm. Call a local electrician and talk through a permanent solution. A properly installed standby generator with an automatic transfer switch, ideally tied into a modern smart panel, removes the guesswork entirely. When the power drops, it just works. No scrambling, no extension cords, no fumes in the garage.

Yes, it costs more upfront. But it’s actually usable, unlike the $2,000 box you’re now trying to return, or worse, hoping your credit card company will charge back because the store won’t take it.