I am pretty much sure this will work ...

and I prefer this approach as it doesn't take too much effort.

You even don't need to send your complain in mail but just send an email to their VP for customer service, if you can find the email address, and cc it to the customer service department. You can usually find that email address from their website. You don't need to send them any receipt or photos at this time, but just copy the email from the manufacture of the product with the details of where and when you purchased and used product.

At the end of your email you can mention that you would file a complain to BBB or local and state consumer protection agencies or news agencies about the incident if you don't hear from them in two weeks, and you may also go to small claim court too.

I had at least two similar experiences, one of them was for expired food product, with two nation wide chain stores and I got the problems resolved from both of them.

I also had experience with many other product and service providers including giant international airlines which is notoriously difficult to deal with.