Should I go for the refurb iphone 5?

I bought a brand new iPhone 5 through Verizon about six months ago so it's still under warranty. Recently the volume down button stopped working. I took it to the store I bought it from and they said no problem and we'll have a new one shipped overnight for you tomorrow. And btw it's a refurb. I was pretty po'd to say the least. I feel that I paid so much for this phone and its under warranty I should get a brand new sealed replacement. The guy behind the counter saw I was pretty mad and suggested I take it to an Apple store and if they can't fix it that they'd give me a new one there. Problem is the closest store is over an hour away. So I don't know what to do. If the refurb was mint I would consider going that route. Any suggestions or if anyone got a refurb from Verizon please help me out.

Yet are sending you what's called a certified like new replacement under warranty. In part if your statement you said "new" and the "refurbished," but it can't logically be both at the same time. Just being funny. You shouldn't have issues with it, even if it is refurbished. I would not worry about it. No matter what though, they will never send you a brand new one as a replacement under warranty. Make sure you send them your old one and that there's no physical damage to the phone. Otherwise they charge a damaged device fee of $300. If you don't send it back they will charge you up to $649.99 for non device return fee.