Bare root apple tree...

I have a bit of a problem with my bareroot apple tree that i got from Suttons.... it arrived just as the weather was turning frosty, so i kept it indoors in a cool room and then moved it into my polytunnel (potted it up, kept it watered...)
Its still not showing any signs of life, at all. I checked one of the twigs tpday and it is completely dried out an dead.
Am quite annoyed as it wasn't cheap!!
I cant think how it could dry out in dormancy, it's roots were kept damp... and Suttons have a 14 day return policy.
Has anyone ever had any success getting a replacement from them after that time? 14 days seems incredibly short when something is dormant and you can't tell what condition it is in until it doesn't wake up when its meant to? :-(