Clearly yes if it has to be return as defective or incorrectly ordered, but in reality buying from these major battery retailers/wholesale outlets the chances of it being a defective lead acid battery is very low, considerably lower than from a non principal, low turn over vendor. Their stock is likely to be fresh, they know how to look after them and as importantly they use couriers who know what they are doing.
Its never happened to me or within family & friends who I have helped with battery issues; Lead acid technology is very well sorted and as long as you don't seek budget brands, a new and genuinely "fresh" battery is going to have a very high reliability.
IME where the issues arise and there is a return, it is not the battery failing but being abused that is by far the bigger issue. One, some major retailers I feel take on the chin to avoid being bad mouthed as the internet so readily facilitates one sided, half stories.