Missing Pieces in Lego Set, Unresolved by Seller and Complicated by Lego Support

I purchased a Lego set from a well-known online shopping site, but while assembling the figures, I noticed several pieces were missing. This is unexpected from Lego, and clearly, it’s a packaging error. When I reported the issue to the seller, they understandably stated they couldn’t assist since they can’t supply individual parts for a set.

When I contacted Lego directly, I was told the missing pieces could be provided, but only through an international shipment that would require me to handle customs clearance and pay the associated fees. This is frustrating and unreasonable for a product purchased locally. I expect Lego to resolve this issue promptly and supply the missing pieces without adding unnecessary hurdles.