^ You can rev its nuts off if you like, you just have to be careful the pulley doesn't seize. I was pulling 7k all day long with a bad alternator and water pump bearings
I'm not sure on the money back thing because normally copper is worth a lot and starters have a bit in them so they unwind them to get it. Alternators don't have as much and the price of copper bombed with the economy, you could ask and see what you can get.