I bought some pepper plants that were supposed to be "sweet" but 2.5 months
later found out that they set your mouth on fire.

That may not be really mislabeling. Sweet peppers occasionally sport to hot
peppers. You were entitled to a refund.
How old is the dogwood now? It may take a couple of years for a pink dogwood to
bloom pink. If it is still white, you should take a flowering branch back to
the store with your receipt & the label. In the future, that type of plant
should be purchased at a reputable nursery, even if you have to pay a little
more.

Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)