I did speak with PE and posed the question about the 5 year comprehensive warranty. I spoke with Naomi from PE and she took the time to listen. She couldn't answer whether or not the comprehensive would include the replacement of the firebox, so she said I need to speak to Cory. I am assuming that is the same Cory that Hog spoke to. She did say that Cory was the one that would have made the decision for the repair.
However, he was in a meeting and since it was the end of the day there, I didn't get a call back yet. She said if he doesn't call today, that he will call back on Tuesday. So I will wait until Tuesday to see what he thinks.
I agree Hog that I do think that PE will honour the warranty (whether replacement or repair). Technically, they already have, since the repair has been authorized. However, it does not seem that the cracks are isolated incidents and it could be that they are indeed defects, covered as per the 5 year comprehensive warranty. Especially, considering that a number of posters here are experiencing the same issue and the fact we are a small sampling of the actual number of PE owners out there.
Now that questions have been raised about the 5 year comprehensive, I would like an official answer whether it would apply to us. To me, removing the unit and sending it to the dealership is an inconvenience. Impossible no, but still a pain. Also, I have concerns with the uncertainty of the existing welds in the firebox. I am sure that a good welder can adequately repair the faulty welds. However, what about the other original welds? Will they crack too? I know there is uncertainty to everything. I just don't want to have to revisit this process ever again. I don't want to ask for the moon either, I just want to make things right.
Karl has a good point too. The original firebox might be better conditioned than a new one.
It sounds like you had a better experience and quicker time dealing with the warranty claim. The dealer went straight to PE and then you then dealt with PE directly. You didn't have to rely and wait on your dealer to disseminate information to you. Therefore, you promptly had an answer.
I still have a bit of a bad taste in my mouth about the my outcome, so far. I think that dealing with three different parties makes things convoluted and inefficient. At the start of this process, my dealer contact kept assuring me that he checks his email constantly and would contact me as soon as he received any information. So I feel a bit taken by him also. Getting me to return the firebox and rewelding it might be the easy way out for the dealer and distributor.
Now that PE is aware of this thread, hopefully they will have better insight and emapthy to issues we have experienced. If there is anything constructive that they can learn about improving the design of the product and the warranty process, hopefully they will fix it. They should also realize that we want to continue to be loyal PE customers!