Manufacturing fault

I purchased an Alpine Candice incliner in August 2011 for my holiday home. Used the chair very little as I seldom go to the flat but just before Christmas the plastic lever snapped in half. I sent 2 emails to Alpine. No reply. Phoned 3 times before I was told I must go to dealer. After 3 calls and 1 sms Hirsch's gave me repair man's number. He claims this is a common problem. I then call Lauren, the Alpine rep for Kzn and ask if this is common surely Alpine should repair at no cost. She says it is not a common problem and the repair man was \probably trying to entertain\" me. I said I would post on Hellopeter and she said I can do that. Here I have posted it and maybe I will get reports from other people who have had the same problem with Alpine and their rep and the lever on the chair. "