Le creuset guarantee is not lifetime!

I fell prey to their lifetime guarantee as well. I have a large frying pan that cost me a third my months pay Cheque in 2013. I was told the coating if looked after according to the manufacturers instructions I would never have a problem and it would be guaranteed. I took my baby into Constantia branch in Cape Town. And when I say baby, I literally mean baby. I have treated it with kidd gloves. Sales lady even commented on the condition of the base etc. I left it at the store for them to send it in for inspection. Well today I received a call to say that they will not help me in any way because it is wear and tear!!! I am furious. If that is the truth it should be pointed out to me on purchase. If they only expect the coating to last 5 to 6 years under normal wear and tear standards I would like to have known so I could make an educated decision on whether or not to purchase their extremely expense product. I would have been way better off on total spend purchasing a new Tefal pan every year for 6 years than outlying the what they ask for their product. They said as a measure of their "good faith" they will give me 30% off the new equivalent which is now R3200. I paid R2500 originally. So basically suckering me into buying another pan they only expect to last for 6 years under extreme loving care. Beware of their promises. Aggrieved to say the least.