WTH was this all about? I had to reread all that crap 3 times before I could figure out 2 dealers were having a pissing contest with each other.
Here's an idea for all the various dealers on this board too: you should state you are a dealer in your profile that appears next to your posts. It would give everyone an idea of how you have information that the average person would not have. Might give you a bit of credibility as well.
ANYWAY... what did you end up doing CRJR? You going to go look at it or have you just said 'the heck with it'?
I looked at the P&M units. I think they make a GREAT one, lots of attention to detail. I just don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling from the only Michigan rep, and they ARE a bit pricey. Probably worth it tho... you get what you pay for!
As far as the holes that needed to be repaired, I can't believe it's a design problem. They've been in business a long time and you don't stay in business long with a flawed design. Maybe the previous owner never treated his water, or had really bad water, or both. Or, POSSIBLY, P&M got a less than desirable batch of steel. Not intentionally mind you, but it DOES happen from time to time. I just got a batch of 1" square tubing where the weld seam wasn't welded. I wouldn't have noticed it if I didn't have to bend it, then the seam opened up.
Lots of possibilities and I'm curious as to what you found out.