Softener won't syphon brine solution

I have a 15 year old Rainsoft water softener that came with the house. It stopped using salt, so I called the dealer. I paid $140 to be told the valve was shot and it would cost $1500 to replace. I could pay $4800 for a new system that would be warranted for life. They say warranted for life, what they mean is for as long as the original purchaser owns it.

How can a valve cost $1500. It's not stainless steel and going into a nuclear reactor. It there any way I can get a replacement valve at a reasonable cost?

Thanks H20_Man.

I have a Rainsoft System composed of three pieces, a brine tank that takes block salt (with iron out), a tall tank (neutalizer) and a short tank (softener). Both tanks appear to have the same valve. The tall tank has plugs in some of the valve openings. On the short tank, these openings have plastic hoses attached, one running to the brine tank.

The bad valve is on the short tank. I think I should plan on replacing this valve. If I go with a Fleck valve, I will be getting a complete Fleck softener unit, correct? Or will a Fleck valve fit on the Rainsoft tank?

If the bad valve can be rebuilt, I would like to do it and have it as a backup for the large tank. The Rainsoft tech said he put new orings in the valve and it still would not syphon. He said this means that the inside of the valve is corroded. Anyway, If I send you the valve, can you inspect it and rebuild it, if possible?

Thanks,