Question about lens repair

Hi all,
I bought two weeks ago the EF-S 17-85 IS lens. It was a demo lens, and even though it is in good conditions, the front glass seems to be smudged and a little scratched (stupid of me, should have bought new). I called Canon repair factory in NJ and was bounced from one person to another like a ping-pong ball.
My question is: Does anyone know if they replace the front glass of a lens? If so, does anyone know how much do they charge for the service?
I appreciate any help,
Leo

They can replace it, but its generally not cheap (except on the largest telephotos where the front glass is built to be replaceable). I had a 28-135 IS that I ended up replacing instead, although I don't remember the exact cost.
I've also found Canon NJ responds better to email inquiries than phone inquiries.