I would not have a problem with the possibility of replacing rather than re-calibration in some circumstances.
I might be hesitant about that method in some circumstances. That is, if you discard the tape measure which you purchased with a certification, and replace it with another, you will lose continuity of your measurements.
For example, Let us say you purchase a new certified tape measure, and use it for a year. At the end of the year you discard it, and replace it with another new one of the same type.
You have no way of knowing if the old tape measure ever went out of tolerance, because you have no historical data. The possible way around that would be to obtain some documentation from the manufacturer as to how long it stays in tolerance. And believe me, they can and do go out of tolerance. And some of the manufacturer's certificates are not correct. I won't mention any manufacturer names as that would not be appropriate. But I have attempted to recertify tape measures that had certificates with them, and the tape measures were out of tolerance. And when they are out of tolerance, they must be discarded.
One alternative might be to purchase a 'good' three foot or one meter ruler with a certificated. Make that the standard, and only recalibrate it once every two or three years. Use that to verify the tape measures instead of sending them out. The details will be important, as you will have to properly specify an adequate ruler, and properly specify what level of accuracy you are verifying on the tape measure.
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