FW: Manufacturers on the list? [RE-wrenches]
Chris Daum
info at oasismontana.com
Tue Feb 27 09:56:46 PST 2001
Hi Michael:
I can understand Pagan wanting to be on the list to be kept informed (in
the interest of her service angle at Xantrex) - but, since she's not an
installer, I can also see not having her part of this forum. Wouldn't it
be simple enough for all Xantrex/Trace related comments to be cc'ed to her
at pmackay at traceengineering.com? It could be something small we could
simply take upon ourselves to do....
.
Chris Daum
Oasis Montana Inc.
406-777-4321 or 4309
406-777-2632 fax
http://www.oasismontana.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Welch, Home Power [SMTP:michael.welch at homepower.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 10:29 AM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: Manufacturers on the list? [RE-wrenches]
OK, here we go. Time for another lively discussion about list
internalities. I would have preferred to wait on this until we got our
referrals question out of the way, but I feel pressure to deal with this.
I had a discussion with Pagan MacKay the dealer communications person from
Xantrex. She would like to be on this list to respond to you dealers when
something comes up; to paraphrase her, "so that they know that Xantrex is
listening."
I informed her that would not be appropriate because she does not qualify
as a wrench, and reminded her that Ezra was added to the list as the
Xantrex representative because he has done a significant amount of
wrenching. (Same criteria for John Berdner of SMA & others. They only
qualify for this list based on past experience, not a current job.)
However, she was fairly adamant that she be added, so I agreed to pose the
question to you all. In my own opinion, she or any other non-wrench manu
rep does not belong on this list. This is one reason why we have the
archives, so folks that are not wrenches can benefit from the list without
active participation. But this is your list, and I operate this list for
you. If you want me to do things differently, please feel like you have the
right to ask.
Onward. I would rather have guidelines for ALL cases relative to ALL
manufacturers. I want things to be fair to all, and do not really want to
make an exception just for Xantrex & just because they are so often a topic
here.
I regularly have requests from people that are not pro wrenches (including
manufacturer reps.) that want to be added to the list. I turn down 2-5
requests per week. That may be news to you all, that there are that many
out there that do not meet qualifications.
The first thing I do is ask them if they are a pro installer. If they are,
I usually add them.
If they say no, I offer them the ability to read the archives and gain
insight in that way, because they should not be able to post.
If they press me with some further reason to be added, I determine whether
in the course of their job, they must have a full working knowledge of the
installation of RE systems. If so, I add them with the caveat that they
will be the single representative from their company on this list.
This was the mechanism used to OK Ezra from Xantrex. Of course, there are
sometimes exceptions for specific circumstances, but in most cases the
person has been qualified as a wrench or has had to have a wrenches
knowledge in order to do system design and tech support for their
customers.
But now, we have someone, otherwise not qualified, who wishes to be added
purely so they can respond on behalf of their company.
1. Pagan points out that there are often things that pop up that need to be
dealt with when Ezra is not around and that it is not Ezra's job to respond
to dealer issues. I asked her if Xantrex had to choose between her and
Ezra, which would it be? She would not give me a one or the other answer,
but said Ezra should be there because he is more technically proficient
than her, but that she should be on in order to respond to your (Xantrex
dealers) needs.
2. She pointed out that someone needed to be able to respond when, as she
said recently happened, there are posts with inaccurate info. She said she
would handle it by getting the email, querying the Xantrex technical
department, then responding to the list.
3. She claimed it was too difficult for her to be limited to the archives,
specially when she is somewhere that does not have access to the web.
4. I offered to Pagan the ability to send her info through me if Ezra was
not around, as long as the info fit the list technically. She did not like
that idea as she felt that she should be able to respond right away. In
retrospect, that seems strange as any technical feedback she wants to make
would have to come routed through Xantrex technicians anyway, which is
going to create its own delays.
5. Pagan told me that before Trace she went to job sites and assisted on
installations. She said she could put together a simple DC system and knew
a little about wiring, but IMHO this is nowhere close to a qualification as
a pro Wrench.
6. In the meantime, I offered to post things for her until Ezra is
available or you wrenches approve her request. She quickly sent me two
postings. One posting was an official release from a Xantrex vice president
and devoid of any info pertinent to the list, and the other she wanted
posted in direct response to several emails, only one of which was
appropriate for the list, and another appropriate only for a direct reply
to the writer.
So, Wrenches, what about it? Do you want:
a. manufacturers to have open access to this list (if so, how many for each
co.), or
b. Pagan only to have access to this list, or
c. do you want to leave manus off the list, or
d. do you want to give me new criteria for subscriber membership, or
e. do you want me to continue doing it the way I have been, or
f. what else??????
Michael Welch
------------------------
"Society is like a stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you get a lot of
scum on top."
Edward Abbey
Michael Welch, michael.welch at homepower.com www.homepower.com
Associate Editor, Home Power magazine
Office Coordinator, Redwood Alliance
(Not HP mag's #s) 707-822-7884 fax: 707-822-3481
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To send a message:
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The archive of previous messages:
http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
List rules & etiquette:
http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm
To unsubscribe send a message to:
RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com
To check out the other RE-Wrench participants:
www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html
Hosted by Home Power magazine:
www.homepower.com
For info contact list moderator by email:
michael.welch at homepower.com
____________________________________________________________
T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less.
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
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