Manufacturers on the list? [RE-wrenches]

Tue Feb 27 09:28:43 PST 2001

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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