Home Depot is gonna kill us! [RE-wrenches]

[Joel Davidson]

The subject of selling wholesale to end users has been discussed for many years
in the building industry and many other industries. Whether you like it or not,
growth, especially fast growth, is the engine that drives our economy. Even if
you cherish quality over quantity, it is hard for someone who wants to see more
PV to complain about a distribution system that gets tens of thousands of
people to go solar versus a few hundred. Granted, some (a lot of) PV systems
will go in badly, but restricting design and installation to an elite,
self-appointed guild is not the way to get megawatts of PV installed on U.S.
homes and businesses. Home Power's guerrilla solar has the right spirit (power
to the people) and some of you wrenches are guerrillas, but outlaw PV is not
going to be accepted by the average John and Jill Doe.

I'm reminded of a conversation with a U.S. Gypsum executive at the (NAHB)
National Association of Homebuilders' trade show. I asked how Home Depot could
sell sheetrock cheaper by the sheet to homeowners than I could buy a whole
truckload from my building supply distributor. His answer, "Home Depot buys
sheetrock by the trainload, that's why."

I've been telling builders, plumbers, electricians and now PV installers not to
worry about customers buying their own equipment. Installers make more money
selling their skilled labor. If the customer buys the wrong part, that's their
problem. If the customer installs the system wrong, that's an opportunity for
you to sell your skilled labor.

If there are installers, especially in southern California, who want
installation referrals, please post to this group. Also, spend a few friendly
moments with your local building supply and hardware store managers, tell them
that you do solar electric installations and would be happy to take any
referrals and then give him some business cards. Also give cards to the people
at the building inspection office. I'm sure you can think of other places to
drop off business cards (real estate brokers, local newspapers are always
looking for good stories, architects, your electrical supply warehouse, local
food co-op, etc.) Follow up every few months to see if there have been any
inquiries.

Lynne A Carter wrote:

> We saw the same thing during Y2k ; Northern Hydraulics, the local Generator
> company (kohler rep.)  and the HVAC companies all trying to get in on the
> "buzz".   Lets face it we can change faster and stay leaner than they can.
> Let home depot sign on the line to purchase 10000000000 heaters.  They will
> be stuck with them.  And the manufacture that makes us the "solar bozo" a
> fair deal wins.  I bet the sales rep that sold H.D. the A-stars got a cut.
> If some wants you to install one: you can say "I charge a 35% mark up on
> everything you want me to install, pleas provide the receipt if you
> purchased it form some where else."  Electricians do this all the time;
> light switches are only a dollar but ask a electrician and there 5 dollars
> or more.  Remember installers are taking a risk installing something.  The
> customer must pay the installer to take that risk.
> Lyn
> Lyn at solarvillage.com
> Solar Village Institute inc.
> PO Box 14
> Saxapahaw, NC  27340
> Tel. 336-376-9530
> Fax. 336-376-1809
> www.solarvillage.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Eric Smiley <Eric_Smiley at bcit.ca>
> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 3:14 PM
> Subject: Re: Home Depot is gonna kill us! [RE-wrenches]
>
> >
> > >What's next, solar modules, inverters,
> > >batteries, and charge controllers?
> >
> > Our very own Canadian Tire hardware stores are already doing just that.
> > They only offer very low end stuff, cheap a-Si modules, ProWatt
> > inverters, etc.
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Eric Smiley
> > Project Leader - BCIT Technology Centre
> > Photovoltaic Energy Applied Research Lab (PEARL) - BCIT
> > ph: (604)432-8657 www.bcit.ca/~tc/pearl/index.htm
> >
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> >
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> >
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>
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>
> ____________________________________________________________
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> Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose.
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 RE-wrenches at topica.com

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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