Service Call or ? [RE-wrenches]

[Allan Sindelar, Positive Energy, Inc.]

Don't sweat it, Travis. We get it too. They went price over knowledge on the
original system, so they won't value knowledge now either. Remember, it's
your knowledge you're selling, more than your time. Your knowledge is worth
way more than the original installer's time.
And don't worry about the supplier--you made fair, prompt contact. You don't
have to give away your knowledge and time to please a supplier. The good
suppliers will understand the situation as well as you do.
You're right to schedule a full day for it--when I try to piggyback a "quick
stop" onto another job it usually bites me on the butt--I'm rushed, and I
leave a breaker off, or the sun has set on the array...
Allan @Pos Energy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar" <ozsolar at ipa.net>

Subject: Service Call or ? [RE-wrenches]


> I just got off the phone with a guy who is just over 3 hrs from me.  He
has
> a system but seems unsure of how to use it.  He was referred to me by one
of
> my suppliers.  The owner of the system seems confident that it's installed
> correctly but the person who installed in 1999 didn't know anything about
> solar thus the installer was unable to explain to the owner how to use it.

I explained to him that it
> would take 3 or 4 hours to look it over and spend some time with him
> answering questions.  Including the driving it would involve an entire day
> so I would need $350 to come look at his system.  Actually it would
involve
> closer to 12 hours so the $350 wouldn't even cover my shop rate.  I've
tried
> this deal where I stop by when I'm in the area to look over a system I
> didn't install, but it has never worked.  I get hung up on the a job that
> has me in the area already then it's almost dark by the time I get by to
> this system.  Also, I have always found disasters when I get there.  No
over
> current protection on under sized battery cables that aren't in conduit
and
> that sort of thing tends to be the norm.  It's just better if I dedicate
the
> day to this job then I don't get hurried on the customer who is paying me
> for a complete system.
>
> Also, I don't want to make the supplier think I'm ungrateful.  I guess
what
> amazes me is the owners of these systems have well over 10k invested and
> they admit that it wasn't installed by a pro yet they won't pay a pro to
> come look at it.  What upsets me is this guy has a system that he must be
> somewhat unhappy with so solar gets a black eye in my service territory.
>
> Others thoughts?
>
> Rant -OFF
>
> Good Day
> Travis Creswell
> Ozark Solar
>
>
>
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