A Consensus (and the wish list) [RE-wrenches]

[Chris Daum]

Hi wrenches:

I enjoy your postings, and you (Travis) bring up a good point.

I'm only a part time wrench; I do a few local (off-grid) installations, 
using mostly DR series inverters; I've just installed a net metering system 
at my home/office utilizing a Trace PS2524.  Noisy, but works good for my 
loads.

But the bulk of my business is mail order, and I ship goods all over the 
world, and tell folks how to put them together.  So far things are doing 
pretty well....but I have had bum Trace products right out of the box 
(rare, but occasional), so not having Trace "honor their warranty except to 
dealer installed goods" would not be good for me or a lot of other mail 
order outfits!  I don't know of any certified wrenches in Maylasia, or 
Bolivia, or the U.K. for example--and I have systems there.  Fortunately 
any warranty issues have been in the USA, and no major components (i.e. 
inverters).

I agree it would be terrific to achieve a consensus for our thoughts to 
Trace.  AND Vanner.   A little competition is a good thing!

Regards,

Chris Daum
Oasis Montana Inc.
406-777-4321 or 4309
http://www.oasismontana.com




On Wednesday, January 24, 2001 7:44 AM, Travis Creswell, Ozark Solar 
[SMTP:ozsolar at ipa.net] wrote:
> William,
>
> I am not worried about the Trace wish list or anything else that is being 
or
> has been discussed recently.  If only life was that simple.  What I am
> talking about is what I see as the potential for a major rift in the
> Wrenches forum/family.  I am afraid that a Wrench might have long
> conversations with manufactures and/or legislators using the power of a
> national group of dealer installers without the approval of the group. 
 Of
> course it's a free country and we all can do what we want to.
>
> Let me try a example that should hit you right in the chest... Imagine 
how
> you would feel if I started into talks with Trace as a Travis, RE-Wrench
> Member, representing the RE-Wrenches claiming that the Wrenches didn't 
like
> people who only installed.  I could tell Trace that we all felt that
> manufacturers should start a policy that they not honor the warranty 
unless
> the equipment was installed by the dealer.  I would also be talking to 
other
> manufactuers claiming that I had others considering this seriously.  Of
> course I would ultimately  be discovered as a separatist but I could 
really
> do a lot of damage to the RE-Wrenches before I was done.  The point that 
I
> am making is I would have a lot more clout in my mission as Travis,
> RE-Wrench Representative than Travis, Ozark Solar.  BTW, the above is an
> example and I don't feel that way (about you anyway).
>
> Your suggestion of a deadline is an good one.  If someone has a 
suggestion
> they have until then (or whatever date we agree to) add their input.
>
> Travis
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: William Miller <wrmiller at slonet.org>
> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Cc: RE-wrenches <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 12:48 AM
> Subject: Re: A Consensus (and the wish list) [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> > Travis:
> >
> > Let me see if I understand:  You haven't had time to keep up on e-mail, 
so
> > your worried about us submitting the wish list to Trace without your
> having
> > time to review it?  If that's the case, your concern sounds reasonable. 
 I
> > suggest we set a deadline to submit the list to Trace and then do so. 
 How
> > about Feb 15?
> >
> > I don't feel there is a lot of contention on the content of the wish 
list.
> > There are a few points upon which we do not all agree, i.e. default
> charge
> > settings.  I don't think this kills the deal.  I suggest we submit the
> list
> > to Trace and encourage dialog with their engineers.  After all, this is
> > free R&D.  They may take our ideas and improve upon them, or convince 
us
> > one or two of them are not such good ideas after all.  I always support
> > large group brainstorming-- one person suggests something that inspires 
an
> > idea in someone else, etc.
> >
> > How do we know that Trace will be receptive to this wish list?  Has
> someone
> > given them a heads up?  I suppose they have been reading it as it 
elopes,
> > if they are paying any attention at all to us (and I hope we rate, in
> their
> > estimation, enough for them to be watching this list).
> >
> > Should we present our ideas to Vanner as well, in the spirit of 
fostering
> > competition?
> >
> > I also propose that Michael Welch write Trace (and Vanner, if we so
> decide)
> > an introductory letter buttering them up and asking them to review our
> wish
> > list shortly after the deadline.  How about it Michael?
> >
> > I look forward to comments.
> >
> > William Miller
>
> 

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