Marketing Issue [RE-wrenches]

[matthew tritt]

Smitty,

I actually got pissed-off enough with one of these companies to call to
complain about their pricing. Instead of telling me to f*** off, they
actually tried to get me to buy wholesale from them! Wow!

I was informed that the "way to make solar more affordable was to sell at
lower prices to the public."
This same place also installs systems somewhere down in Southern California,
and they seemed to be pretty regular guys, until the Big Marketing Cheese
got on the line to attempt to sign me up as a dealer.
It became very clear that he drinks way too much coffee and has absolutely
no scruples when it comes to competing with other companies. The attitude
was "if you don't like it, too damn bad!"

I suspect that most of the el-Cheapo Solar companies have similar ways of
thinking and advertising. From what I hear from my overseas friends, this
attitude is basically what America is known for around the world, even when
it comes to foreign policy, not only business. So are we complaining about
individual companies that advertise in HP, or is it really about a cultural
problem that goes far beyond our own industry?

What Joe S. and others have mentioned, is that you can't prevent an
advertiser from advertising if he pays his bills (more cultural problems!),
but why not prevent the offenders from advertising actual prices in the
magazine? Why not allow them to give a web address for those interested
enough to get their bogus pricing on-line? That way a potential client won't
be lost while he or she is still in the shop simply because they opened up a
copy of Home Power which you have provided!

Matt T
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Smitty" <smitty at aaasolar.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2003 7:28 AM
Subject: Re: Marketing Issue [RE-wrenches]


> Bob, I agree with you, and to add a thought, HP did not create
> heretodaysolar.com guys. To me they appear to be knee jerk reactions to an
> energy crisis and y2k. I think if you look back a year or two at old HPs,
you
> will find plenty of ads not present today. They are as loyal as a Hong
Kong
> whore and have the longevity of a Mayfly. 5% margins? Sheesh! Never
> underestimate the power of incompetence. Smitty
>
> "Bob Ellison, Alternative Energy Systems" wrote:
>
> >  "They do promote local dealers in their magazines but are hypocrites by
> > allowing these ads."
> >
> > I don't think they have a choice in taking the ads from the cheapo no
> > service dealers.
> > If they have the money and it is not illegal, they pretty much have to
take
> > the ad as long as the bill is paid.
> > The exception could be if the bill is not getting paid.
> >  Or if a high level of complaints come in on a peticular advertiser. But
it
> > takes money to fight them if they try to force you to take it.
> >
> > Glad it's not my call, hard to win that one.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> > RE. Ellison
> > Supplier of;
> > Alternative Energy Systems & Supplies
> > 34642 Countryman Road
> > Theresa, NY. USA
> >                                13691-2076
> >
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