[RE-wrenches] Problem with NABCEP ad

[Jason Szumlanski]

We have one Entry Level NABCEP employee. I, myself, am not certified. In
our neck of the woods I have never heard of any prospective customer
asking our sales reps if we are NAPCEP certified. Not one. Even our most
inquisitive and well-read customers are not very concerned with
certifications. They want to know our *references* and *experience*.

All else being equal, would customers likely hire a recent NABCEP
certified installer with 5 years experience and 100kW under their belt
or a non-certified installer with 15 years of experience and 1mW? NABCEP
can advertise whatever they want (darned 1st amendment). But good solar
salespeople will always have a way to counter the certification
argument.

I know of at least one NABCEP certified installer in my area. In fact,
he's probably reading this right now. I've seen his work. He's a great
installer. He may be one of the most experienced and capable installers
in our area. But I don't think he's getting lots of jobs because of his
certification, per se, at least for now... I could be wrong; and if I
am, maybe I'll see you in NABCEP training soon!

Jason Szumlanski
Fafco Solar

 
-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of
wirewiz at gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2011 8:13 AM
To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Problem with NABCEP ad

Hello Wrenches,

NABCEP has a full page ad in Home Power magazine that tells potential PV
buyers to "Insist on a NABCEP Certified Installer". That's a great ad if
you
are certified but not so good if you are not. I know many of you are but
lots of us are not yet certified. 

NABCEP is doing a great job to ensure that PV is installed by qualified
personal but is it their job to unintentionally cause non NABCEP
certified
installers who are otherwise very qualified to lose business. I don't
think
so. 

I contacted NABCEP about the consequences of this ad and actually asked
them
to stop running it or at least tone it down so it doesn't cause
installers
like to me to lose business. They disagreed with me.

Am I being too sensitive here?

Thank you.

Larry Liesner
Wirewiz
Westport, CT
Phone: 203-644-2404
Fax: 203-557-0556
wirewiz at gmail.com
www.wire-wiz.com