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What a horror story. I try to always have a contract for a turnkey
system. If the customer is responsible for any part of the job, it
is specified as "Customer Responsibility" in the
contract. A contract is only as good as the people involved, but at
least the terms of the agreement are clear. <br><br>
At 10:55 AM 8/19/2012, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Funny, We thought we had a plan
together to deal with this kind of thing (Throw out a bigger # or just
say no), only to find folks getting umm.. more creative. I'm dealing with
a customer at present who contracted with us for a 5k grid tie.. or more
appropriately, used us to secure a state incentive. Coming from the off
grid world, I appreciate the value of getting the customer involved. So I
didn't think too much of it when he insisted that he be involved
throughout the entire process. Soon after the estimate was excepted, he
demanded total over sight including access to parts lists, suppliers,
costs, detailed block diagrams, wire calcs, layout etc). I started
getting nervous when he insisted that all equipment be shipped directly
to him. <br><br>
When we rolled up on site (within 3 days of equipment delivery), we found
much of the work we based our estimate on already completed. including:
the underground feed and subpanel upgrade, the meter can, conduit runs
and much of the racking (we found out later that few of the roof
penetrations actually hit rafter). We also found a two person crew eager
to "Help" (one an unemployed electrician apprentice). we wired
the racks, hung the panels and the inverter and were pretty much ushered
out of there in just over eight hours. So now (you guessed it) he's
contesting everything.. on site time, personnel, connector prices, wire
runs.. Just about everything. By his reckoning, we owe him about a third
of his initial deposit back. In the estimate, we originally quoted
"labor", but didn't specify on site, design, permitting /
documentation etc. Additionally, seems now the AHJ has found a problem
with the sub feed / meter connections (yes, which I never got a chance to
see). To complicate things, seems this guy has personal connections in
the state legislature (a brother I think), and has no problem
"making a few calls". <br><br>
Seems construction has pretty much flatlined in this area. Folks are
getting hungry. Renewables are about the only thing moving. (Besides
Govt, Banking and Insurance.. and fast food). Yes, the more talented
folks are still finding work, but many are forced to get
"creative". We're also seeing a lot of Big Down Country Money
Smoozing it's way in.. with cookie cutter systems and temporary workers..
but that's another issue. I just want this thing behind us, but resent
being set up like this. We're not totally taking a bath on this project
(at this point anyway), but our time would definitely be better spent
elsewhere... Yes, I realize this thread should probably be on
another list someplace. I just wanted to chime in.. Some Folks can
sure be Slimey.<br><br>
db<br>
<br><br>
<br>
Dan Brown<br>
Foxfire Energy Corp.<br>
Renewable Energy Systems<br>
(802)-483-2564<br>
<a href="http://www.Foxfire-Energy.com">www.Foxfire-Energy.com</a><br>
NABCEP #092907-44<br><br>
<br>
<dl>
<dd>-------- Original Message --------<br>
<dd>Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Combating requests for itemized PV
pricing<br>
<dd>From: Chris Mason
<<a href="mailto:cometenergysystems@gmail.com">
cometenergysystems@gmail.com</a>><br>
<dd>Date: Sat, August 18, 2012 3:00 pm<br>
<dd>To: RE-wrenches
<<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br><br>
<dd>Jason, <br>
<dd>Any customer is entitled to a Bill of Materials prior to signing a
contract to ensure that they get the make and model and quantity that was
quoted, but if they request an All-Risk Lump Sum price, they are not
entitled to know what each component costs. If they want to do it based
on time and materials, then they take all the risks, and I am pretty sure
they don't want that.<br>
<dd>Most people who request itemized costed quotes are bid-shopping, and
you don't want them as customers. It's also possible they just think they
are being smart, so slapping them down now will set them straight and lay
the ground rules. Then either you continue in a good working relationship
or they walk away.<br><br>
<hr>
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