Leads for $$$ [RE-wrenches]

Tue May 2 16:52:18 EDT 2000

Referral leads is a question I stayed out so far.  we often refer customers
to local installers, and in many cases these are installers buying systems
from us by mail. Where it is not yet bought we ask them to buy through the
installer (already knowing our list of installers is likely to shop here).

Since we focus on owner builders and do it yourself customers, we sell
direct. Then when they get into a problem, we nearly always can fix it with
them by phone or email.  In fact that is my own full time function here
these days.  But as we all know the market is expanding and we do get
customers who have a system and get everything wrong and really need local
help. That is why I compiled our own list of known local helpers, made up of
folks who buy at discount from us and then install for their customers.  We
don't have the greatest discounts, being a retailer, so established wrenches
with a good business volume would not normally be dealing with Backwoods
solar as a major supplier. I have the belief that most local wrenches resent
going to patch or maintain a system they did not sell, so that can be a
problem for outfits like us wanting to refer that business to locals. I can
urge the customer to buy through the local wrench, but what to do with those
already bought?  I just have to hope that the customer pays a fair fee for
the work rendered to make that service worth while.

We are pretty much building the infra structure of solar installations now.
But the future will bring many more aging systems already out there,
especially when a home sells to a new owner, and there will be a big market
for solar servicemen, kind of like the HVAC guys that do regular annual
calls to inspect and upgrade furnaces etc.  I think as we get more existing
systems built out there in places where the owner will no more check the
batteries and connections than clean his own furnace, there will be a whole
specialty of regular service routes to call on and maintain systems for
independent power customers. Comments?

Steve Willey   www.backwoodssolar.com
Backwoods Solar Electric Systems
A catalog business on a mountain
2 miles from utility lines,
powered entirely by our catalog products.
IF UTILITY POWER IS 1/2 MILE OR MORE FROM YOUR SITE,
get our free 160 page solar-electric Planning Guide/Catalog.
(Your postal address required - Our list is never given or sold).
Phone(208)263-4290  Fax (208) 265-4788  in Idaho, USA

----- Original Message -----
From: Travis Creswell <ozsolar at ipa.net>
To: RE-wrenches <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 11:17 AM
Subject: Leads for $$$ [RE-wrenches]

> Wrenches,
>
> I agree that we should back off from $ for leads at this point.  Maybe we
> should bring it up again later.
>
> That said, we still need to find people who are interested in solar the
> right person to serve them.   It needs to be informal yet professional.
> Just because someone is on this Wrench list doesn't make them qualified?
>
> But who gets the leads?  Naturally, the most leads will come from the
areas
> with the most dealers.  For example, in my preferred area (SW MO, NE OK,
NW
> AR, SE KS) as far I know I am the only Wrench ,which makes sense, since as
> far I know I am the only RE Dealer which makes sense since there isn't
much
> RE done around here.   Compare my area to California where there is a lot
> more RE done there is a lot more RE dealers, some with the same service
> areas.
>
> Next, what about the distributors on this list?  Some sell to end users.
I
> think it would be appropriate for us dealer/installers to ask them NOT to
> respond to a lead that is presented to this list until it is known that
> there is no "Installing Wrench" for that lead.  I have nothing but respect
> for the distributors that are on the list.  They have added some real
value
> to the postings.   None the less this list isn't exactly for them as
> understand (is it?)I don't think it would be appropriate for them to try
to
> sell to the end user around us if we are there.
>
> I am going to post a lead for the list to view and see who responds after
I
> send this email.
>
> Thanks
> Travis Creswell
> Ozark Solar
>
>
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