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Paperless and Green too!
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Jan 3, 2021 15:44:20   #
Bob Werre
 
We've been approached by a sales group offering to put solar panels on our roof and thru some cost formula offering us 'a better deal' on electricity. We decided to get serious. When the sales person started to talk legal things, I said I'll need to see your contract and can I get your business card or perhaps a brochure about your company. I don't know how many car salesmen have handed me their names hand written on a business card, so you know they're a new hire! Anyway, she stated that they were green, so they didn't have business cards, nor a brochure--only a website!

So I'm going to download the contract--all 30+ pages of it. So much for saving trees! I certainly can read the PDF, but I often do some note making and add questions so that doesn't work well with the PDF!
Interesting new way of doing business.

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Jan 3, 2021 16:00:12   #
couch coyote Loc: northern Illinois
 
Hmm, don't know what to think about that. Before you spend too much time, ask them for the names of satisfied customers whom you can call and talk to.

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Jan 3, 2021 16:04:53   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
Bob Werre wrote:
We've been approached by a sales group offering to put solar panels on our roof and thru some cost formula offering us 'a better deal' on electricity. We decided to get serious. When the sales person started to talk legal things, I said I'll need to see your contract and can I get your business card or perhaps a brochure about your company. I don't know how many car salesmen have handed me their names hand written on a business card, so you know they're a new hire! Anyway, she stated that they were green, so they didn't have business cards, nor a brochure--only a website!

So I'm going to download the contract--all 30+ pages of it. So much for saving trees! I certainly can read the PDF, but I often do some note making and add questions so that doesn't work well with the PDF!
Interesting new way of doing business.
We've been approached by a sales group offering to... (show quote)

Looks like a place to stay away from. If you belong to COSTCO they sell solar. You give them your address and they check your location and how many panels they can put up. I am interested but concerned potential leaks in my 14 year old roof!

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Jan 3, 2021 16:17:26   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
Aside from I have trees over my house.-

Be careful with who and how you deal with them: Solar Ripoffs

Some have a 25 year lease making it more difficult to sell your home.

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Jan 3, 2021 16:34:40   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
As the efficiency of solar cells improve and with state incentives to purchase, they CAN be a good solution, but my concerns would be:

if you have trees near your house, do you get enough sunlight to make it worthwhile? (my problem), and will your property insurance cover damage to the solar cells caused by hail and tree limbs, etc?

How long is the lease, and what effect will it have if you sell your home?

How long is the proposed payback in terms of the saving in electricity vs the cost of the installation, and will be cost be reflected in enough increased value in your home to come out even or ahead if you sell it?

How long is the warranty and does it cover the inverter as well as the panels? What is the service policy and time to repair if either fails?

Is damage or subsequent leaks in the roof covered? If the roof is near replacement, how hard is that to do with the panels in place? Do they need to be removed for reroof I gotta and reinstalled, and what is the cost?

What is the reputation and references of the company, especially concerning electronic and powerline noise from the inverter?

Who is responsible if they are damaged by a lightning hit?

Lots of questions...

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Jan 3, 2021 16:43:49   #
Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas
 
Bob Werre wrote:
...
So I'm going to download the contract--all 30+ pages of it. So much for saving trees! I certainly can read the PDF, but I often do some note making and add questions so that doesn't work well with the PDF!
Interesting new way of doing business.


I edit PDF's all of the time - and sign them when needed - all digital... But for what you're doing, TechRadar put out the Best free PDF editors 2020 and Smallpdf is listed as #1. Drop the file in the website and edit away - then save to your device.

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Jan 3, 2021 16:46:53   #
Ollieboy
 
Bob Werre wrote:
We've been approached by a sales group offering to put solar panels on our roof and thru some cost formula offering us 'a better deal' on electricity. We decided to get serious. When the sales person started to talk legal things, I said I'll need to see your contract and can I get your business card or perhaps a brochure about your company. I don't know how many car salesmen have handed me their names hand written on a business card, so you know they're a new hire! Anyway, she stated that they were green, so they didn't have business cards, nor a brochure--only a website!

So I'm going to download the contract--all 30+ pages of it. So much for saving trees! I certainly can read the PDF, but I often do some note making and add questions so that doesn't work well with the PDF!
Interesting new way of doing business.
We've been approached by a sales group offering to... (show quote)


They never guarantee savings whether it's gas or electric. You 'll never see it in black and white. What about if your roof leaks, not by them, but by general roof degredation?. Now what? I was in the gas industry for 30 years and NOBODY could beat the utility price because we sold the gas for cost. We made our profit on the delivery side of the bill. Everyone pays the same delivery charge, whether they bought gas from the utility or from a marketeer.

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Jan 3, 2021 19:02:48   #
Bob Werre
 
We've done some research on line and it's mostly good. I spent some heavy duty money trimming branches away a few months ago, so the roof is generally clear. Actually they checked a satellite view that was made before the trimming and they determined we had too much shade. The salesperson asked them to amend it. An engineer is due by the house to make a final determination Monday from their end. So at this point they see legit.
So when I finally get the contract printed, I'll be able to know more, but 30 pages is a lot to digest! At this point my understanding is that they own the panels but have set our rate at a fixed monthly amount. The roof leak situation can be a problem I'm sure. It was replaced about 10 years ago, shortly after Hurricane Ike. Most of the sheathing was upgraded at that time, but the replacement singles aren't anything fancy..

We do have a couple of neighbors that have panels that have been in place for a few years but I don't know what their experiences have been nor the companies involved. My better half is going to check that out.

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Jan 3, 2021 21:44:14   #
pmorin Loc: Huntington Beach, Palm Springs
 
Bob Werre wrote:
We've been approached by a sales group offering to put solar panels on our roof and thru some cost formula offering us 'a better deal' on electricity. We decided to get serious. When the sales person started to talk legal things, I said I'll need to see your contract and can I get your business card or perhaps a brochure about your company. I don't know how many car salesmen have handed me their names hand written on a business card, so you know they're a new hire! Anyway, she stated that they were green, so they didn't have business cards, nor a brochure--only a website!

So I'm going to download the contract--all 30+ pages of it. So much for saving trees! I certainly can read the PDF, but I often do some note making and add questions so that doesn't work well with the PDF!
Interesting new way of doing business.
We've been approached by a sales group offering to... (show quote)


We had solar installed in 2009. By 2010 that company was out of business and our warranty from the manufacturer saved our bacon when it was still in effect. We bought the system outright because the state and federal tax incentives cut the actual costs in half. Doing so we took out a line of credit on the house so even the loan costs had a tax break.
Companies come and go but who the manufacturer is makes a huge difference in kilowatt hrs produced and overall cost savings.
Just beware of anyone that tells you the item they’re selling you will be free. You get what you pay for and sometimes not even that.

Reply
Jan 4, 2021 07:41:49   #
SonyBug
 
When you look at a contract, think of it this way. There are three people in the room, the company, the lawyer, and you. How much protection do you think a 30 page contract will give YOU? I bet that the whole 30 pages are to protect the company.

I personally would not deal with that company. Look for good companies who have done many installs in your area, and go talk to them. In person!

Reply
Jan 4, 2021 08:07:04   #
Bartulius Loc: Bristol, Ct
 
The house next to us had panels installed; first snow fall of 12 inches the snow slid down the panels and pulled the gutters off the eaves. Before contracting with a company call your insurance company to inquire about the solar company's reputation. How old is the existing roof (beams, plywood and all supports?) and can it support the panels in case of high winds and heavy snow? Are snow dams included if needed?
As with any contractor, get a start date and completion date, you don't want that roof undone for any length of time.

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Jan 4, 2021 08:59:36   #
Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA
 
Bob Werre wrote:
We've been approached by a sales group offering to put solar panels on our roof and thru some cost formula offering us 'a better deal' on electricity. We decided to get serious. When the sales person started to talk legal things, I said I'll need to see your contract and can I get your business card or perhaps a brochure about your company. I don't know how many car salesmen have handed me their names hand written on a business card, so you know they're a new hire! Anyway, she stated that they were green, so they didn't have business cards, nor a brochure--only a website!

So I'm going to download the contract--all 30+ pages of it. So much for saving trees! I certainly can read the PDF, but I often do some note making and add questions so that doesn't work well with the PDF!
Interesting new way of doing business.
We've been approached by a sales group offering to... (show quote)


I had a solar company come around a few months ago. They seemed to have a good product and the savings was verifiable. The problem: They wanted to front the money and charge a fee like the local utility. I would not own the solar, just be leasing it. The problem I had with that was if they wanted to raise their rates in the future, I could not simply shop for another provider like we are able to do with electric companies. If they went out of business, who would service the panels, and at what expense. I would not advise getting locked into an agreement that had a lot of downside regardless of how good the savings might be initially.

Reply
Jan 4, 2021 09:38:35   #
StanMac Loc: Tennessee
 
Bob Werre wrote:
We've been approached by a sales group offering to put solar panels on our roof and thru some cost formula offering us 'a better deal' on electricity. We decided to get serious. When the sales person started to talk legal things, I said I'll need to see your contract and can I get your business card or perhaps a brochure about your company. I don't know how many car salesmen have handed me their names hand written on a business card, so you know they're a new hire! Anyway, she stated that they were green, so they didn't have business cards, nor a brochure--only a website!

So I'm going to download the contract--all 30+ pages of it. So much for saving trees! I certainly can read the PDF, but I often do some note making and add questions so that doesn't work well with the PDF!
Interesting new way of doing business.
We've been approached by a sales group offering to... (show quote)


I would think they would have a printed contract readily available if you were ready to sign on the dotted line, wouldn’t they? The lack of a business card for a client points to an amateurish approach to the sales process, IMO.

Stan

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Jan 4, 2021 09:50:11   #
bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX
 
Bob Werre wrote:
We've been approached by a sales group offering to put solar panels on our roof ...

I recently posted a UHH item regarding Solar Panel sales...see it at...

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-680010-1.html

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Jan 4, 2021 10:36:58   #
phildee Loc: Oceanside, NY
 
We have been using solar panels for about two years and saved a lot of money. The company we used were very reliable, informative and thorough. The company is SunPower. They are all over the east coast. 1-516-8373459

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