Re: [RE-wrenches] What would you do/say?

[Chris Mason]

The most important thing with these types of jobs and customers is to
clarify the terms of engagement. If you want to take on the job, make it
very clear that you charge by the hour and guarantee no results. Bill
frequently and get paid before you move on.
Get a substantial deposit, it will probably be the only money you get.
Write a contract. I had a customer ask me to install a battery based solar
system they bought from China. I agreed as they were previously customers
and we needed some work. The system did not work properly, the specs were
all wrong for their needs. They argued over everything and would not listen
to any reason. I got paid because I had a contract and it was very clear we
were only responsible for wiring it up.
I had them purchase a disconnect for the grid feed to the inverter and they
argued for days that they didn't need it, and that the disconnect was
stealing electricity from the grid.

You can't win on these jobs, unless you make a load of money.



On Fri, Feb 26, 2021 at 12:36 PM Ray  wrote:

> Ok, Nick wins.  That's definitely the worst I've ever seen.  That took
> years of dedication to make that look that bad. The soot? just insuring
> you maintain your top spot for years to come.  This brings up another
> part of this: the customer has to be willing not only to allow you to
> completely rewire the system, they also have to be willing to possibly
> relocate equipment, like that generator.  I haven't had the soot, but I
> have had generators in the same room as the equipment, which caused
> batteries and electronics to over heat.
>
> I too used to think I had to solve every problem I came upon, but you're
> just going to wear yourself out.  Both for your profit margin but also
> your sanity, you've got to pick the jobs that are best for you.
>
> Back to the firing clients: some of these folks seem to think there is
> an entire phone book of off grid electricians they can call, if one
> doesn't work out.  However, savvy customers recognize how important we
> are to their life style, and so pay promptly and treat us with respect.
>
> Ray Walters
> Remote Solar
> 303 505-8760
>
> On 2/26/21 12:38 AM, Nick A Lucchese wrote:
> > Yes, an interesting thread. Glad to hear I’m not the only one seeing
> > this more and more these days. Internet lowballers and Youtube “pros”
> > aren’t helping the situation either. There is always a bit of guilt
> > not helping someone out especially after hearing that declining to
> > help really often unfolds into more unfortunate turns for them. It’s
> > always a balance of what's best for me and my time versus the best for
> > the safety of our community. Just have to accept that I can’t save
> > everyone and perhaps by not they’ll find someone else that needs the
> > experience.
> >
> > As far as “firing" a customer yes that can feel really good. I did
> > that a couple years ago with a client I had been helping for 16 years.
> > It was the best $830 I’ve ever walked away from! Brings a smile to my
> > face to this day!
> >
> > Just for fun, here’s a sweet system I declined to work on a few years
> > back. He didn’t like the fact that I told him I was going to
> > completely remove it before re-installing it and then charge him a
> > $300 fee to clean all the carbon deposits off my tools and body each
> > time I was there. Not shown 4’ away is 100 gallons of diesel fuel and
> > the generator. Yet somehow he got this permitted by parking a tractor
> > in front of the access door (so he claimed).
> >
> > Nick
> >
> >
> >
> >
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-- 
Chris Mason
Solar systems designer
Generac Generators Industrial technician

Comet Systems Ltd DBA Comet Solar
Anguilla Cell  264.235.5670
WhatsApp 264.235.5670
Skype: netconcepts
www.cometsolar.com 
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Re: [RE-wrenches] What would you do/say?

[Jeremy Coxon]

Oops forgot subject on first try.

Wow!  Ray I think you definitely get the gold star for that one.  Great answers 
everyone, thanks again for confirming my stance.  Most of us didn’t get into 
this industry to become rich, I know I didn’t.  There’s always that side of me 
that wants to help, but then there’s the wealth of knowledge from the school of 
hard knocks that anyone who’s been in this business long enough knows to really 
pay attention to or risk losing it all.  It’s nice to know that others “fire” 
their customers too:) - definitely done my share of that.  Thanks for the 
affirmations everyone.

Jeremy Coxon NABCEP 
Certified MWBE

Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [RE-wrenches] What would you do/say?

[Kirk Herander, VSE]

Man, I agree. The soot factor wins the prize. What did the inverters look like 
inside? I'm surprised they still worked, or did they?


Kirk Herander / kirkh@vermont.solar [mailto:kirkh@vermont.solar]
Owner|Principal, VT Solar, LLC
Celebrating our 30th Anniversary 1991-2021!!
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On 2/26/2021 11:57:47 AM, Ray  wrote:
Ok, Nick wins.  That's definitely the worst I've ever seen.  That took
years of dedication to make that look that bad. The soot? just insuring
you maintain your top spot for years to come.  This brings up another
part of this: the customer has to be willing not only to allow you to
completely rewire the system, they also have to be willing to possibly
relocate equipment, like that generator.  I haven't had the soot, but I
have had generators in the same room as the equipment, which caused
batteries and electronics to over heat.

I too used to think I had to solve every problem I came upon, but you're
just going to wear yourself out.  Both for your profit margin but also
your sanity, you've got to pick the jobs that are best for you.

Back to the firing clients: some of these folks seem to think there is
an entire phone book of off grid electricians they can call, if one
doesn't work out.  However, savvy customers recognize how important we
are to their life style, and so pay promptly and treat us with respect.

Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760

On 2/26/21 12:38 AM, Nick A Lucchese wrote:
> Yes, an interesting thread. Glad to hear I’m not the only one seeing
> this more and more these days. Internet lowballers and Youtube “pros”
> aren’t helping the situation either. There is always a bit of guilt
> not helping someone out especially after hearing that declining to
> help really often unfolds into more unfortunate turns for them. It’s
> always a balance of what's best for me and my time versus the best for
> the safety of our community. Just have to accept that I can’t save
> everyone and perhaps by not they’ll find someone else that needs the
> experience.
>
> As far as “firing" a customer yes that can feel really good. I did
> that a couple years ago with a client I had been helping for 16 years.
> It was the best $830 I’ve ever walked away from! Brings a smile to my
> face to this day!
>
> Just for fun, here’s a sweet system I declined to work on a few years
> back. He didn’t like the fact that I told him I was going to
> completely remove it before re-installing it and then charge him a
> $300 fee to clean all the carbon deposits off my tools and body each
> time I was there. Not shown 4’ away is 100 gallons of diesel fuel and
> the generator. Yet somehow he got this permitted by parking a tractor
> in front of the access door (so he claimed).
>
> Nick
>
>
>
>
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Re: [RE-wrenches] What would you do/say?

[Ray]

Ok, Nick wins.  That's definitely the worst I've ever seen.  That took 
years of dedication to make that look that bad. The soot? just insuring 
you maintain your top spot for years to come.  This brings up another 
part of this: the customer has to be willing not only to allow you to 
completely rewire the system, they also have to be willing to possibly 
relocate equipment, like that generator.  I haven't had the soot, but I 
have had generators in the same room as the equipment, which caused 
batteries and electronics to over heat.


I too used to think I had to solve every problem I came upon, but you're 
just going to wear yourself out.  Both for your profit margin but also 
your sanity, you've got to pick the jobs that are best for you.


Back to the firing clients: some of these folks seem to think there is 
an entire phone book of off grid electricians they can call, if one 
doesn't work out.  However, savvy customers recognize how important we 
are to their life style, and so pay promptly and treat us with respect.


Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760

On 2/26/21 12:38 AM, Nick A Lucchese wrote:
Yes, an interesting thread. Glad to hear I’m not the only one seeing 
this more and more these days. Internet lowballers and Youtube “pros” 
aren’t helping the situation either. There is always a bit of guilt 
not helping someone out especially after hearing that declining to 
help really often unfolds into more unfortunate turns for them. It’s 
always a balance of what's best for me and my time versus the best for 
the safety of our community. Just have to accept that I can’t save 
everyone and perhaps by not they’ll find someone else that needs the 
experience.


As far as “firing" a customer yes that can feel really good. I did 
that a couple years ago with a client I had been helping for 16 years. 
It was the best $830 I’ve ever walked away from! Brings a smile to my 
face to this day!


Just for fun, here’s a sweet system I declined to work on a few years 
back. He didn’t like the fact that I told him I was going to 
completely remove it before re-installing it and then charge him a 
$300 fee to clean all the carbon deposits off my tools and body each 
time I was there. Not shown 4’ away is 100 gallons of diesel fuel and 
the generator. Yet somehow he got this permitted by parking a tractor 
in front of the access door (so he claimed).


Nick





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