Suppliers, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!

[Markc]

In these stressful times we all need the services of GOOD, RELIABLE and COST EFFECTIVE suppliers. I thought as we now have the Sun Lounge. (Hidden from public gaze) it might be worth while in sharing our experiences of suppliers over recent days and even suppliers over the past two years (nearly!)

So Here's mine

Segen is our main supplier. Its simple and easy online so its a any time order. The web portal is a good asset. Their communication is sometimes poor. Emails are mostly ignored but they DO answer the phone. It pays to have your account managers number in the mobile. They have NEVER let me down on supply of product. If its out of stock they tell me or I can see it online. The delivery is sent out to contract logistics. In our area they are VERY good. We have just started using a timed delivery to site. A first class service. Delivery before 10am EVERY time. Now the bad side the Invoicing. The proforma invoices and part payments and final invoices are just hopeless. They never add up and trying to work out whats been paid to whats owing is simply impossible. It pays to keep a close eye on that if possible.

Edmundsons (local) for mounting system they are brilliant, panels are a bit short and vary on type. Always in stock and can pick it up. Saves a bunch on delivery of rail.

WF, Total shower of S**T. Promised panels of one make and delivered another make and size! Only interested in selling in pallets qty's. Stock level is poor.

Sundog. We have used once. Emergency Sharps. Worked well but prices are a bit high. Kioto panel is quite good and value for money.



Solflex. Again a emergency supplier. Good on price but like to try and sell more than what you need.

 

[JD6400]

Don't want to say to much until after the 12th , just in case it does get back to the low bellied fork tongued lying b""""""s that we will not be using again soon !
CEF have supplied the last 90 or so kw's that we have had at good value and we hope good delivery for the finial lot ?
As for mountings , Regent Green Engineering are above splendid as far as i am concerned Alan the MD is " Ten foot tall and f""king bullet proof an all " as the lyrics to a song i know goes , he is literally a rock in a sea of turmoil ! My only regret is that we had only been using his kit for the bigger jobs before and still used SUCKo for anything under 10kw , a mistake that will not be repeated in the future !

 

[MorganPVI]

We've used lots of suppliers and binned them for being ****e or non deliveries.

Segen for mounting (sucko) CCL - inverters , Aletenergy - panels, WF for all electrcial although they do supply alot of solar kit. I do get on very well with my local branch but I wouldn't bother with any of the renewables team.

Keep an eye on Segens stock as you can pick up items from order cancellations - I had 180m of rail yesterday. work the website as their stock does not automatically allocate to exsisting orders, it goes back on the shelf. 2 days ago i ordered inverters due in 15/12. This morning I bought 2 more due in on 18/11

 

[SolarCity]

Like DP, I don't want to say too much until I give the suppliers a chance to put it right.

However, I have never in my 20 years as a tradesman been given such a diabolical service as I have had from Alternergy. Their attitude has been absolutely staggering - and I am not exaggerating. One of the guys in the office failed to deliver the module clips that we had ordered. His solution was to "hacksaw through the larger module clip to adapt it to your size". Now, I don't like bodging jobs and I certainly won't do it because my supplier had failed to deliver his service. I informed them that I didn't see this as a solution - the response was "You're slagging us off because you can't cut a piece of metal straight - other installers do it, why can't you?".

 

[dansk]

ref Biggs post, what a cock that supplier is, who the hell cuts down clamps to make them fit? Certainly not me.

 

[MorganPVI]

Sounds about right Biggs, they tried to sell me K2 Clips for my Schuco rail. They do deliver on the panels though.

 

[SolarCity]

Panel are where they make their money.

 

[MorganPVI]

So who let you down again today Biggs?

 

[Markc]

Anyone know of any source for the Aurora PVI 3.6OUTD?

 

[edexlab]

To be fair Alternergy have looked after us although there has been the odd hiccup with clips etc ,however with their reductions in credit limits announced last week ,we won't be so faithful next year I have a suspicion that he may ,like some others wrap it up when he's paid up in full , as for the advice on clips like Biggs we would'nt entertain that idea I just keep in mind that they have never been an installer and are not likely to give any useful installation advice
Cleaner Air we stopped using awhile ago as their track record was dire,especially when we were new to this game
Wind and Sun its difficult to understand how they keep on going with their deliveries some items ie communication gear and a matrix have taken months and general lack of interest, although for technical advice they have always been very good and we do have a good relationship with them even though we have bought quite small amounts from them, mainly island systems

 

[SolarCity]

Alternergy let me down. Sent me the wrong panel and no mounting equipment. Held me up on two jobs.

They're sending the stuff out today instead. Expect anything.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Just been monumentally let down by a supplier on my final install, 4kW ground mount on tubs, been kept dangling for days on the promise of it coming out the next day. Worst thing is they are also a supplier registered here on the boards whom I have also pointed people to as a supplier. Cant name names at the moment as this is looking like its going legal as the solicitor is 99% happy he can get loss of earnings for me ( as im geographically displaced) + loss of FIT payments over 25 years and energy costs, plus preparatory ground works costs, not to mention the legal costs too, so that should add up to a tidy sum.

 

[SolarCity]

Gutted for you fella. I wonder if this kind of thing will happen a lot. I know Worcester was planning on going down a similar route.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Solicitor has said, because he has received 100% payment they have entered into a watertight contract to supply. Not to mention the e-mail trail I have where the promises have been set out in black and white...left the decision down to him and see if the goods come through tomorrow

 

[Worcester]

The Good:
CCL for inveters
Panels - we bring our own in
Krannich for mountings
Cleaner Air Solutions for mountings
Sibert for all the isolators, meters, MC4's etc
Scott Nangle - for any problem that you want solved, - he can be a bit abrubt, however I have found that he does deliver what he says he will (others may disagree ...)


The BAD:
Solfex took money for inverters, sent out emails saying in stock, and NEVER delivered - we'll be seeing them in court for extra costs of buying elsewhere and delys on the jobs.
Alternergy - quotes are high prices and never quote back for what they are asked
Cleaner Air on answering the phone, - when you could get through (i even had DDI's ..) it was OK.
HSS Hire, they screwed up on every job with stuff late - Scissor lifts, Skips, etc. etc.

The Excellent:
Our local logistics firm - White Logistics
They collected panels, inverters, mountings, the stored, picked delivered out to site, got panels released from customs on mainland Europe the list is endless. Without them we would not have done 6 months work in 6 weeks.
My two project managers: Matt and Trevor (no they're not for hire )
Good Energy for their FiTs team: http://------/Good_Energy

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Got to say Good Energy were a good choice for my last few installs

Segen pulled one out of the bag on Thursday, ordered and dispatched within 6 hours, almost screwed up by the courier wanting 48 hrs to an IV postcode, Segen got involved and sorted for Saturday drop.....Thanks Stacey

 

[SolarCity]

Alternergy let us down hugely when it came to ordering module clamps. We ordered them about 10-14 days in advance of needing them and then we're told that they couldn't get them, they don't stock this size and Rajiv Bhatia told me that it was OUR fault for a miscommunication at our end.

Disgraceful behaviour and even though they were excellent towards the of the chaos, I will never forget it.

Scott Nangle let us down. Took us ages to get paid back too.

Krannich were ok after the initial rush.

Segen were surprisingly good.

Not one firm actually impressed me. Being busy is no excuse for rudeness and poor service.

 

[JulianC]

In the interests of balance, we have nowt but praise for Alternergy! Now this may stem from the fact that we never bothered to set up credit facilities with them and always pay up front, or perhaps because we were shoving nowhere near the volumes through them that you chaps do. However, our contact, Rene Haas, has been really helpful - to the point of holding panels and inverters for us for a day or two until we could gee up our customers and confirm the orders. Everything correctly delivered when requested too.

Local Edmundsons have also been very good. One or two cock-ups, but they rallied round to correct them as quickly as possible and have really looked after us. We are currently 5 times over our credit limit with them and they haven't chased once!!!

All in all, we've been very lucky I think!

 

[SolarCity]

To be fair to Alternergy, I was impressed that they kept their prices consistent - that is how I like to do business.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Good news is all is well with Scott Nangle. Money paid back today in full. I feel he got completely out of his depth with the volumes he was supposedly handling as he still says he is running 3-4 days behind on regular (non solar) orders.

I will still be very wary in the future though as he has a pending Companies House Dissolution Order against the company dated 11/11/2011

 

[SRE]

Carbomat - superb
Segen - nearly as good on service, better on price
Krannich - eventually got stock in and got sorted out, but invoicing is pretty appalling and they too 6 weeks to collect hooks that were delivered incorrectly - when the stock does come it's always a good price.
Altenergy, most frustrating to deal with and the most expensive. Sylvia saved the day for us quite a few times but I'd be reluctant to deal with them again.
Scot Nangle - didn't deliver
CCL - didn't deliver and have just invoiced another company for some warranties that I've ordered.
CEF - I'll be trying to work with them to keep stock that we use regularly - always service with a smile.

 

[JD6400]

CEF saved our bacon we were up to our credit limit as we were already doing a exceptionally busy few months on the usual contracting side , they then let us have about £160,000 worth of panels on tick for 60 days with just my word on it !
They were payed three days after delivery anyway , but i still i think that was very good of them .

 

[Markc]

On 31st I decided to place what orders I had with Segen only. I have to say other than the reduction in our credit limit they managed to deliver. Two orders regarding delivery dates slipped slightly but nothing that was needed ASAP. I'm a little disappointed that if the product is coming out of their two warehouses we get two delivery charges but saying that it is still within our margins. I'm just grateful they had or got what I needed. Even up to the last 16 panels at the final hour. I do need to discuss our discount rate as we had hit the higher rate in September and they haven't applied it yet! All in all i'd say they gave 95%

Local Edmundsons also done a good job but what saved their bacon was getting an unexpected delivery of rail and fixings! Good job two as they had resold our 50 lengths of BP160 we had on back order! Good job we did our rep's install!

As for the rest I didn't use them. Just couldn't get the assurance we needed. WF Wades lots of talk no action and then only wanted to sell by the pallet. Fools!

Scott Nangle didn't reply to email unfortunately but by the sounds of it that was a luck escape? Lets hope he can turn it around.

 

[SolarCity]

Scott Nangle: Nice bloke but utterly up to his eyes in it.

 

[SRE]

Mmm matter of opinion I reckon ;-)

 

[dansk]

For me, CAS used once for a solar edge, no problem here, Zenex in brighouse fulfilled all my orders, couple of hairy moments but these are my best supplier. The worst, a shade greener distribution, couldnt organise a **** up in a brewery, let down big time by them. And SRE, you helped me out of the doo doo and I'm very grateful. Thank you.

 

[JulianC]

And SRE, you helped me out of the doo doo and I'm very grateful. Thank you.

Ditto!

 

[SRE]

Don't, you'll make me blush ;-) - you'd have done the same for me I'm sure.

 

[SRE]

I forgot Wagner - my advice would be never to trade with them! They are demanding payment for 4kwp of Sanyo and a Fronius inverter that I cancelled before the consultation was announced and hasn't been delivered!

Complete Numpties - I must have spent a day sorting out their mess.

 

[cbw]

I am getting pressure to pay an outstanding invoice with a supplier who let me down...........

I actually said in the same tone " When I get some in you will be the first to get it "

He got the sarcasm.....

When I get the last threatening letter I will pay, not before!

Revenge is a dish best served cold!

ON another note......VAT man commeth 29th December....THANKS merry flippin Christmas!!!!

 

[Worcester]

We regulalry install the Wagner mounting system, however will only deal with Germany, UK office is hopeless on all fronts.

 

[SRE]

Worth remembering - I'll try the German office next year.