Solar industry or circus

[Isetech]

This solar industry is turning into a real circus, from the clowns doing installations to the juggling of the prices.

As an end user you can purchase equipment cheaper than installers can buy the equipment. Literally everyday I get a meessage from a customer showing me prices of products they can buy cheaper than I can and I am on a tier 1 level peice stucture for of my suppliers. I dont know if the supplier is screwing me, or the comapnies selling direct to the end user are just buying larger volumes.

I have just got another one today for solar panels, the cheapest price I can get a solar panel, R3000.00

This is what my customer can buy the panel as an end user.

https://www.solarwaysuppliers.co.za/product/canadian-solar-550w-panel/?gclid=CjwKCAjwwb6lBhBJEiwAbuVUSiwmtDgb-1mGPfDvDT3DrmCz3LeoFzT4CkE5oNaAWT2QTQvfQ7s15BoCSVQQAvD_BwE

Let me go paint my face and fit my red nose, I am up next

[Derlyn]

It's what is known as " dog eats dog ".

Sooner, rather than later, the gold rush is gonna end.

[Dave A]

Solarway has the same panel at R4.00 per watt if you buy by the case.
Best price I have seen for quite a while.

[GCE]

There is a price war on the go as the TIER 1 panel manufactures appear to have sorted there silico stock shortages and productions have been ramped up with deliveries on outstanding orders happening rapidly

The cheaper panel manufactures had lifted prices because of the shortage but now realize that there is a problem on the way and dropping prices to were it should be.

There are differences in Panels , quality , output and suppliers handling thereof along with the come back if there is a problem - It all costs money

Then there has been the odd scam with panel labelling being changed , or what is advertised and what is supplied/installed being different

[Isetech]

Now Eskom just needs to ramp up the load shedding, to keep up with the stock available

[Justloadit]

I have found that supplying panels as an individual priced item on my quotes has always caused this reaction by customers.
I usually smile, and say, well you get the panels, and I will continue with the rest of the installation, and get the customer to sign a waiver that if the system does not work accordingly that I can not be held responsible.
They must pay, collect or pay a delivery service.

I have never really made any good profit on panels, and usually requires a big chunk of my capital for the amount of effort required.