Hi Richard,
Thanks for your time over the phone - apologies for the disappointment here. As discussed, you had requested a commercial quote but your business property was more suited to a residential install. We unfortunately do not have any local installers that we recommend in your area - but I've texted you a handy link that will hopefully help you find an installer that suits your property :)
Ned.
“I requested 2 quotes
One only submitted a quote, time to respond took too long, no prior contact to establish the system we sought, inaccurate property details.”
Hi Warren,
Thanks for letting us know about this, your time on the phone with me and apologies about the delay in your quotes here. I spoke to the company who took some time to respond - they apologised, they are very busy at this time and advised the delay should have been communicated better. The other company I have also spoken to and asked them to take greater care of the users we send them, this was to ensure it does not happen with future users of our site.
Thanks again for letting us know about this - as it only helps us improve our service. I'm happy you have now found a suitable installer for your property :)
Ned
“1/ Quotes did not meet my needs to expand my existing 5kw roof top system All wanted to scrap this and provide new equipment
2/ Battery prices are too high, giving IRR of 1 - 2% not including write off of $7,000 for existing system. Definitely not viable at present.
I will wait 6 -12 months and review, focusing on using my existing system more efficiently. Please remove me from your mailing lists as I get too many.”
Hey Chris,
Thanks for leaving a review and taking the time to speak with me on the phone about your experience.
In regards to your comments:
1) It's very difficult - almost impossible - to expand an old solar system. This is because you can't 'mix and match' old and new solar panels - you'd need to be able to find old panels that match the specs of your existing ones, and given how fast things move in the solar industry, this is very difficult.
You can, however, add a second separate system which 'combines' with the first one at the meter level. If your roof space is limited, I can understand the logic of installers wanting to scrap the old system and replace it with a completely new, larger one with fresh warranties.
2) Battery payback has a lot more caveats than solar payback at present, so good on your for running your own numbers and coming to that conclusion :)
- Jonathon.
“Information on the website was good. However. I was disappointed with only being provided with 2 quotes, neither of which met my criteria. In the end, I went with someone else who wasn't through solarquotes.”
Hi Tamara,
I'm sorry to hear this - I'd be more than happy to get in touch and find someone that suits your needs, but it sounds like that isn't necessary. Thanks for using our service and leaving a review :)
- Jonathon
“Only one of the three suppliers you recommended has (to date) bothered to take the time to contact us and asking if we could give them more information on what our need’s etc, we’re before providing a quote. The one that did bothered to actually visit the home and seek out any issues that were relevant before providing a quote.”
“Received 3 recommended companies,
First phoned detailed conversation but never delivered a quote as promised.
2nd company brief telephone conversation followed by a quote although very little detail was asked for.
3rd company never heard from.
Disappointing experience and will now pursue quotes under my own steam.
Cannot recommend this experience.”
Hi Keith - I've left a voicemail and sent you an email to get to the bottom of why this happened. Please contact me at ned@solarquotes.com.au so I can assist :)
- Ned
“Three companies were identified to provide quotes. SEM Solar did not provide a quote. Infinite energy went out of business. Green Choice Electrical is not responding to my emails. The process didn't work for me.”
Hi James,
Thanks for your time on the phone. As I understand, you now have an alternative set of companies to provide quotes. If there's anything else I can do to help - just email me at ned@solarquotes.com.au :)
- Ned
“I have three phase power at my home and am finding it near impossible to get a battery system working properly. I know I represent a tiny minority but I don't feel SolarQuotes adds much value for people like me.
I also feel that SolarQuotes is anti-battery. People who buy electric vehicles don't do so because it will save them money. Likewise, it's unlikely that a battery will save most people money yet many batteries are sold each year.
I would find it helpful if SolarQuates stated that they did not recommend a battery but if you must have one here are three worth looking at.”
Hey Paul - thanks for your review. We are pretty explicit that batteries do not pay for themselves at the moment, but we also acknowledge there are more reasons than money to get a battery:
See here: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/solar101.html#home-batteries
And here: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/101-guides/buying-batteries/
I think we can both agree that the vast majority of homeowners do not have tens of thousands to drop on a battery - or if they do, payback is their #1 concern. We are absolutely not 'anti battery' - Finn (founder of SolarQuotes) has a battery on his own home. We're just realistic about acknowledging the payback is not there yet.
3 phase and batteries is unfortunately very tricky as Finn explains here: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/home-batteries-3-phase/
- Jonathon
“Honestly, with the amount of follow up required, I could have done better myself. Not to mention that despite contacting you to tell you I hadn’t received my second quote, all you did was write to me 3 times to ask me to give you a good review.”
Hi Tash,
Thanks for your feedback and review. As I understand, the second quote has now followed up with you. If you have any further questions - my email is ned@solarquotes.com.au
“All the information you give out is very very very useful however my quote experience was very very average, stick with ORIGIN or AGL, although they are far more professional and from my experience massively cheaper than anything that local suppliers quote eg AGL and origin 15/16k or others 20k plus, same config with a Tesla battery”
“Solarquotes is good for a guide but you must follow your own due diligence and it’s definitely not a proxy for quality anymore IMO. I do question whether it’s impartial or not given it’s vetted installers pay them for leads.I have reached out but have been mostly ignored when I found an issue.”
Hi Gavan - thanks for your feedback and review. I can see you also left us a review on the website Trustpilot which we have also replied to re your concerns about an installer.
I can assure you that we are able to offer independent, unbiased advice even when installers pay us for leads, as we do not get commission on sale: https://support.solarquotes.com.au/hc/en-us/articles/115000931934-How-does-SolarQuotes-make-money-Will-I-pay-more-for-my-system-by-using-SolarQuotes-
- Jonathon
Hi John - thanks for your feedback and review. If you have anything specific about your experience to share, please let me know at jonathon@solarquotes.com.au
- Jonathon
“Of 3 quotes, one didn't contact me until I shamed them on FB. One told me the system wouldn't fit (it does) and one took a deposit then failed to deliver anything. Waiting for my deposit back.
On the plus side, the terrible referrals helped me learn a lot about what I was looking for and what companies to avoid.”
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your time on the phone, and your feedback RE the installers. I understand your deposit has been sorted out, and you are going ahead with another installer you sourced :)
- Ned
“while giving some interesting articles not much seems to pertain to WA
The 3 quotes didn't happen - I received one that gave a price but did not quote for my specific property nor did it give any details on where the panels would go. I was expecting that the quote would be a proper quote for the specific property showing where panels would fit and how they would be strung (?) together
I did send a message to solar quotes but don't remember any answer it was quite a while ago”
Hi Linda,
Thanks for reaching out - I tried to give you a call but our call disconnected after you picked up?
Please reach out to me at ned@solarquotes.com.au and I'll do my best to address your concerns :)
- Ned
Hi Frank - thanks for your feedback. Looking at records of your correspondence with us, the latest email we got from you read:
"I have established contact with Koala, received a home visit and quote.
They are looking good.
I haven't received anything from Perth Solar.
Separately I have received a quote from Regen Power, they employ sales pressure tactics even though the business seems reputable.
Our home seemingly at random was door knocked by National Renewable. Their approach left me deeply suspicious.
Regardless my knowledge of what I want is firming."
Our customer support team member (Margherita) replied to this advising that she will follow up with Perth Solar Force.
Would you be able to elaborate more on what you meant by "the content not read"? My email is jonathon@solarquotes.com.au
- Jonathon
English