Cape Town - Solar Install Quotation

Chris.Geerdts said:
I had two items outstanding from my order - the clamps, and the battery.

PFS offered alternative clamps of lower quality (re-priced of course) if I wanted to proceed. I choose to wait. These were promised for 23 May but are apparently still having problems with shipping logistics. Presumably that is impacting all the orders for solar panels.

PFS also offered to refund the battery due to the delay but prices are up now from when I paid in May. I have put in quite a lot of time chasing Hubble myself over the last few days and believe there is a battery dispatched, but can't be sure as the tracking system is apparently ooo as well.

On request, PFS has shipped everything else in the order, so I have the panels and inverter.
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Hang in there, it's worth the wait.

I waited over a month for an install date at the beginning of the year, when demand was only starting to increase. Was frustrating especially when load shedding hit, but now that it's in I've forgotten all about it...
 
Chris.Geerdts said:
I had two items outstanding from my order - the clamps, and the battery.

PFS offered alternative clamps of lower quality (re-priced of course) if I wanted to proceed. I choose to wait. These were promised for 23 May but are apparently still having problems with shipping logistics. Presumably that is impacting all the orders for solar panels.

PFS also offered to refund the battery due to the delay but prices are up now from when I paid in May. I have put in quite a lot of time chasing Hubble myself over the last few days and believe there is a battery dispatched, but can't be sure as the tracking system is apparently ooo as well.

On request, PFS has shipped everything else in the order, so I have the panels and inverter.
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Am happy to be patient a few more days. Hope they respond to my email in meantime. But if my Hubble is still a long way away from delivery then will ask if they can ship everything else so that at least I can install it.
 
TedLasso said:
I am unsure why you defend them so much and don't really care why.
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Well, you care enough to mention it, so I'll respond. Ted, you may recall that I regularly recommend PFS, and it is based on my own repeated experiences during 2020, 2021 and this year. Hence I consider that my forum rep is also at stake.

TedLasso said:
But that is a very philosophical response which is not really an answer to my claim that PFS needs to be better.
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It was not meant to be philosophical as much as it was empathetic response. I believe that I understand your frustration, because I too was angry and frustrated. I had a family member who was on oxygen at the time, she was basically suffocating during load shedding. I also realised, through my own research at the time, that no other retailer was in any better position than PFS. I mean no disrespect when I point out that we should not allow our frustrations to cloud our judgement, and yes, I know that it's easier said than done, because I am also guilty of it. Fortunately, I have friends that I can rely on to be honest with me, and can give me impartial feedback, even if it isn't what I really want to hear.

And respect for one another, as is our dissent, is mutual. As is our honesty.

Hang in there mate.
 
Thanks Bud! You are one of the good ones. Have to say - since I only saw an episode or two of 'parks and recreation' for the first time on Netflix in the last week, your alter ego confused the heck out of me, since I was sorta expecting you ...
 
RonSwanson said:
Well, you care enough to mention it, so I'll respond. Ted, you may recall that I regularly recommend PFS, and it is based on my own repeated experiences during 2020, 2021 and this year. Hence I consider that my forum rep is also at stake.
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I've appreciated the solid advice from PFS and if you work with Steve then you have direct access to an expert who responds.

The main issue for me was the slippage of the battery delivery date. Knowing that is potential issue, one can have a different conversation with PFS upfront and also look around a bit more - specifically regarding the battery options.

There's the back-story regarding Hubble and their communication and delivery. I see the staff member who was handling the tracking left them and Rhenus has IT issues with their waybill tracking.
 
TedLasso said:
Thanks Bud! You are one of the good ones. Have to say - since I only saw an episode or two of 'parks and recreation' for the first time on Netflix in the last week, your alter ego confused the heck out of me, since I was sorta expecting you ...
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I've appreciated the ongoing, helpful inputs, @RonSwanson, and ended up watching the youtube highlights of that character - hilarious viewing.

 
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TedLasso said:
Am happy to be patient a few more days. Hope they respond to my email in meantime. But if my Hubble is still a long way away from delivery then will ask if they can ship everything else so that at least I can install it.
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Mine arrived yesterday - at long last.

The shipment was in Joburg on Tuesday and dispatched after that. Hopefully other folk on the forum are part of that batch.

I was much happier with Hubble after I found the Hubble site on LinkedIn and got hold of their National Sales Manager, who responded with useful info and followed up.
 
Chris.Geerdts said:
I've appreciated the solid advice from PFS and if you work with Steve then you have direct access to an expert who responds.

The main issue for me was the slippage of the battery delivery date. Knowing that is potential issue, one can have a different conversation with PFS upfront and also look around a bit more - specifically regarding the battery options.

There's the back-story regarding Hubble and their communication and delivery. I see the staff member who was handling the tracking left them and Rhenus has IT issues with their waybill tracking.
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Steve certainly has incredible insight and knowledge of the multi-disciplinary alternative energy industry. Possibly the sharpest and most trustworthy alternative energy professional that I have had the pleasure of dealing with in South Africa. And yes, in all of my experiences he has been pro-active with communications.

Slippery delivery dates are frustrating but knowing Steve, he takes his role very seriously, and he gets very, very unhappy. It probably affects him more than it affects his customers. Bottom line is that when Steve tells me that there is an issue, I know that he has exhausted all other options, and that it is being managed in the best possible way for me. Good also to see that Jason also jumped in and fought for PFS customers.
 
TedLasso said:
Thanks Bud! You are one of the good ones. Have to say - since I only saw an episode or two of 'parks and recreation' for the first time on Netflix in the last week, your alter ego confused the heck out of me, since I was sorta expecting you ...
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Likewise, I watched both season 1 and 2 of Ted Lasso, and you're to blame for that of course. I don't know you well enough to judge whether you are like your moniker or not, but I do get the impression that you are somewhat inspired by him. He's not a vegan though, and has poor husbandry skills, something which also confused me somewhat.
 
I paid for the order 6 weeks ago and all has arrived now except for the clamps to install the panels. I am told they will be dispatched later this week. I'm looking forward to the day when I can sail through stage 4 without feeling it twice a day.
 
My 5kw Sunsynk & Hubble was at last installed yesterday. The new installer PFS recommended did an excellent job and I will definitely use him next year when I expand with panels. Very knowledgeable and could answer all my queries. Used my research on this forum to ask him a couple of questions which he answered without fault. Good news - he knows how the CT coil works! (Thanks Ron & all the other forum experts).

If anyone in the Northern Subburbs of Cape Town is looking for an installer, I'll gladly share his details.

Went through loadshedding this morning without any hiccups, Hoorah!!!
 
Katelknaap said:
My 5kw Sunsynk & Hubble was at last installed yesterday. The new installer PFS recommended did an excellent job and I will definitely use him next year when I expand with panels. Very knowledgeable and could answer all my queries. Used my research on this forum to ask him a couple of questions which he answered without fault. Good news - he knows how the CT coil works! (Thanks Ron & all the other forum experts).

If anyone in the Northern Subburbs of Cape Town is looking for an installer, I'll gladly share his details.

Went through loadshedding this morning without any hiccups, Hoorah!!!
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What did you get and what was the quote?
 
Chris.Geerdts said:
I paid for the order 6 weeks ago and all has arrived now except for the clamps to install the panels. I am told they will be dispatched later this week. I'm looking forward to the day when I can sail through stage 4 without feeling it twice a day.
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Steve went all out to get this to me last Friday but the order was for the wrong roof tiles and I've been bumped off the queue again, to some time next week, which will be 2 months from payment when I finally get my panels - if it actually happens this time.

All good with the AC install though - batteries and inverter. It was done on Friday and it totally awesome having this during the stage 4's and 6's.
 
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Jason from PFS is telling me I could get my Hubble this week. Apparently 44 should be shipped out. If nothing appears by friday, he will provide refund or source something else.

Also waiting for roof screws and hooks.

But battery is more important so I can at least have electricity during the outages
 
TedLasso said:
Jason from PFS is telling me I could get my Hubble this week. Apparently 44 should be shipped out. If nothing appears by friday, he will provide refund or source something else.

Also waiting for roof screws and hooks.

But battery is more important so I can at least have electricity during the outages
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Holding thumbs, mate.

It may be worth pursuing with Hubble at the same time (unless you actually get formal tracking info) as I eventually had to do. There was a mix-up with my order number so I was pleased to have jumped in there.
 
Katelknaap said:
My 5kw Sunsynk & Hubble was at last installed yesterday. The new installer PFS recommended did an excellent job and I will definitely use him next year when I expand with panels. Very knowledgeable and could answer all my queries. Used my research on this forum to ask him a couple of questions which he answered without fault. Good news - he knows how the CT coil works! (Thanks Ron & all the other forum experts).

If anyone in the Northern Subburbs of Cape Town is looking for an installer, I'll gladly share his details.

Went through loadshedding this morning without any hiccups, Hoorah!!!
Click to expand...

Would appreciate it if you could PM me his details. Thanks
 
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