Quoting at the Customer's House

[SRE]

Does anyone quote at the customer's house? We've always emailed the quote within 24 hours after providing an accurate guideline at survey.

I know pressure sales people price on the day, but I wondered if anyone else was doing it? I currently don't have paperwork to do it but am thinking it would be a lot easier to confirm a sale there and then once you've built a rapport with your customer.

 

[telectrix]

inly problem there is that, by law, they have a cooling off period, so that, strictly speaking, you should not start the job before the end of this period, think it's 10 days.

 

[SRE]

Its 7 working days and I don't have a problem with that. We have a disclaimer for them to sign if they want it earlier and we rarely install within 7 days unless we're pushed to. I know we have some local firms quoting on the day and after talking to some of our past customers they would have been more than happy to have a quote in their hands at the end of the survey.

 

[telectrix]

for smaller it's not usually a problem. i tend to give a verbal quote, followed by written/email/ whatever if required. most small jobs, i give verbal quote and client says " OK, when can you do it?"

 

[infinity]

I have wondered the same. I used to visit customer and then email a quote in 24hrs orthat night. What i find is with solar that by doing it that night if you are up against sales reps, they dont seem to take as much notice of you once you have left.

For that reason when im going to see a customer i try and find out on google the roof size if i can estimate panel quantity then i do all the pv sol stuff and proper quotation. If i cant tell i take blank copies of my quotation forms to fill in thee and then and i show them an example of Pv_sol and tell them i will send there one across that night. At least that way they have some figures in front of them when you leave!

- - - Updated - - -

But if you do manage to find some quotation forms like the sales guys use i would be interested in sourcing some. The carbon copy type pads i suppose.

 

[SRE]

You hit the nail on the head - once you've left and the salesman has his size 12 in the door all good intentions to go with that nice local firm have gone out of the door. Time to get a little tougher methinks.

 

[whinmoor]

We've never quoted at the customer's house but always give a verbal estimate before leaving. If it's local and looks like a good prospect we sometimes deliver the paperwork by hand which gives us an opportunity to talk about the components and seal the deal.

 

[SRE]

Yep we do the same BUT we're being chased to the bottom on price - I'm not going there .... and I don't know how many times we've walked away recently thinking we've sealed the deal to be beaten by a slick salesman. Not even a local firm but from some of the big guys. The problem is if you try to point out what drivel they've been told then the customer looks stupid, so you lose the job because they don't want to lose credibility.

Quote on the day and offer an installation date - worth a try without pushing.

 

[infinity]

The trouble is, i still dont think by quoting on the day you can seal the deal. Unless you are horrendously pushy with the sale no one wants to sign up on the day! But exactly as you said it, the next guy comes in and says whatever it is he says and they forget about you. I have had customers where im 100% sure i have the job. The couple seem genuinely happy and excited about your services. Then you call back a few days later and they sound beat and defeated, and usually reply, oh sorry we ended up signing with someone else' and you start banging your head on a door again!

 

[Eco Deal]

I have in my van a printer and one of these Soft Start Compact Inverter 12v dc to 230v ac - 600w

do the survey then nip to van and do quote .

 

[SRE]

I have in my van a printer and one of these Soft Start Compact Inverter 12v dc to 230v ac - 600w

do the survey then nip to van and do quote .

That's got to be cheaper than having order pads printed in triplicate - great idea.

 

[Eco Deal]

there is a major problem to this system ! no customers to quote!

 

[Gavin A]

we've had 8 inquiries in the last 7 days, 2 from lead generation.

We put this notice on the front page of our website a week ago...

SOLAR PANEL & INVERTER PRICES ARE RISING
​

28/01/12 | January 2013 has seen weekly rises in the prices we're being charged for solar PV panels and inverters due largely to a 6% fall in the EURO to GBP exchange rate over the last 3 weeks.

Order now to beat the solar price rises​

Leeds Solar are currently reviewing our installed prices to take account of these recent equipment price rises. We would advise anyone thinking about ordering a solar system to please place your order as soon as possible before we have to put our installation prices up.

I'm thinking the 2 things may be related.

 

[SRE]

I'll add something similar to ours tomorrow

 

[SolarCity]

Gavin, do most of your enquiries come through your website?

 

[Gavin A]

mostly, well a bit of a mix as some ring up or email directly, but IMO most people will check the website even if they're a referral.

We are now taking a few leads as well from compare my solar, as this at least allows people to directly compare companies prices and choose who they want to get a lead from, and know what sort of prices they can expect etc which seems to be working ok so far.

 

[Eco Deal]

some would look at the text on the site as a way to rush them I think to be honest and wont belive there is price rises anyway.

if anything it would put people off , (my opinion only )

compare my solar are good leads by the way.

 

[Gavin A]

tbh I care more about the ones who do contact us, plus we've got a more detailed blog article explaining why prices are rising in some detail, and as far as I'm concerned it's actually the truth of the situation and I like to keep our customers or potential customers fully informed rather than suddenly springing price rises on them.

 

[finchy]

We leave the customer with a quotation, but then follow/firm it up the next day with the full design both roof & inverter etc including a full contract.

To be honest we had what we thought a dead cert but went completely cold. I don't like chasing either they want it or they don't, although you never know the poor sod might be using it as fact finding, to join the ever growing green workforce...!