Warranty reduction from 5 to 2 years.

[Energetic]

We are considering dropping our warranty from 5 to 2 years. We are confident of our installation quality and dont expect any issues in this time but as the profits reduce we are looking at ways to take cost out of the system for our clients and one way is reudce our warranty liabilities which we take seriously unlike many of the companies going bust atm.

Anyone else considering this as an option and do you think it would affect your ability to compete?

 

[SolarCity]

To be honest, I don't think the warranties are going to be much of an issue. I don't see a lot going wrong with these systems so I think it is something we are going to keep. I still think customers would lean to a company that has a longer warranty period - in their mind it shows that you have confidence in your work.

Of course, a lot of these warranties are about as much use as a unicorn saddle in reality - by the end of this year I reckon a lot of the larger firms will have folded.

 

[SRE]

We've only ever done 2 years, not had any problems yet with selling or the installations - touch wood, very quickly!!

 

[dansk]

Warranty's are only as good as the person behind them anyway - anyone can give a 10 year - but what does it mean? My after sales service to customers is the same whether in warranty or not TBH - i dont like snags so i just deal with them to keep the customer happy - i dont quibble over a bit of warranty - im not one of those "oh mate your warranty ran out last month that be ££££ please" i fix snags long after warranty's ran out (maybe im a soft touch ;-)

 

[moggy1968]

I'm the same. It's when something goes wrong you really prove if your a good company and we always sort out our problems with no quibling.

I moved up to a 6 year warranty because we had to match others to get the jojbs, but it's pretty accademic really. one company round here has a history of giving long warranties (25years) but then fold and set up as a new company so the warranty is worthless.

 

[infinity]

I have given 10 years to all my customers, thought that was the norm :s Probably going to regret that one!! What annoys me is that if part of the system such as a panel breaks, i have to pay for scaffolding etc to rectify. Thats when it gets expensive

 

[pwboston]

If your in a body such as the NICEIC you will find you are giving a 6 year workmanship warranty, even if you change your own paperwork as that is a requirement made by them, you can see this on the PART P certificte it generates. Warranty on products is different, which doesnt come under that banner.

So just because you are lowering your warranty for product replacement where the customer would pay the labour after 2 years, not the material costs, if its workmanship, which I "think" your saying you are reducing, you may find you cannot due to being in a registered body.

 

[finchy]

interesting we provide the standard QANW 10 yr insurance backed warranty. Unless a warranty is insurance backed it not worth the paper it written on :¬! I'm sure ploughcroft personally backed his .....

 

[Somecamel]

interesting we provide the standard QANW 10 yr insurance backed warranty. Unless a warranty is insurance backed it not worth the paper it written on :¬! I'm sure ploughcroft personally backed his .....

Ploughcroft use HIES HIES Membership - Ploughcroft Renewables

 

[Worcester]

So if you don't want to pay increased premiums, don't use HIES as Ploughcroft has just gone into adminstration, and laid off all its staff, then HIES will be picking up the bill...

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Seems a bit strange to me.
If the products are so good, why not extend the warrenty rather than reducing it?

 

[Worcester]

Has anyone checked out NICEIC's warranty fees? In know for any normal electrical job that you register with them their insurance backed warranty fees which lasts for 6 years are pretty nominal.

 

[pwboston]

When you register a job its £1.50 for the building control and £1.50 for the insurance, a total of £3.00 per job, whereby you HAVE to warranty your own work for 6 years for "Workmanship" no matter what you do with your terms and conditions. Thats why i specified above theres a difference, when you say your reducing your warranty to 2 years you need to make it clear its not workmanship your reducing.

 

[moggy1968]

unless of course you don't belong to NICEIC!

 

[ktech]

Didn't realise that ploughcroft had gone bust, interesting. Re: warranty, we offer a 10 year insurance backed warranty for workmanship as has become the norm in our areas. Will be interesting though as this is for workmanship and not product. How many roofs will have issues in a ten year period and it is not related to the pv but general roofing wear and how do you show this to the customer / cover inspection time etc...

 

[Paolo Tedone]

No installer gives 5 years warranty in more mature countries (Germany, France, Italy).....