Affordable Solar - Really?
We have had a visit from an Affordable Solar rep (Simon Palmer). This consisted of a technology, service and financial overview, followed by an attempt to get our signature on the dotted line by being part of a 100% cashback marketing programme.
On the marketing programme, we would get a small reduction from the full installation price, and thereafter small amounts for each sale that we refer. On the sixth referred sale, we would be refunded the full outstanding balance of our initial installation cost.
This seems like a bit of a no-brainer. We have to pay top whack for a decent PV system, but have every chance of getting all our money back when we've referred six sales.
There is a catch: we cannot offer or imply the offer of a marketing programme, when marketing the system ourselves. My Palmer said that getting those six sales would be 'no problem', but is that true? To be fair we don't have enough details from other companies to position Affordable Solar's competitiveness, but on the face of it we might really struggle. Affordable Solar's retail price of a 2kW system is £18305, with expected return of £1000/year. A number being bandied about in the media is £13000, with return of £900/year. The initial cost is critical to getting sales, so we would have our work cut out convincing people that Affordable Solar is actually value for money.
Instead of being a genuine marketing exercise to really ramp up the market, as Mr Palmer described, I actually feel that the 100% cashback offer is simply a marketing gimmick to get people to sign on the dotted line when the salesman is hovering. The company doesn't actually expect you to make any sales of your own - it simply needs to sell to you, safe in the knowledge that you won't be able to sell any referrals of your own. I might be completely wrong, but it's what I think.
Whenever we've been offered something 'as long as you sign up right now', we've been glad we didn't. Whether it's fascias or double glazing, a reasonable offer will be there after the salesman has bid his farewell.
More information about Affordable Solar and their product:
- All quotes include surveys, export meter, scaffolding
- 1kW system costs £13000 fully installed
- Solar panels used: Sanyo HIP-180, monocrystalline, 180W per panel (1.18m2)
- Three month lead time
- REIGA registered (an insurance scheme)
6 Comments
http://contemporaryenergy.co.uk/pv_products.htm
We are only one month in but generated approx 16% more than the estimated June figure - very seasonal obviously. Estimated generation pa is 2404 kwh ( or units).
Still happy with the system and net price paid. Yes - the salesman was pushy and huge discount to headline price of 20k but less if signed immediately - we didn't but got same price next day after reflection.
Didn't like the sales process but at just over 5k per kw this seemed to compare well enough to research suggesting 5-6k per kw.
