Most of us know that if customer service isn’t up to par, we have the power to take our business else where. Great food, but bad waiter? Try a different restaurant. Nice hygienist, but long waits at the office? Time to look for a new dentist. But what about a major purchase? Shouldn’t the product be able to serve you and your family for decades?

When considering solar PV, air conditioning systems or other home energy investments, you need to be sure you’re getting both a good product and great customer service before you buy. That means friendly, knowledgeable service that goes beyond contract-signing — extending into the weeks, months and years after installation.


Jeff Lee, project developer at Alternate Energy Inc. (AEI), has these helpful suggestions when it comes to ensuring you receive great customer service:

• Ask around.

Word-of-mouth is the most effective way to determine a company’s true colors. As you’re reviewing bids from potential contractors, ask to speak to a few of their other clients. Find out how responsive the company was during the sales process and afterward. Ask about the crew’s courtesy and professionalism during installation — were they polite and respectful of your property and your neighbors? Did project managers check in during installation? Did they leave the jobsite clean? If any issues came up after installation, how quickly were they resolved?

• How much time does the project developer spend with you?

Is your rep patient and willing to answer all your questions? Does he carefully listen and provide suggestions based on expertise and experience? Does he inform you of pertinent issues such as the current situation with the utility, permitting and Net Energy Metering applications and potential delays in your area?

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One recent AEI solar PV customer, Dr. Jerome Lee, said, “We liked how Jeff listened to our concerns about placement and gave us good options for where to put the panels on our roof. Now you can’t even see the system from the front of our house. We’re really happy with the way it looks.”

• How well does the rep know the product?

Ask how long the project developer has been with the company and how familiar he is with the product. Because AEI is a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond contractor and Elite dealer, Jeff Lee and his colleagues have visited the factories in Japan where Mitsubishi products are made. They’ve seen the quality and work ethic first hand, and intimately know the product.

• What services will the company provide beyond just selling and installing?

Will the company be available to you if you have questions in the future? “Five months after our PV was installed, Jeff was really quick to respond. He was helpful with my taxes. He sent me paperwork and answered my accountant’s questions about claiming the tax credits. We give AEI a 10,” said Dr. Lee.

Alternate Energy is the nation’s first and only contractor to offer Mitsubishi’s newest, most efficient photovoltaic panels: the sleek new MLE Series premium 275W modules. Contact the company for the finest PV, home energy storage, A/C, solar water heating, electric vehicle charging, solar attic fans and electrical contracting today.

ALTERNATE ENERGY INC.
contact // 842-5853 (Oahu) • (808) 872-9592 (Maui)
address // 803 Ahua St.
web // AlternateEnergyHawaii.com

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