ComplaintsforSuperior Solar Sales

• Initial Complaint

  06/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On May 17, I bought 30 used solar panels from Superior Solar Sales (owner Brandon K.), 137 N. Moore Rd. in Whitesburg, TN 37891. I was responding to this ad for Sunpower SPW-E20-435-COM solar panels: https://asheville.craigslist.org/for/d/russellville-sunpower-435w-commercial/7474803445.html Mr. K. claimed in his Craigslist ad that the panels were only two years old, to wit: "These are only 2 years old, basically brand new." However, I have now learned that the serial numbers reflect manufacture in January 2016, so they are over 6 years old. The serial number of the top panel on my stack is M01M20033517. The first digit M is the code for 2016 manufacture. The subsequent "01" indicates the panel was manufactured in the first week of the year. I paid $300 each for the panels in cash ($9,000 total) and was given a receipt. No Tennessee sales tax was itemized on the receipt, so I presume that was already included in the price. Unfortunately I have no statement of Tennessee taxes paid to deduct from my federal and Virginia taxes. Currently these same panels, 2 years younger (2018), are available on eBay for $230 each, shipped. I approached Mr. K. by text about this issue, seeking a partial refund of the price to compensate for their greater-than-represented age. Mr. Kennedy did not deny that the panels were older than 2 years. He claimed that the panels had only 2 years of service life and that that is what his ad meant, to wit: "These are only 2 years old, basically brand new." Mr. K. refused to offer any partial refund of the purchase price and has denied that he misrepresented anything, even though he continues to say my 2016 panels are 2 years old. Mr. K.'s Craigslist ad still misrepresents the panels he is selling as being "only 2 years old."

  Business response

  07/08/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 7, 2022/06/22) */ Thanks for reaching out! As explained to ***** when I reached out to her, the panels have been in use for 2 years prior to being pulled out of commission. They were testing still at their original output when she picked them up, and were in excellent condition when she picked them up. She proceeded to look over each panel, testing each panel, and validated she was happy with the purchase as they were performing outstandingly, and in new like condition. I did offer a $90 refund at one point, which was 1% of the overall cost, due to the fact she stated the panels were manufactured in 2016. Even if this were the case, degradation would be in a 1% degradation period even if they were put into a 4 year use longer than stated, which they were not. Due to the 1% degradation, I offered a $90 (1% refund). I did attempt to work things out as professionally as I could with the Consumer. When she was told the difference in pricing was basically my cost on the panels, she simply stated she didn't care what my cost was, and she just wanted a price match refund because she did not purchase from them instead of me. I do not offer price matching, nor never stated that I did. Consumers are never given the companies cost of the product, that's just not how a business runs and it seems she doesn't understand that. I also stated the ad she had found, was in fact my supplier I Receive the panels from. I do thoroughly hope she enjoys her system as it will provide her years of use and wish her the best!

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