When solar companies go belly-up, sometimes their remaining solar panel and solar inverter stock wind up being sold through liquidation auctions. It can be an opportunity to grab a bargain on solar panels – or wind up with a major headache.
Solar companies fail for all sorts of reasons. It can be through mismanagement, competition or just plain bad luck. However, it can also be a direct or indirect result of selling poor quality equipment. Just because a brand of solar module meets basic certification requirements does not make it a good panel.
As we’ve mentioned before – not all solar panels are equal, nor are solar inverters – performance and reliability can vary wildly.
Even if consumers don’t buy panels or inverters directly from such an auction, a company they are considering buying a solar panel system or components through may have – so it’s always wise to check the provenance and reputation of the components in any package.
Warranty can also be a major issue as manufacturers may not honour warranty claims for equipment purchased via liquidation auctions – assuming the manufacturer is still around.
If consumers find the lure of a liquidation auction irresistible; often the items will be on display for a day or two before the event or details of the components will be listed online. This provides a good opportunity for would-be bidders to check out the equipment and perform some last minute research before possibly wasting their hard earned money.
Liquidation auctions are only one of a number of potential tricks, traps and pitfalls when buying solar power equipment. Energy Matters’ solar consumer guide seeks to raise awareness of these issues to not only help ensure consumers have a positive solar experience; but to also assist in creating a more level playing field within Australia’s solar industry.
Our professional solar installers in Melbourne will assess and determine your energy needs. We customise solar panel system in Melbourne to fit the roof size of your property, ensuring you receive the most suitable solar panel system for your Melbourne home, meeting to property’s energy requirements.
