Singapore Experience
Hi folks,
First time poster.
I am an expat living in sunny Singapore. I am interested in installing solar panels in my apartment. As with most places, finding a shop that sells solar panels isn't exactly easy.
By coincidence, earlier this morning I read an article in the Singapore Straits Times explaining that the Japanese government is hoping to push solar energy again. The article pointed out that Sharp are one of the big names in solar panels.
Armed with that knowledge I contacted Sharp in Singapore to enquire about the cost. Below is the exchange I had with their Sales team - edited to hide my name.
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Spart [davespart]
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 4:18 PM
To: mh.lye
Subject: Enquiry
Hello,
I have just browsed your website and would like to enquire about the cost of installing a solar power system in a condo apartment here in Singapore.
Regards,
Dave Spart.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mh.lye
To: davespart
Subject: RE: Enquiry
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:52:01 +0800
Hi Dave,
Solar investment is not practical for domestic appliances and no ROI.
Usually customer install solar is due to environmental purpose.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Lye
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Spart [davespart]
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 4:57 PM
To: MH Lye
Subject: RE: Enquiry
Please can you just let me know: how much would such a system cost?
Many thanks,
Dave.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mh.lye
To: davespart
Subject: RE: Enquiry
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:44:47 +0800
Hi Dave Spart,
Good Afternoon. Might I know what is the purpose and application of installation of solar ?
Best regards,
Lye
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Spart [davespart]
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 4:48 PM
To: MH Lye
Subject: RE: Enquiry
Lye,
It’s for domestic use providing power domestic appliances such as air-conditioning, a PC, TV, etc.
Regards,
Dave.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mh.lye
To: davespart
Subject: RE: Enquiry
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:05:39 +0800
Dear Dave,
May I know how many kWh do you require for your house?
If base on 1,000kWh/mth then estimate will cost you S$ more than S$220k.
Best regards,
Lye
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Spart [davespart]
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 5:08 PM
To: MH Lye
Subject: RE: Enquiry
I would only need about 5kWh say.
Dave.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mh.lye
To: davespart
Subject: RE: Enquiry
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:29:06 +0800
Hi Dave,
Might I know 5kWh is per month or per day?
Best regards,
Lye
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Spart [davespart]
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 5:37 PM
To: MH Lye
Subject: RE: Enquiry
Well, lets see,
If there are 24 hours in a day then 5kW used every hour equals 120kWh used in one day.
If there are 365.25 days in a year then 5kWh used every hour equals 43,830 kWh used in one year.
On that basis if there are 12 months in a year then 5kWh used every hour equals 3,653 kWh used one month.
This of course assumes these I am using 5kWh constantly which I won’t of course be true. I only need it during the day as I work from home.
Regards,
Dave.
Hi Dave,
Base on your request, estimate the cost will be S$ 792k.
Best regards,
Lye
As you can probably tell from the exchange MH Lye, Sharp's representative, didn't provide most would what call proactive customer service.
In the first instance Lye didn't want to provide an answer at all.
The assumption this person made was that I was expecting to make a return on investment - mistaking me for a money grabber which I'm not.
Lye required me, the customer, to do some simple maths and then armed with those numbers went on to provide me with what I can only assume is the wrong answer.
In case you're fuzzy on exchange rates S$792,000 equates to about US$579,000 - to generate 5kWh.
If this is how solar is being marketed its no bloody wonder so few people have invested in it. Personally I think Lye and his/her managers need shooting.
If we are to alleviate the energy crisis as many people as possible must switch to renewables and that means proactive sales.
Imbecilic salesmanship like that above is exactly the opposite of what we need.
Yours, Dave.
|