I’m looking to buy a good quality 30 amp MPPT solar controller such as the Midnite Kid or TriStar 30. It seems that these products are only sold through smaller distributors specializing in solar products and not through larger, more mainstream sources. While I generally prefer to support smaller businesses when possible, I’ve found the retailers for Midnite and Morningstar products in their “Terms and Conditions” are requiring restocking fees ranging from 10-35% for non-defective product returns plus, as I interpret it, no reimbursement for the initial or return shipping fees if the product is defective and, basically, they are telling you to take it up with the manufacturer as a warranty claim if the product arrives DOA or dies within the first 30 days.
I understand these retailers are getting hammered on price competition (both among each other and from offshore – a Tracer 30 amp is less than $170 shipped from Amazon) and may not have the luxury of offering liberal return and shipping policies, but as a potential customer I find these policies very offputting. I’m sympathetic to the restocking fee, especially if I were to make a return of a working item without buying a replacement product from the same seller, although I really don’t expect to make a return if the controller works correctly. I’m much less sympathetic to the shipping and defective item return policies as I’m putting shipping costs plus my time to sort out something not my fault should things go wrong.
Does anyone know of a solar retailer with more flexible return policies? Or who has been willing to step up and make things right in spite of the exact wording of their return policy?
I understand these retailers are getting hammered on price competition (both among each other and from offshore – a Tracer 30 amp is less than $170 shipped from Amazon) and may not have the luxury of offering liberal return and shipping policies, but as a potential customer I find these policies very offputting. I’m sympathetic to the restocking fee, especially if I were to make a return of a working item without buying a replacement product from the same seller, although I really don’t expect to make a return if the controller works correctly. I’m much less sympathetic to the shipping and defective item return policies as I’m putting shipping costs plus my time to sort out something not my fault should things go wrong.
Does anyone know of a solar retailer with more flexible return policies? Or who has been willing to step up and make things right in spite of the exact wording of their return policy?
