Cheapest/Fastest/Best-Get All 3
Cheapest/Fastest/Best-Usually you're forced to pick only 2... You Get All Three.
Most important detail for me: Doug heard + listened to my personal business requirements, understood my prioritized financial obligations, recommended only what I needed
(I want the Cheapest Price): Overall pricepoint wise, solicited 6 bids including 1 through Costco. Alternate Power had the 2nd best price (within $300) nearly tied for the cheapest. Average was $4k higher. The highest was literally $12k higher. The price alone caused me to question if I was going to regret not asking for options others recommended. Note: Best pricing was based on cash/check payment (standard 3% credit card fees applied). Doug didn't apply any sales tactics nor did he bombard me with follow-up e-mails/calls/texts unlike others. Doug offered a discounted extended warranty to ultimately enable a 10yr (Generac) warranty. Alternate Power's maintenance service agreement was within 10% of the cheapest, and 20% below the average. Alternate Power also gives their maintenance service agreement customers free (valued at $75/yr) Generac monitoring services via Alternate Power's subscription within the Generac Mobile Link application.
(I want the Fastest Experience): Doug spent the least amount of time on-site to estimate the work, and if I hadn't talked, he would have been able to leave earlier. Overall expectations from competitors stated 3 wk lead times from point of sale w/1-2 day installations. Alternate Power scheduled installation 2 business days from agreement and estimated ~5-6hr overall installation window; this ended up being accurate. Doug also processed all Generac related paperwork, activation, registration, promotional 2-yr extended warranty, and non-promotional 3-yr extended warranty, maintenance service agreement, and payment processing all nearly within 24hrs of leaving after successful installation. My in-laws opted to go with the cheapest bid (another installer) for their Generac (identical model/size) with the same installation date and they're still waiting for product activation/registration/promo warranty/etc. 5 days later.
(I want the Best Quality):
- Site survey: Came during a break from another installation job to perform the most straightforward site survey experience (no-nonsense yet personable, exuded confidence and certainty), e-mailed next day with quote including sizing calculator output's recommendation
- Installation: Arrived early at 7:20am for 7:30am installation start time, everyone had a specific role+responsibilities that Doug, Hugh, Paul each performed flawlessly and so efficiently that it was clear they play to have an undefeated record. Carefully handled everything, tranportation, placement, buried service lines, weather sealed conduits, detail oriented/leveled transfer box with tidy cable management, for an overall code compliant installation. Minimal distractions, brought all required tools+supplies, professional+polite (well mannered), function tested twice (initial transfer switch hookup+final generator wiring setup), and cleaned up after themselves. Doug/Hugh/Paul's words and actions all proved that customer satisfaction is their primary goal.
- Post-Installation: Provided all documentation and information as promised, Alternate Power handled literally everything with Generac's paperwork+warranty requirements, and Doug still maintained a very responsive line of communications
Maintenance: TBD - will update after 1st year
- External Feedback: 3 current customer references all responded with consistently positive feedback to Doug's expert advice+high quality installation+service maintenance from team
- Job complexity: Residential-Single Family Home, installation location hardscape surface prepped 1 story below electric service meter, standard (Class 250) natural gas service meter ~80ft from electric service meter, transfer switch wiring fished+routed ~80ft through0.5ft crawlspace between foundation and finished walls.
Bio: Small family (Doug, Hugh, Paul) run business since 2012 with 1k+ regional customers; Doug is a 30+yr certified electrician who saw opportunities specifically within generator installation+service industry to help customers experience a more straightforward consumer buying process grounded in strong experienced based installations to eliminate unnecessary add-ons/price gouging