Resolved --- Signature Solar sent me damaged solar panels, then ghosted me after the REC voided the warranty on 45 of the solar panels I ordered

[Strateger]

That right there is reason enough to not do business with REC. I am glad signature resolved this for you, but for a manufacturer to step out from under liability for damage they likely caused at the plant is truly a nightmare.

So an interesting point. During the RMA process with REC, REC told me a bit about the panels history and who they originally sold the panels to. Also, these panels were made 5 ish years ago. They likely spent a ton of time sitting in storage until their owner off loaded them to signature solar. I really like that signature solar sells these kinds of deals, I praise signature solar for it. But it does have risks as the panels may have been mishandled in their lifetime long after they left the manufacturing plant. I personally really like REC panels and the evidences I saw made me think the damage happened at some point during transport or storage.

Also, I have successfully reported damage through an rma on manufacturing damage with some other panels a while back. And I've inspected hundreds of panels. I truly don't think REC contributed to this case of damage. But I could be wrong, any industry can be cut throat and kinda corrupt sometimes.

 

[Strateger]

@NC_hydro I suggest you look at how policies on Panel shipments have changed over the last three years.
When I got my Panels in 2021 they did not require an inspection of all the panels when delivered.
Also getting a replacement for a broken one was not nearly as difficult as it is today.

I totally agree! I've learned that getting documentation for my solar panel deliveries is serious business. I have around 3 gigabytes of picture/video evidence for these panels. If there was one thing to teach new people buying their first solar panels it should be take lots of documentation on deliveries. Infact it would be a pretty nice suggestion for signature solar if they had a web page providing a step by step, with examples, of documentating solar panel inspections. Do they have such a web page? I'd even be willing to help them write it

 

[skyking1]

@Strateger thank you for coming back with the details. That cleared things up.

 

[Starfish Prime]

I'm an importer and can tell you customer service will be zero until after Chinese new year.

 

[prsxr]

I ordered 3 pallets of REC modules from Portable Sun with almost exactly the same damage. Top panel was shattered with two points of heavy contact, most of the panels beneath were deformed in exactly the same way as shown above. I wonder if this was systemic to the lot, and the reason they're being sold for cheap. THat would have been fine if there'd been a disclosure of the damage.

 

[SunDave]

I ordered 3 pallets of REC modules from Portable Sun with almost exactly the same damage. Top panel was shattered with two points of heavy contact, most of the panels beneath were deformed in exactly the same way as shown above. I wonder if this was systemic to the lot, and the reason they're being sold for cheap. THat would have been fine if there'd been a disclosure of the damage.

Time is important in these types of things. File a shipping or damage claim right away, with pictures. You didn't cause the damage, so someone should be making it right for you. Sorry to see that.

 

[Hedges]

I got some panels, I think from liquidator Inxeption before they folded.
There was a sheet of paper with large Chinese characters on it, so I asked the guys at work what is said.
"Do not Stack"

So I hung it on my bench at work, above the precarious stacks of instruments I have there.
Because EH&S does periodic inspections (and none of them are Chinese.)
I heard from co-workers that another inspection was by a new Chinese EH&S employee, and she asked about the sign.
They said she appreciated the joke.

SanTan readily refunded me for one damaged panel, that had a backsheet nick fracturing one cell.

As Strateger said, it is good Signature is dealing in orphaned PV shipments and good they quickly resolved this.
I assume it occurred when some liquidator stacked surplus inventory to the ceiling.
Not REC's fault.
Signature eating the losses for damaged goods they acquired is what should happen.
Depending on their source they may be able to get an adjustment, or not.

 

[prsxr]

Time is important in these types of things. File a shipping or damage claim right away, with pictures. You didn't cause the damage, so someone should be making it right for you. Sorry to see that.

I have filed a claim with the vendor. No resolution yet.

 

[Robert Ibe]

So an interesting point. During the RMA process with REC, REC told me a bit about the panels history and who they originally sold the panels to. Also, these panels were made 5 ish years ago. They likely spent a ton of time sitting in storage until their owner off loaded them to signature solar. I really like that signature solar sells these kinds of deals, I praise signature solar for it. But it does have risks as the panels may have been mishandled in their lifetime long after they left the manufacturing plant. I personally really like REC panels and the evidences I saw made me think the damage happened at some point during transport or storage.

Also, I have successfully reported damage through an rma on manufacturing damage with some other panels a while back. And I've inspected hundreds of panels. I truly don't think REC contributed to this case of damage. But I could be wrong, any industry can be cut throat and kinda corrupt sometimes.

Good to hear the issue was resolved.
I am surprised there was no glass breakage with the damage shown in your photos.

Are you going to leave us in the dark or are you going to tell us about the panels history and who they originally sold the panels to??

I bought 2 pallets of these and they arrived in perfect shape other than some rat turds and weird thin hard brittle black plastic pieces all on top of the protective plastic sheet.

Also ordered 2 pallets of the hyundia 300w panels a while back from signature and they arrived with no problems.

 

[seneysolar]

I ordered 3 pallets of REC modules from Portable Sun with almost exactly the same damage. Top panel was shattered with two points of heavy contact, most of the panels beneath were deformed in exactly the same way as shown above. I wonder if this was systemic to the lot, and the reason they're being sold for cheap. THat would have been fine if there'd been a disclosure of the damage.

Wow, why is SS still selling these without looking at them? The first post was over a month ago.

 

[SignatureSolarJess]

Wow, why is SS still selling these without looking at them? The first post was over a month ago.

Hi! When panels arrive from the manufacturer, we don’t open sealed pallets to maintain their protective packaging, and we ship them as they arrive. However, individually sold panels are inspected before leaving the distributor. The recent post above appears to reference another distributor, but if any damages occur in transit, we’re committed to making it right for our customers

 

[seneysolar]

The recent post above appears to reference another distributor

Portable Sun isnt a Signature Solar partner/ reseller?

 

[SignatureSolarJess]

Portable Sun isnt a Signature Solar partner/ reseller?

No, they're not.

 

[SparkyJJO]

When panels arrive from the manufacturer, we don’t open sealed pallets to maintain their protective packaging, and we ship them as they arrive.

This makes sense to me. And protects you from the manufacturer saying "well YOU did it."

 

[seneysolar]

No, they're not.

 

[SignatureSolarJess]

View attachment 283111

They used to be.

 

[Strateger]

Good to hear the issue was resolved.
I am surprised there was no glass breakage with the damage shown in your photos.

Are you going to leave us in the dark or are you going to tell us about the panels history and who they originally sold the panels to??

I bought 2 pallets of these and they arrived in perfect shape other than some rat turds and weird thin hard brittle black plastic pieces all on top of the protective plastic sheet.

Also ordered 2 pallets of the hyundia 300w panels a while back from signature and they arrived with no problems.

I don't remember who REC sold my pallets to originally, but it wasn't Signature Solar. REC didn't know how many owners the panels had been through, just the company they originally sold the pallets to.

Some of the plastic straps that bind the pallets and cardboard and plastic wrap together were dark faded green and some were new plastic light green straps. In short, the pallets appeared to had never been opened and possibly had the original strapping/packaging from REC from a long long time ago...

One or two of my pallets also had mouse/rat turds all over the top lol

 

[Strateger]

I ordered 3 pallets of REC modules from Portable Sun with almost exactly the same damage. Top panel was shattered with two points of heavy contact, most of the panels beneath were deformed in exactly the same way as shown above. I wonder if this was systemic to the lot, and the reason they're being sold for cheap. THat would have been fine if there'd been a disclosure of the damage.

Wow!!!! None of mine had glass damage. And only the bottom 10 panels or so on my pallets had damage. I'm stunned that almost all your panels were damaged! Something must have super crushed them!!!!

 

[prsxr]

Wow!!!! None of mine had glass damage. And only the bottom 10 panels or so on my pallets had damage. I'm stunned that almost all your panels were damaged! Something must have super crushed them!!!!

It looks like someone lowered forklift forks onto it based on the spacing.

 

[Dagoth Ur Does Solar]

With the bumps/bulges on the frames of those panels, I absolutely would have been trying to warranty them.

Glad they took care of this for you.

I personally would have gone directly to SS or whoever I bought the panels from. I doubt @SignatureSolarJess will be able to comment on this, but my assumption is that if you go to SS, and SS determines the damage was from the manufacturer they bought from, they are going to have some kind of process to file a claim with the manufacturer. I don't think it would be viewed as burning a bridge for you to have gone directly to SS.

I'm not in the business, so I'm just speculating.

Either way, while it's good SS support is here and seems to make things right nowadays, it sucks people even have to come to the forum to complain to get issues fixed.

 

[SignatureSolarJess]

With the bumps/bulges on the frames of those panels, I absolutely would have been trying to warranty them.

Glad they took care of this for you.

I personally would have gone directly to SS or whoever I bought the panels from. I doubt @SignatureSolarJess will be able to comment on this, but my assumption is that if you go to SS, and SS determines the damage was from the manufacturer they bought from, they are going to have some kind of process to file a claim with the manufacturer. I don't think it would be viewed as burning a bridge for you to have gone directly to SS.

I'm not in the business, so I'm just speculating.

Either way, while it's good SS support is here and seems to make things right nowadays, it sucks people even have to come to the forum to complain to get issues fixed.

Hi!

We absolutely do have a process to take care of this and OP's issue was sorted out
If anyone has any troubles like this in the future, filing a claim here will be the first step, but anyone is welcome to reach out to me directly here or at engagement@signaturesolar.com and I will assist and ensure you're taken care of!