Why is solar panel pricing so erratic?

alyaz
alyaz Solar Expert Posts: 114 ✭✭✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
If any of you have experience with wholesaling/selling/pricing solar panels, I'd love to know...

as an example, when checking a website for solar panels, the same manufacturer's 235 watt panels will often be more expensive than their almost identical 240 watt panels. is it simply due to availability, how many they purchased, etc.? or is there more to it?
3.3 kW solar.  3 Midnite Solar controllers; 5 lightening suppressors.  Magnum’s inverter; auto gen start, BMK.  Davidson 2 v FLA’s - 24v bank.  Perkins diesel gen.
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Comments

  • rollandelliott
    rollandelliott Solar Expert Posts: 834 ✭✭
    #2
    Re: Why is solar panel pricing so erratic?

    because different businesses want different profit margins.
    the same reason gas is differnt prices at different places i guess.
    no need to frett about something out of your control anyways.
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Why is solar panel pricing so erratic?

    rollandelliot had a good example, but i think a better one may be the supermarkets in your area. they not only have different prices for the same items, but they may drop the price of one or 2 items artificially very low to draw your business all at one place.
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  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Why is solar panel pricing so erratic?

    I'd like to add that solar panels are made by many different people, so it is rare and difficult to impose a retail price and require a retailer to remain within a certain % of that retail price. As we loss all the competition and the remaining stock piled panels are purchased, this competitive market may change. Ever notice when one gas station changes prices, all of them do? or...

    ...closer to home inverters have imposed prices and % discount. This does protect the retailer to some extent, as more and more people buy from the lowest seller, local retailers are often show rooms for items that will be purchased from amazon or whom ever is selling cheapest, just a drop shipment away.
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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  • Windsun
    Windsun Solar Expert Posts: 1,164 ✭✭
    #5
    Re: Why is solar panel pricing so erratic?

    There are many reasons why prices seem a bit weird at times. Just for example, last year when Kyocera came out with the new 140 watt panels to replace the 135 watt ones, we were given a better price on the new panels. Other reasons are the type of wiring and/or junction box, whether or not it has various approvals and certifications, shipping costs, framing materials and type of frame, etc.

    Also, you often have to read the fine print - are they 2nd's or off spec? Are they a mfg's closeout for an older model? Are they a temporary overstock or ???

    And last but not least, some sites do not update their web prices often enough. We update almost every day, but some do not
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  • alyaz
    alyaz Solar Expert Posts: 114 ✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: Why is solar panel pricing so erratic?
    Windsun wrote: »
    And last but not least, some sites do not update their web prices often enough. We update almost every day, but some do not

    That's why you guys rock! 8)
    3.3 kW solar.  3 Midnite Solar controllers; 5 lightening suppressors.  Magnum’s inverter; auto gen start, BMK.  Davidson 2 v FLA’s - 24v bank.  Perkins diesel gen.
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  • oil pan 4
    oil pan 4 Solar Expert Posts: 767 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Why is solar panel pricing so erratic?

    Bankruptcy liquidation.
    For a while there U.S. solar manufactures were dropping like flies.

    Solar hybrid gasoline generator, 7kw gas, 180 watts of solar, Morningstar 15 amp MPPT, group 31 AGM, 900 watt kisae inverter.

    Solar roof top GMC suburban, a normal 3/4 ton suburban with 180 watts of panels on the roof and 10 amp genasun MPPT, 2000w samlex pure sine wave inverter, 12v gast and ARB air compressors.

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