Blue Pacific Solar Products, Inc.

Blue Pacific Solar of Sacramento, California, could not be more difficult to deal with, primarily because of the rude behavior of the owner and sole representative, known as "Cliff B" (that's how he calls himself). This review is lengthy, but if you read it top to bottom you will be more informed before you do business with him.

I am an experienced builder, though I have never installed a solar panel system.

I had called several online solar vendors while looking to install a system on my personal residence. It became clear that most of these solar online vendors operate on a basis that you will buy their "kit" before they will design you a system, paid up-front. Then when you design exactly what you want or need, things will certainly change from the cookie-cutter "kit" you bought and then you have to either purchase more equipment to fit or you have already purchased too much and you wait for a refund. Kind of puts the cart before the horse, and Blue Pacific Solar appears to be no different.

Upon initial contact, "Cliff B" was somewhat helpful, though he was short with me and appeared gruff. I should have turned right around and gotten out, in hindsight. I purchased his so-called "permit document service," because I wanted a good set of plans, along with a "complete" system for about $12,700. As time went on throughout my design process and since my design was a bit complicated, Cliff became more and more argumentative and much harder to deal with.

As we went through the design process, it became clear that "Cliff B" really doesn't know about local jurisdiction requirements. "Cliff B" would say, "hey, we do this all day long from California to New York and have never had a design rejected." But I could tell he really didn't know about our local codes, so I sent him published requirements from my local jurisdiction.

Early on in the design process, I had to point out a major code change in the State of California that happened last July, 2018. I am in California, and "Cliff B" is also in California, and I would have thought he would at least know our State codes. Despite "Cliff B's" claim that he had been "doing this over ten years," he didn't even know about this major code change, even these eight months later. Based on the major code change, it surprisingly turned out that there was more room for more solar panels than what "Cliff B" originally (and wrongfully) specified. Since I want to be up on the roof only once, I elected to buy extra panels, increasing my cost over $14,000. Even at this point, not one word of "thanks for your business" or anything like that. Plus, the original purchase included items that I would now not need for which I had already paid. Now he did refund the cost of this un-needed equipment, which I applied to the cost of the extra panels...but why go through this process like this when you should just work on a design, finalize said design then purchase exactly what you need? No way, you have to buy a system before they will design it. That is just backwards, to say the least.

I began to notice other mistakes and I had to correct several items on the plans. I checked local building codes and fire codes for solar and I had to tell "Cliff B" exactly what to do with certain aspects of the system. "Cliff B" acts like he knows everything, but actually, he doesn't. If I personally hadn't checked the local codes and made specific direction for notes on the plans, "Cliff B's" design would have certainly been rejected here. All the while, "Cliff B" makes it difficult to interact, continually arguing on several occasions, and he won't let you speak as he continues to spew it all out.

As we were ready to wrap up design and print the plans, "Cliff B" suddenly began to argue that my proposed design criteria was going to encounter problems with my local jurisdiction and the fire department. I said, "You bring this up after all we have done and we are ready to go to press with the plans?" So I sent my proposed system diagram & installation notes to my local building department (which follows local fire codes), they approved the system as shown. Well, "Cliff B" would not have that, he began to argue with me, impatiently, and yelling "YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A CONFLICT AND THEY WILL NOT APPROVE THE SYSTEM!" To reinforce what I had learned, I sent "Cliff B" the email I had from my building department official, showing the proposed design was approved. I thought "Cliff B" was going to blow a gasket. He continued to argue and said that he was going to call my local official. He did, and the local official told "Cliff B" the design was indeed approve as designed, confirming just what he had said in the email. At that point, I directed "Cliff B" to just get the plans going and send them immediately as designed, which were then mostly designed by me. Which really reduces their "permit document service" to just an overpriced, expensive "drafting service," and you had better know what your local building department requires and check, check and check again before you proceed or it will cost you lots of dollars more when you have to go back and change something. And good luck getting help from Blue Pacific Solar and "Cliff B." He is not here to help. He is really just an order-taker; but to keep things cool I continued to thank him for his help in a effort to keep moving forward.

Next, when I had a question about another type of component that I wanted to substitute, "Cliff B" acted like I was no longer welcome. I said I would gladly buy the component, and "Cliff B's" response: "That product is only used in rare circumstances, and we don't stock it," he would say. OK, he doesn't stock the item, but on the use of the component, I found out otherwise: I simply picked up the phone and called the factory for the component, told the factory rep of my desire for their new-model product and about my poor experience with Blue Pacific Solar (which was the factory's customer as a retailer). The factory rep informed me that the new product was indeed very popular and had overtaken the old model in shipment count. "Cliff B" just didn't want to help me get what I wanted, he just wanted me to go away. Even the factory rep said that "Cliff B should be helping you get what you want, not hindering you. He could have just called us and we would have been happy to help." At that point, the factory rep offered to send me the product free of charge in a gesture to demonstrate what good customer service looks like. I accepted the free product.

If all that is not enough, when I questioned the type of solar panels that got shipped as opposed to ones I had asked about earlier prior to shipment, "Cliff B" proceeded to yell at me, telling me to just return it at a 25% restocking fee (and I pay the return shipping, because after all, I am the evil customer). I did not return anything, but that was his solution. Period. You don't like it, you bought it, you pay to return it and you get charged more money. His statement to me, in his signature gruff tone: "You bought it. If you are not happy, then return it and pay return shipping and I will charge you a 25% restocking fee." "Cliff B" then once again yelled, "IT'S YOUR PROBLEM, NOT OURS."

As "Cliff B" was yelling at me, I asked to speak to his boss, or a manager or the owner. "Cliff B" continued to yell, telling me that he "is the boss" and "you're not going to speak to anyone else but me, end of story," he said. I did a little research, which revealed "Cliff B" is the sole owner and sole representative of Blue Pacific Solar. So understand that you are not dealing with a "company" per se, you are dealing with "Cliff B." He is the company. Therefore, you are largely on your own with little recourse if there is a problem. You can call every extension listed in their phone system, you will get nothing but voice mail. Leave a message to a department thinking you will get someone else to call you back, and it will be "Cliff B" that calls you. There is no other person in this firm to make a complaint.

All this after I spent over $14,000.

Needless to say, I will not buy the next system or the next from Blue Pacific Solar. I have a need for two other systems for other properties and they will come from some other vendor. And my neighbors have seen what I am doing with solar, and they want systems now as well. We will go elsewhere.

You may have a different experience, you may buy a simple system and be on your way. But if there is one single problem or complication with your order, even if you just want to change something, then you will suffer the wrath of "Cliff B." He will have your money, and you will be stuck with what ever he says "you bought."

It has been said before, that you can tell the difference with a company by the way they handle customer service when a problem arises during and especially after the transaction. Blue Pacific Solar and "Cliff B" failed miserably. "Cliff B" was rude, condescending, arrogant, very mean-spirited and downright disrespectful. And you will pay for this kind of treatment.

My advice: Think about all this before you elect to spend your hard-earned dollars at Blue Pacific Solar. Find a design firm that specializes in solar planning and have them design and draft a set of plans that will pass your local building department. Obtain your solar permit from the building department. Then go search for the system with the components that you actually need and know will work with your proposed installation. It will save you money, a lot of time, and of course, the headache of dealing with certain online solar vendors.

Careful with this vendorMaybe good for commercial and experienced contractors but not for diy residentialAfter placing an order and providing laborsome data measurements the vendor's reply to a request for info about the possibility an inverter change took three days and without a phone call first to explain cancelled my orderI think possibly that this vendor falsely advertizes that they can provide permit documentsUnfortunately, the vendor's unreasonable action caused a costly delay resulting in the need for additional panels and missing the nemdeadlineDisplayed unreasonableness and a lack consideration for their action Was very inflexible and discourteous

Fantastic customer service and quick turnaroundEven shipped one item before payment went through

We recently purchased a solar system from Blue pacific solar and had NO problems

Great service, very helpful

Cliff was patient and helpful when working with me to self install my solar array It is a fairly large 10kw ground mounted arrayHe overnighted a few missing parts when needed, and helped explain the installation processVery positive experience-Dave

I am extremely happy with my overall experience with Blue Pacific SolarI installed the panels and inverters myself and had a local electrician perform the final connections, run metal conduit from my inverters to my meterCliff was my contact and got me all the information I needed and answered all my questions in a timely manorI installed a Kw system total cost including all the material including $1,for the electrician was just under $25,I received an estimate from green solar for a 10Kw system for $43,turn keyI'm very happy I installed the panels myselfIt took me about man hours to install the rack, watt panels and run the wire

The customer service before and after the sale was outstanding! All issues were resolved quickly and in a very positive manner I strongly recommend Blue Pacific Solar for the "do it your self" homeowner

Cliff at Blue Pacific Solar Products was verry helpful from the first phone call I had with him until the completion of my self install solar projectBlue Pacific Solar has very competitive pricing and the customer service is AWESOME! a very honest company to deal with!

These guys are greatGood advice about selection of system, etcI just finished installing the second off-grid system I purchased from themGood customer support for trouble-shooting any installation issues

Seamless transactionVery informative and helpfulCustomer service was excellentThis is the company to use for your solar needsThanks Clif!

Poor customer service

Great company to work withDelivered everything as promisedThe shipper lost the inverter and Blue Pacific Solar sent a replacement the next day I highly recommend working with Blue Pacific Solar

I purchased a large PV system, it was a good experience They worked with me to design the system to my specifications and followed the project with me, working out any details / issues along the way They are a great company and take care of their customersThanks Blue Pacific Solar
Zachary L H***

Blue Pacific Solar answered all my questions before and durring the order process and delivered a perfect pre-engineered kit just as promised

Highly recommend Blue Pacific Solar. Very honest and always willing to provide advice. The whole process was never a hard sell like many solar companies, in fact they wanted me to fully understand the system before I committed to the purchase. Cliff provided great help along the way and when the shipper damaged a few items, Cliff made sure replacement parts were on the way immediately. Great company with old fashion customer service. They truly care about providing quality products and customer satisfaction. Highly recommend Blue Pacific Solar.

It was a real pleasure doing business with Blue Pacific. They were knowledgeable, helpful, prompt and provided a good product.

Overwhelmingly satisfied customer.

I spent a lot of time looking for the right solar power system to fit my needs. I tried many of the big "well known" solar companies and just couldn't justify the price they were asking, that's when I found Blue Pacific Solar. I decided that after comparing prices with large companies that offer everything, doing it myself would save me almost $20k. Blue Pacific Solar helped me design my system, draft plans to submit to the city, and get through the permitting process as an individual with no prior experience.

I am really glad I found Blue Pacific Solar, I would highly recommend them for anyone looking into installing solar. Even if you can't do the actual installation on your own - the discounted price buying direct rather than through a big name company makes it worth your while. You can easily find experienced installers to do the labor (which BTW is a LOT cheaper direct than going through a big name customer as well).

Can't say enough good things about this company. They really made my installation possible.

I would recommend Blue Pacific Solar to anyone who is interested in installing a solar system. I worked with a dedicated sales technician, Cliff B[redacted], who helped with everything from the customized line diagram to the commissioning of the system. He was always available and I never had to wait when I had any questions. This can only happen when company leadership is paying attention to the right things, namely the customer who upfront committed to the purchase of their products and relies on the technical support that is promised to be available.

Great customer service. We were installing a solar energy system ourselves and they were great at helping us along the way.

Thank you so much

Sincerely,

One Happy Customer.