Customers discuss Costco's partnership model for solar installations, where they subcontract to installers like Fresh Solar, leading to concerns about installer quality, warranty responsibility...

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    "name": "Costco",
    "domain": "costco.com"
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    "post_id": "1wsdar0",
    "summary": "Customers discuss Costco's partnership model for solar installations, where they subcontract to installers like Fresh Solar, leading to concerns about installer quality, warranty responsibility, and installers attempting to bypass Costco for a direct deal.",
    "category": "general",
    "comments": [
      {
        "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/SolarUK/comments/1wsdar0/comment/pckbd3z/",
        "depth": 0,
        "score": 4,
        "author": "yetanotherredditter",
        "excerpt": "No catch\n\n It's a decent price, but really you're going to want a bigger battery than that, and it doesn't look like there is any flexibility here to let you choose a larger battery.",
        "posted_at": "2026-09-28T12:34:58.000Z",
        "author_url": "https://www.reddit.com/user/yetanotherredditter/"
      },
      {
        "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/SolarUK/comments/1wsdar0/comment/pckexc2/",
        "depth": 0,
        "score": 3,
        "author": "Careless_Tap1139",
        "excerpt": "In the t&c\nAdditional costs may apply where the technical survey identifies non-standard scaffolding, roofing work, electrical upgrades, extended cable routes, difficult access or other work outside the standard installation. Any additional cost will be explained and agreed before installation proceeds.",
        "posted_at": "2026-09-28T12:52:50.000Z",
        "author_url": "https://www.reddit.com/user/Careless_Tap1139/"
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      {
        "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/SolarUK/comments/1wsdar0/comment/pckzum2/",
        "depth": 0,
        "score": 3,
        "author": "Chimpville",
        "excerpt": "The catch is that, like all big companies, Costco subcontract. Your installation contract is with Fresh Solar, and the only installer I can find called that don’t have good ratings, and not many overall: https://maps.app.goo.gl/n9DbyG1gVzUQknfT7?g_st=ic\n\n If that is them, I’d see if your warranties and customer service were with Costco or them as they don’t look big or particularly good.\n\n I would",
        "posted_at": "2026-09-28T14:26:22.000Z",
        "author_url": "https://www.reddit.com/user/Chimpville/"
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      {
        "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/SolarUK/comments/1wsdar0/comment/pcl46g7/",
        "depth": 0,
        "score": 2,
        "author": "nathan9457",
        "excerpt": "I got 17 490w Longi panels, EP12 battery, KH7 inverter, and a car charger for £7950",
        "posted_at": "2026-09-28T14:44:30.000Z",
        "author_url": "https://www.reddit.com/user/nathan9457/"
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      {
        "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/SolarUK/comments/1wsdar0/comment/pcmbpai/",
        "depth": 0,
        "score": 2,
        "author": "etunar",
        "excerpt": "They (fresh solar) got in touch with us recently to come and talk to us, and when I asked them about their relation to Costco, the guy was not very positive. Also the quote I got from them was one for normal price and another for a group install which was not suprisingly cheaper for bigger battery but a very short deadline to accept. Both of their price was higher than a quote we had from a local",
        "posted_at": "2026-09-28T17:39:04.000Z",
        "author_url": "https://www.reddit.com/user/etunar/"
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      {
        "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/SolarUK/comments/1wsdar0/comment/pcugpj9/",
        "depth": 0,
        "score": 1,
        "author": "No-Flounder-2854",
        "excerpt": "I used them via Costco and couldn’t fault them. Paid via Costco website and then paid them direct to upgrade battery. They also put in the 6kw inverter for no extra when I asked about it to future proof",
        "posted_at": "2026-09-29T18:50:45.000Z",
        "author_url": "https://www.reddit.com/user/No-Flounder-2854/"
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        "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/SolarUK/comments/1wsdar0/comment/pd82d4p/",
        "depth": 0,
        "score": 1,
        "author": "Big_Young8755",
        "excerpt": "A colleague used them through costco, although when they did the survey they offered to supply direct and cut costco out but could then offer finance and i think it was a longer warranty. Install was OK and he's happy with it.",
        "posted_at": "2026-10-01T15:21:36.000Z",
        "author_url": "https://www.reddit.com/user/Big_Young8755/"
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      {
        "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/SolarUK/comments/1wsdar0/comment/pcvjal2/",
        "depth": 0,
        "score": 0,
        "author": "Senior_Anxiety5660",
        "excerpt": "I use 5kwh before lunch 🤣",
        "posted_at": "2026-09-29T21:28:35.000Z",
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      "[comment u/Chimpville] The catch is that, like all big companies, Costco subcontract. Your installation contract is with Fresh Solar... I’d see if your warranties and customer service were with Costco or them",
      "[comment u/Big_Young8755] A colleague used them through costco, although when they did the survey they offered to supply direct and cut costco out",
      "[comment u/etunar] when I asked them about their relation to Costco, the guy was not very positive."
    ],
    "virality": "somewhat_high",
    "post_date": "2026-09-28T12:30:24.000Z",
    "post_kind": "multi_media",
    "post_text": "Looking to get solar for my parents place.\n\nhttps://www.costco.co.uk/Home-Improvement/Fresh-Solar-SunPower-495W-Solar-PV-System-with-Fox-ESS-EP6-576kWh-Battery-Choose-from-6-18-Panels-Fully-Installed/p/FreshElectrical5.76kwBattery\n\n12 panels and the battery installed for £7.8k in Sheffield seems like a bargain.\n\nAm I being daft?",
    "sentiment": "negative",
    "subreddit": "SolarUK",
    "post_flair": [
      "QUOTE CHECK"
    ],
    "post_title": "What's the catch with CostCo & Fresh Solar?",
    "prominence": "core",
    "source_url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/SolarUK/comments/1wsdar0/whats_the_catch_with_costco_fresh_solar/",
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    "comments_total": 30,
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    "other_companies": [
      {
        "name": "Fresh Solar",
        "role": "partner",
        "domain": "freshsolar.co.uk"
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    ],
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