SINTER, Casa McGregor, SINSA

Submitted by fyl on 2 July, 2008 - 15:50.

I seem to spend a lot of time talking about businesses here that just don't understand how to do business. That is, how to actually find out what a customer wants and figure out how to get that for them. Well, today I am happy to report that I found one company that rated good and one that rated excellent.

First, I just want to say that I previously complained about SINSA. Today, once again, I confirmed my previous comments. The best way to put my experience today is that they just don't know how to actually listen to the customer.

On the good list was Casa McGregor. They sell pumps, chain saws, electrical panels and such. We have bought from them before. They listened and were relatively helpful.

The excellent entry goes to SINTER. When I went in, there were two people working there and a third came in a bit later. I have a design for a semi-complicated electrical setup (service entrance, two breaker panels, generator with transfer switch, ... I know what I would buy at an electrical supplier in the U.S. and how I would do it but "the right design" here is much more a function of what is available.

I sat down with them and showed them my two ideas. One involved just what I described and the other involved using a separate main breaker box and the two panels. We looked at the options, figured out what they carried that would meet the requirements and costed out each solution. Even though this involved multiple trips to the warehouse and opening boxes, they were happy to do it. Bottom line: I'm impressed. Oh, and for you MCPs (Male Chauvinist Pigs) out there, the person doing the intellectual work was a woman.

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You likely dealt with Veronica

Submitted by nicareal on 2 July, 2008 - 20:04.

the young lady on the order desk right when you enter the showroom. SUPER well informed and really knows the products.

I always had good luck with SINTER. Are you using the SIEMENS Logic controller in your transfer panel? I also just built a new panel and this little gadget eliminated several relays and saved a whole bunch of money. Not to speak of improved reliability.

Esteli

Submitted by fyl on 3 July, 2008 - 08:09.

This is all in the Estelí office of Sinter and, for that matter, the other companies.

The transfer switch is built into the generator (which is still in a crate). The "complications" in my installation are nothing fancy/automatic. It is just that we will have a service entrance that feeds into the generator transfer switch plus some local circuits and then a second panel after the generator that feeds some local circuits plus a big feed to another building.

The "complications" were:

  1. Whether to use a panel with a main breaker or a separate breaker panel and then sub-panel on the grid feed side.
  2. If possible, a panel box where there are two large knockouts on the bottom as the generator input will be coming from underground and the feed to the other building will leave underground.

In the U.S., a "trailer panel" is the common solution for #2 but I now know you don't find them here. The good news is that Casa McGregor has a GE panel with the right knockouts so all is well.

This is yet another example of "you have to think different" here. What I am doing is at least not typical in Estelí and probably not in Seattle, for example. But, the difference is that I know what electric goods are common in Seattle but am just learning here.

Your Generator

Submitted by nicareal on 3 July, 2008 - 11:51.

is a lot larger than the one I use. Had a very similar problem as your #2 problem. I ended up having the panel box made in order to save time. Worked out well.

You are lucky that Esteli has a Sinter and a McGregor outlet. I have to trek to Managua every time.

OINK

Submitted by bluewater on 2 July, 2008 - 17:38.

Sinsa has a projects division in Altamira and they will analyze your needs based on your drawings and many times give a decent price based on the materials list you provide. The other thing you need to do with them is talk to the manager and get the "mayorista" price. We also have obtained good service by trying to work with one employee for all of our purchases. Since they work on commission you can get decent service if you make it clear that you will always try to use that salesperson. The other good thing about SINSA is the long hours they are open on weekends, 8pm on Saturday and 4pm on Sunday. Try to buy anything inCasa Macgregor or Sinter on Saturday after one pm.

What in the world does the sex of the worker have to do with his or her ability? It appears that you are projecting some insecurity.

Hit or Miss

Submitted by cookshow on 2 July, 2008 - 18:18.

Sinsa can be hit or miss depending on location, the one near Rotunda Cristo Rey (Metro Center area) is usually pretty good, the best for staff that has some sense is the one near the airport. Try Commercial Richardson in MGA they have lots of staff & are always very helpful (they also have a few English speaking employees if needed to find a doo hickey or thing a ma bob you cannot explain in Spanish).

Casa McGregor has been in business a long time & there is a reason. For diesel type things try John May the general manager Eduardo May is helpful & also speaks very good English.

There are several places in MGA that know about service, the problem is that there are many more that will make you crazy, just takes time to find the good ones.

I agree that it is important to have a "go to" person at each store to deal with, when they see you buying time & time again they realize that it is in their best interest to humor you.

Casa Macgregor was wonderful

Submitted by marlies on 3 July, 2008 - 16:15.

Casa Macgregor was wonderful to us... no problem finding an english speaking service tech... even when we plopped down an old, greasy motor on the desk, looking for replacement or repair. They were honest enough to tell us it wasn't worth fixing and didn't hard-sell us into buying a new one, yet called around to other companies looking for a rebuild for us. Mr. MacGregor, himself, made sure we were taken care of when he saw me wandering around the store. Ended up chatting with him for 1/2 hr+; a very interesting & helpful man.

I could not agree more!

Submitted by nicareal on 3 July, 2008 - 18:13.

The honest attitude of that firm seems to filter from the top down.