According to Barron’s Tech Trader Daily blog, Pacific Crest analyst Mark Bachman reveals quality problems with Akeenas’ solar panels.  Some of the problems he mentions, quoting information revealed by his contacts, involve the frame, not the performance of the modules themselves. Bachman continues: “Akeena touts the aesthetically pleasing nature [of its Andalay line] as a key contributor to charging a premium price. Poor manufacturing quality affecting the looks, coupled with reports from our contacts that modules have been returned, suggest to us that either price breaks were negotiated on the modules kept in the field, or Akeena will suffer increased costs to rectify the situation.”  Bachman says that checks with the supply chain find that the module manufacturer is not at fault, and that “the subcontractor delivering the frames is to blame.”