-
Want to remove ads? Register an account and login to see fewer ads, and become a Supporting Member to remove almost all ads.
Ever considered being a full time complaint writer? I have tons of ideas.
Extremely well said... I couldn't (and didn't) have said it better myself! This is exactly where I find myself.
perkiset
... this one goes to 11
Yep, agree with everyone here and you. An excellent refutation of my post and salient argument for the original notion. Well thought out, clear and uncluttered by emotion and bombastic assertions.
+4 (that's all my rep value is worth
) Well done. Tip of the hat, mate.I totally agree with you. I also wouldn't pay for a feature that wasn't currently implemented. However, the way Tesla is currently selling the feature, you must pay for the Autopilot package if you want TACC, blind spot assist, speed assist, etc. So look at it this way... you aren't really paying for Autopilot, you're paying for the other stuff and Autopilot comes for free later. It's all about how you look at it.
It seems this place can be quite hostile towards people who disagree with the "hive".
I agree with you on this as well. I can't tell you how many times I've been attacked for simply stating my opinion when it did not agree with the Kool Aid packet. In fact, in 2013 when I first started participating, I was regularly attacked for criticizing Tesla over initial quality problems, drive unit replacements, safety concerns over cars shutting down, etc. Yet it seems, today, there are quite a few vocal critics of Tesla who now come down on those who stand up for Tesla or look at things from Tesla's point of view. Funny how that works, eh?
- - - Updated - - -
I think Elon Musk is far shrewder than we give him credit. I fully believe that this long term "bait and switch" was part of Tesla's plan from the outset. I use the term "bait and switch" to make a point, not to imply some kind of legal issue. Tesla promised early customers a lot of things that are now being taken away, especially for those who live an inconvenient distance from their nearest service center. Musk enacted certain policies back then because that's what it took to get customers to buy. Now that Tesla has plenty of sales, Musk has no apprehension about changing policies on those early owners now that he no longer needs them.
I'm confident that all of the recent service and policy changes came from Musk, or if they didn't, were certainly approved by him. He moves the puck according to Tesla's immediate needs, not according to the needs of Tesla's existing ownership base. You cannot count on any promise he makes because he will most likely back away from it when it is no longer convenient for Tesla. I can draw no other conclusion from what has happened in the last 6-12 months.
davidc18
Active Member
Krugerrand
Meow
Is this an example of you 'simply stating (your) opinion'? With the derogatory remark and intention included. Either you don't care how you come across, or something else (which the forum rules do not allow me to say).
gizmoboy
Member
Ever considered being a full time complaint writer? I have tons of ideas.
Extremely well said... I couldn't (and didn't) have said it better myself! This is exactly where I find myself.
I used to be a full-time freelance writer, back in the day. Amongst a bunch of other things over my career.
Now I just write for fun. (And not usually complaints
)Agreed.
When people start tossing out "fan boy" comments and the like, they immediately just come across as bitter and immature to me. Hard to empathize with someone who is always taking shots and constantly being negative. Regardless of how others on TMC might have behaved towards them, acting the same will net you nothing. In fact, as some of these individuals try to act like they are above it all, playing the same game just proves they aren't.
What defines a fan boy or a kool aid mentality? I'm sure in this instance most who use the terms really mean certain individuals who are perceived as overly aggressive and so loyal in the defense of Tesla that they can see no problems. However, when they use it like this, it comes off as painting anybody and everybody with a dissenting opinion as a zealot.
Perhaps some of us believe that some of the posters complaining had unrealistic expectations or just have an sense of entitlement that is impossible to realistically satisfy. I wonder if these folks would honestly want themselves as a customer if the situation were reversed.
Usual disclaimers: No, not everyone who complains is unrealistic. I am not picking on any one individual, YMMV, etc, etc.
Some TMC members can be quite hostile towards those who do not subscribe to their group-think mentality. I believe that is the point of what NeedsWatts is saying, and something with which I have to agree. There are members here who feel they need to bash other members simply for stating an opinion or being critical of Tesla. It's amazing how the word "Tesla" can make otherwise rational people lose all perspective. I get called a fanboy almost as much as I'm called other things (see above) for being critical of Tesla. Some people here define themselves by their abusive personalities.
Andyw2100
Well-Known Member
I have been vocal in my complaints. And I would most definitely want myself as a customer if I had a company selling a product like Tesla's. (I'm not going with your exact premise of "if the situation were reversed" because I don't think that's what you meant. I probably would not want myself as a customer in a situation where I had failed to deliver on something I had promised, and was hoping people would just quietly ignore it and not say anything.)
But back to the original premise, I am a great customer! I am loyal, and buy over and over again. I am not particularly price sensitive, and am willing to pay more for quality. I tell others about products and companies I am happy about, as long as I am treated well. I'll get into arguments with people, defending my preferred company if I feel strongly enough about them. I will bring them business.
Treat me poorly or unfairly, though, and you get the other side of the same coin. Do it intentionally, or repeatedly and I'm going to become the nightmare customer that wants to make sure no one else is hurt the way I was who will tell anyone who will listen how I was wronged.
So yes, if I'm running a good, ethical company planning on treating customers well, I'd like ten thousand customers just like me. If I'm running a company and doing things I shouldn't be, and treating customers poorly, then no, I absolutely do not want even one customer like me.
Last edited:
I agree with most of what you said. A lot of the features that were so wonderful for the early adopters were a ploy to get them to buy, and now that it's no longer sustainable, they're pulling the plug.
I don't think AP was part of that, I think that he thought they'd be able to finish it up before delivers. Boy was he wrong....
Perhaps. But when I'm wrong with one of my customers - first, I own it. Next, I make it right with them. Rarely is a "full refund" required to turn things around. Usually a tangible gesture that makes the customer feel heard is all that is necessary to repair and preserve the business relationship.
Cyclone
Cyclonic Member ((.oO))
I think size of a company is a relevant issue. The more people between the customer and ownership, the harder it is to instill and ensure great customer service. Our company is an interstate company with multiple locations. It is not easy to instill a sense of ownership or pride in every employee. Even good people have off days, make statements the company doesn't necessarily endorse and so fourth. There is a reason the old saying "it's hard to find good people" is a staple in business.
Then there is the insurance and legal counsel issues. Insurance companies and company attorneys will, from time to time, suggest how to handle problems to avoid sounding as if your company is admitting anything. It happens more than you would think and I would imagine the larger the company the more this proves true.
Finally, perhaps the company didn't feel as if it did anything wrong. If you look at a sample of the complaints on this board, TM is everything from "a shoddy run company" to intentionally pulling bait and switch scams. Some complaints have more apparent merits than some others. There are people with a grievance who go beyond stating the issue and start trying to assign nefarious motivations to the company. Doesn't mean that they are correct or they could separate entitlement and expectations from an actual issue. Not everyone who is unhappy is like that of course, but you know the type I'm talking about.
Then there is the insurance and legal counsel issues. Insurance companies and company attorneys will, from time to time, suggest how to handle problems to avoid sounding as if your company is admitting anything. It happens more than you would think and I would imagine the larger the company the more this proves true.
Finally, perhaps the company didn't feel as if it did anything wrong. If you look at a sample of the complaints on this board, TM is everything from "a shoddy run company" to intentionally pulling bait and switch scams. Some complaints have more apparent merits than some others. There are people with a grievance who go beyond stating the issue and start trying to assign nefarious motivations to the company. Doesn't mean that they are correct or they could separate entitlement and expectations from an actual issue. Not everyone who is unhappy is like that of course, but you know the type I'm talking about.
I was just thinking.. What if worst case scenario plays out and they're actually not going to release AP for legal reasons.. Totally believable that Tesla overlooked the legal implications of rolling out Level 3 "fully autonomous" feature set. But the fact that it's included in a fresh set of marketing materials for Model X is encouraging. Plus the tweet from Elon saying "almost ready" which was over a month ago. If we're 2 months from that tweet and AP is still not released that's totally ridiculous. Plus the Model X shipments by end of Sept. And the Sept 9 late show appearance. I call end of Sept their drop dead date.. All signs point to a release this month
Similar threads
