Bad PR on the way???

[K-MTG]

If Tesla launches the design studio (for reservation holders) without providing the initial option for the $35k configuration (as they did with employees who can currently only order 1st production for $49k)...Tesla will have some seriously bad PR articles.

While the delivery date will be later...they should provide the option to configure the base-line car to avoid this from occurring.

Remember when the Model X config launched initially for sig reservation holders...numerous articles complained about the $140k price tag without realizing that it was only for the signature loaded models...even after Elon's Tweet clarification that it's ~$5k more than the S...the signature price tag was used throughout media outlets for a very long time. Even my family wanted to reserve a S instead of the X since they thought the cost was 2x as much.

I hope Tesla doesn't do this for the 3... especially since the $35k price tag was advertised all over. And most reservation holders aren't fanboys like us and will get confused.... Hopefully @JonMc can consider this?

What do you guys think?

 

[jimmyjohn]

I cannot even pretend to care.

 

[SageBrush]

I think people will find something, anything to complain about no matter what.

 

[smak]

I cannot even pretend to care.

Nor can Tesla.

 

[chronopc]

Tesla has had bad PR since they became a company.

 

[Zaphod]

I'm sure it will be available and possible to configure the base model, but it just won't be delivered until later.

 

[Tam]

...numerous articles complained about the $140k price tag without realizing that it was only for the signature loaded models...

It's just like with autopilot: Tesla can only warn owners so much that driver is responsible for the safe operation of the drive but it's up to owners to listen.

Tesla gave plenty of warnings that the first Model 3 would be a higher priced optioned car to fund the lower base price which is the same principle with prior Model S and X.

Bad PR like running out of battery for not filling up happened too.

Those controversies only highlight the consequences of ignoring Tesla's instructions.

 

[Trips]

Why does if matter if there are some initial negative articles? Tesla initially said that the more expensive versions would be the first deliveries. If anything they started with the mid priced, then lower and finally the higher priced versions. Investors will like the higher margin LR version is available first and that might be more important.

 

[chronopc]

If you only listen to the PR then Tesla is a bankrupted company that produce deathtraps vehicle that runs out of range well under the EPA estimate.

 

[K-MTG]

The problem is that analyst will foreshadow the number of 3 deliveries (to a small number) due to the $49k price surging the stock price that slows down everything...it happened with the X...hence...it can happen again!

Here are some examples from Model X Launch:

Tesla finally unveils the Model X, starting at $132K
Elon Musk unmasks Tesla's Model X – the $132k anti-bioweapon SUV for the 1%
Tesla To Begin Deliveries Of $132K Model X Crossover Starting September 29th - Preorders For Model 3 In March - AutoSpies Auto News
Known Tesla bulls sound the alarm about Model X price


Even after Elon's Tweet: Elon Musk on Twitter CNN and others continued to mention the $132k price tag in their videos/articles.

 

[shokunin]

Welcome to the internet and sloppy journalism. The need to be the first to report, results in poor research, fact checking, and often written as truth when it is blatantly an editorial.

 

[gregincal]

They've already announced the pricing and the fact that they are shipping the more expensive model first and when they are going to be shipping the base model. Any bad press would have already happened, except guess what, the stock is up. I don't see that the actual order process makes the slightest bit of difference, because people already know when they'll get the various configurations of cars.

This is totally different that the Model X, where they didn't announce any details of the non-Sig X's when the started shipping, so the only information people had was the signature pricing.

 

[K-MTG]

They've already announced the pricing and the fact that they are shipping the more expensive model first and when they are going to be shipping the base model. Any bad press would have already happened, except guess what, the stock is up. I don't see that the actual order process makes the slightest bit of difference, because people already know when they'll get the various configurations of cars.

This is totally different that the Model X, where they didn't announce any details of the non-Sig X's when the started shipping, so the only information people had was the signature pricing.

They did..Elon Tweeted pricing on Sept 1st when the launch was Sept. 30.

 

[alseTrick]

I don't care. Tesla doesn't care. You shouldn't care. It's a non-issue.

 

[Tam]

...it happened with the X...hence...it can happen again!...

Your point is well taken but after those bad PR, did Tesla got stronger or did it suffered bankruptcy? Did the stock got higher or did it crash?

Those bad PRs and controversies only educate who's right and who's wrong and it has been quite apparent.

 

[K-MTG]

Your point is well taken but after those bad PR, did Tesla got stronger or did it suffered bankruptcy? Did the stock got higher or did it crash?

Those bad PRs and controversies only educate who's right and who's wrong and it has been quite apparent.

But Tesla didn't introduce the Model X by showcasing it's pricing as they did with the 3. $35k car was proclaimed when the Model 3 was called Model E.

It's not the end of the world (end of Tesla) if Tesla delayed the config for the $35k model but it is certainly something that can very easily be avoided...

 

[Merrill]

The glass half full is so far there has not been any articles that I have read that are negative on the Model 3, some journalist have even said it is an EV game changer.

 

[K-MTG]

The glass half full is so far there has not been any articles that I have read that are negative on the Model 3, some journalist have even said it is an EV game changer.

That's because the design studio hasn't officially launched. But articles like this Tesla Model 3 Vs. Chevy Bolt: Media Roundup are beginning to introduce some unfavorable notions regarding Model 3.

 

[jelloslug]

Tesla is not doing anything other than what they said they would do last March at the reveal.

 

[Tam]

...It's not the end of the world (end of Tesla)...

Tesla needs to be consistent with its principle: Sell higher ones first in order to fund lower priced cars.

Critics do not like that principle and pressure Tesla to do the reverse.

The more vocal they are, the more shorts they bet, the worse they suffer.