I’m a new Tesla customer... Former business professor turned entrepreneur. Car guy. Reasonably green and reasonably tech savvy. I think I fit squarely into the middle of Tesla’s target market at this stage of the business.
My first impression is that the company has great products but they don’t really know how to sell their own products. In fact, I’d say the company borders on “hard to buy from.”
I’m not complaining mind you. My experience hasn’t been bad at all. It’s been more a cross between confusing and amusing.
My first experience was with Tesla Solar. I contacted the company online. The robo rep got back to me super fast and set up an appt with a telephone rep. His pitch was decent. And he sent me a copy of the proposal on request. But then he seems to have lost his mojo. After getting competing bids I decided to add more capacity to the proposal. The only problem is that, in two weeks time, he lost the original proposal. And rather than start from scratch with a new one, he just disappeared. So I went with a competitor.
My second experience, not yet complete, is for the purchase of a Model S LR. I started the old fashioned way by test driving and ordering in the store. Since that time the process has largely been a mystery. I have trouble reaching the rep by phone. The computer rarely seems to update with new information. I receive texts asking me to do things that have already been done (like completing the “profile”) and things that can’t be done (like applying for insurance through Tesla).
Delivery day is set for Thursday. The only problem is the details of my purchase have totally disappeared from the website. The only thing there is a picture of my car. I don’t know the final purchase price as the last I looked there were some missing credits and the purchase agreement hadn’t been updated.
All I can say is I hope my car is there when I get there... and that the sales rep’s claim that I can pay by personal check is accurate. I’m sure it will work out one way or another. But I can’t help but wonder what Tesla could do with a more focused sales effort...
My first impression is that the company has great products but they don’t really know how to sell their own products. In fact, I’d say the company borders on “hard to buy from.”
I’m not complaining mind you. My experience hasn’t been bad at all. It’s been more a cross between confusing and amusing.
My first experience was with Tesla Solar. I contacted the company online. The robo rep got back to me super fast and set up an appt with a telephone rep. His pitch was decent. And he sent me a copy of the proposal on request. But then he seems to have lost his mojo. After getting competing bids I decided to add more capacity to the proposal. The only problem is that, in two weeks time, he lost the original proposal. And rather than start from scratch with a new one, he just disappeared. So I went with a competitor.
My second experience, not yet complete, is for the purchase of a Model S LR. I started the old fashioned way by test driving and ordering in the store. Since that time the process has largely been a mystery. I have trouble reaching the rep by phone. The computer rarely seems to update with new information. I receive texts asking me to do things that have already been done (like completing the “profile”) and things that can’t be done (like applying for insurance through Tesla).
Delivery day is set for Thursday. The only problem is the details of my purchase have totally disappeared from the website. The only thing there is a picture of my car. I don’t know the final purchase price as the last I looked there were some missing credits and the purchase agreement hadn’t been updated.
All I can say is I hope my car is there when I get there... and that the sales rep’s claim that I can pay by personal check is accurate. I’m sure it will work out one way or another. But I can’t help but wonder what Tesla could do with a more focused sales effort...
