I'll contribute towards 1,500 some more. This is self inflicted loss of customer trust. Tesla has plenty to spare, but what a waste. As time goes by, and I consider Tesla's statement about this always being the plan the more I am convinced they only intended to put Alcantara in employee cars. Some previous owners got it. Great for employees. Shitty for 30% of customers who cared Bad for Tesla's brand.
Not a thing. Not even a cup or a verbal apology for changing the headliner and not notifying me. However they did agree to refund the $3500 prepaid for the car ($1k when the reservation was made plus the $2.5k paid at the time I configured).
Agreeing to refund an otherwise non-refundable deposit certainly is something. They don't want to sell you a car you hate, after all. That's in nobody's interest. If they can't make a change that would make you happy, letting you walk away with no cost is the next best option.
Hey, here is some good news. Shorting customers after making sure the employees got a signature ultra suede version is totally out of the news cycle because of the 3rd delayed delivery date! Super duper everyone!
Alcantaragate used to be a hot issue for me. However, now that my reservation estimate has been pushed to the end of 2018 it seems like a much smaller thing to me now. I’ve got another whole year practically before I get my car. Who knows what else will change in that time. I guess the upside is that it'll be like I'm getting a second year production car so some 1st year model production bugs/problems will be ironed out by then as well.
Genuine question: on what grounds? The order document is pretty specific about the deposit being non-refundable after the car goes to production. They are exercising an out which you can request of them: "We may also cancel your order and refund your deposit if we discontinue a product, feature or option after the time you place your order." The order agreement is otherwise pretty clear that the non-refundable portion of the deposit is to recover some of their expenses.
Filing a complaint is easy. Anyone can do it including an attorney seeking to get certified as a class. Returning the $2500 is cheaper than having to respond tot he complaint even if it gets dismissed at SJ.
It also results in more money in the pocket of the person who refused delivery. It's not like going to court is free, even if you are an attorney.
Random thought: What if Ultra-Suede was the "special something" for line-waiters? Did existing owners who reserved on 3/31/2016 and got Model 3 get the Ultra-suede, but owners who reserved after 3/31/2016 did not? If so, one could hope that they re-introduce the Ultra-suede for the "other line waiters" (people who also waited in line, but haven't owned a Tesla before.)
I belive Tesla showing the Model 3 with Alcantara is part of what most reasonable people consider Tesla's offer to be. The same would apply if Tesla showed a car with 4 wheels in all of their media, and tried to deliver cars with 3 wheels. Offer and acceptance - Wikipedia If Tesla doesn't deliver what they offered without getting explicit consent from a customer that the changes are OK, then I'm pretty sure they have invalidated the contract and have to return the deposit. Switching to premium textile isn't as obvious as my wheel example, but I think the idea is the same.
Based on the amount of dead horses (do they make Alcantara from horse hides?), I am closing this thread now.