Discrimination or Model X part recall?

[jsollender]

Agree with most of you. Put your race card away @Ramo and use it when your kids apply to college (smirk). I would have been pissed off also if they got to chalk up another delivery, and I would have forced them to return check and all paperwork. Clearly TM knew they weren't going to let you have the car BEFORE you arrived for delivery. Seems like a bait and switch was done (with the switch being no car) with TM fully getting you on-site to chalk up another delivery when no delivery occurred. At the very least you should ask reimbursement of full interest charges on your bank check at a reasonable rate for each day they hold onto your car, or have the void the entire transaction until they are ready for prime time.

 

[TeslaTrojan]

Hi Ramo,

I definitely empathize with you but want to reassure you that this issue has nothing to do with discrimination. I was actually scheduled for delivery on our Model X yesterday (4/6) morning, but received a phone call just the evening before delivery stating that same thing. The latches on the 3rd row seat of our vehicle needed to be replaced prior to delivery and my delivery had to be postponed until the work was complete. In my case I got a little more notice than you, but not much more. Luckily, I did not hand over the payment yet. However, I do believe this latch recall is very new as in just within the past 2 days, since I just scheduled my delivery on Monday. I hoping to be able to get the car soon. I made my original reservation at the premier event in Feb 2012, so it's been a long time coming. As frustrating as it is, I am confident that Tesla is trying to be proactive and deliver us cars without known issues.

 

[Electric700]

So I arrive at my delivery appointment today to receive my highly anticipated Model X. I am given the customary walk thru and orientation. I sign the contract and initial all the corresponding paperwork. I hand over my certified cashier's check and insurance card.

Then I am taken inside the car to be tutored on the remaining interface features. Once nearly done a second "delivery specialist" appears then promptly informs me that they can't release my car because of a "3rd row seat latch recall". Naturally, I was puzzled by this revelation being that this appointment was actually a reschedule from a week prior. I politely ask the specialist, "is this recall on all the X's?" She said, "No." Then I asked how she knew this was an issue on my model X? The "specialist" explained that it appeared on a checklist that she had that went unnoticed before. So has this happened to anyone else? Is there truly a model X 3rd row seat latch recall? Or did a certain specialist assume that because of my appearance (still had on trucking work clothes), and skin color that I wasn't trustworthy enough to release the car to?

I'm sorry you had this experience, but I doubt there was any discrimination. There are two things I recommend that you should do: follow-up to see when you can go back for delivery after they fix the issue and secondly, request a $100 discount.

Enjoy your Model X!

 

[vandacca]

From everything I've read thus far, it doesn't appear to me to be race related. For those that criticize the OP for playing the race card, I'd be careful. I don't have any idea of what it's like to be racially profiled, and unless you do, I don't think it's correct to criticize.

Otherwise, what I see here is Tesla trying to prop-up their delivery numbers, in spite of difficult times with their QA. If Tesla knew about the 3rd row seat prior to taking payment, then that would be deplorable. I would have asked for my cheque back. It makes no sense to me to pay for something until you actually receive it, and it gives the seller an added incentive to get the repairs done quickly.

 

[Blastphemy]

People will see what they want to see, even if it doesn't exist. Sounds like the OP wanted this to be racism so he could validate the chip on his shoulder.

That having been said, not allowing a customer to take his car (especially after he paid for it in full and signed all the paperwork) just because a third row seat has a latch problem is incredibly stupid. Make the guy sign a waiver stating he is aware that the third row seats shouldn't be used until the recall is performed, and that all liability for ignoring those instruction is the owner's, not Tesla's. Then let him drive his new car home with a proper send-off and fanfare.

Even some Tesla employees don't always have common sense or good reasoning skills. It happens. We may all be created equal, but for a lot of people that's where it ends; only a minority strive to improve upon that baseline and learn the critical skills necessary for functioning in a complex society. Working at Tesla doesn't necessarily mean a person is logical or capable of rational thought!

 

[CaliX]

You know I wasn't there to experience what @Ramo did... I would hope that it's just a miss understanding. My experience with Tesla has been very positive in each of my 3 purchases and yes some of the delivery people are clueless. That being said I called my SC and there is a recall coming on the 3rd row latches and they are trying to repair the ones that haven't been delivered yet.

 

[digicool]

Working at Tesla doesn't necessarily mean a person is logical or capable of rational thought!

Awww man.. cant agree with you more. I always go into the store with very high expectations of communication from their employees because this is Tesla and very often I am disappointed. And I am the kind that goes into the Tesla store just because I can go see the car up close.

 

[Ryan MF]

Sorry to hear about your experience...

Just another perspective on this is that DS and the folks doing the delivery are not compensated based on looking out for fraud. Their job is to deliver cars and make people happy. They really would have no incentive to deny someone a car even if the person really was using a fake check.

 

[Nototrader]

Ummm. I'm sorry for my insensitivity but this entire post is BS. THERE is no way he believes they didn't give him the car he paid for because he was black. But nice job getting people like me to respond!

 

[vandacca]

Ummm. I'm sorry for my insensitivity but this entire post is BS. THERE is no way he believes they didn't give him the car he paid for because he was black. But nice job getting people like me to respond!

A 6'4", 300lb black man may not understand why a 5'1", 100lb white woman would be afraid to walk alone at night in downtown Troy, MI, but it doesn't mean that she isn't justified in her feelings. Telling someone what they should or shouldn't feel is pretty insensitive.

I agree that the DS's action wasn't motivated by race (but rather by Tesla's goals), but if you've been racially profiled for your whole life, it's always going to be in the back of your mind. Unless you live it, you probably can't comprehend it.

Anyway, I'm done with it, so can we please stop with the racial discussion? Let's focus on part recalls or Tesla's delivery goals.

 

[Dr ValueSeeker]

Initially I was scheduled to take delivery a week before. And apparently the part is not in stock and has to be ordered. Being that I arrived on an Uber, why wasn't I given the option of taking my car and then returning for the service once the part arrived? They did offer to drive it to my house! However, I want to be the first one that drives my car to my house!

Sorry to hear this. But there is one very good reason not to deliver the car and then get it back into the service center. If your car sits there for a cumulative 30 days in 18 months, it officially becomes a lemon. Any DS who knows this would delay the delivery, as there is no end-of-quarter mad rush anymore. Did they give the cashier's check back to you?

 

[Buddyroe]

Shocked to hear about this kind of racial issue in California. I live in Georgia, and the city I live in is 68% black, so obviously many of my friends are black. We don't think much about skin color - and I mean from both sides. I don't recall any of my black friends complaining of any such thing happening to them (perceived or real). So, I find it disturbing that this type of thing would happen in California. And even if the event with Tesla was not racially motivated, it is evidence that this type of thing must be prevalent there for the OP to even consider it a possibility. I know that if this had happened to me, I too would have been wondering what exactly about me made them do it.

 

[Blastphemy]

And even if the event with Tesla was not racially motivated, it is evidence that this type of thing must be prevalent there for the OP to even consider it a possibility.

Dude, it's prevalent everywhere in this country! But if you think there's more racism in California as compared to former slave states, you're living in an alternate universe. The OP wanted to see racism; it doesn't mean there was any. A white person would have been just as upset in that situation, except that the white person would blame Tesla for being STUPID, not racist.

 

[Ramo]

@Ramo funny we live in California where casual is in. But you never know about people's perceptions. I am mixed race and definitely don't look like I have the financial security I do but man if I sense anything unusual I will call them out on the spot. I like to use my favorite line "If I didn't know better I would think you were a racist" and watch them back pedal. If you feel they treated you unfairly makes some phone calls. I always think to myself about the time a few years back when Oprah was told she could not afford the handbag she looking at in a high end retail store... If it can happen to her it can happen to me. Now that I think of it Oprah drives a Tesla.

Good point CaliX! My main concern was to make sure that "discrimination" wasn't the case. It does happen to minorities more often than people realize. In fact, a few years ago I had a close friend experience blatant discrimination at a Los Angeles area Porsche dealership. First of all, he had to hunt down customer service and also while checking out one of the cars on the showroom floor one of the employees activated the alarm as he was attempting to go inside of the car. He confronted them and they claimed it was an accident. And then after all of that, during the negotiations a salesman/manager tried to price him out of the deal on a Panamera S by raising the down payment. He went from 20K to 40K to 60K. Realizing the situation, my friend promptly informed them that they didn't manufacture a car he couldn't afford before he walked out. Because of Oprah's fame she was able to bring to light was happens to folks of color on a regular basis.

 

[bmah]

@Ramo, I'm sorry to hear that your delivery experience (well, what there's been of it so far) has not gone well. I wasn't there, so it would be presumptuous for me to speculate on your DS's motivations, or on what you should or should not be feeling. But if this situation made you uncomfortable, I would suggest either calling or writing to the manager of the service center. Lay out the facts, and then say how they appeared to you. Then give them a chance to make things right.

Good luck!

Bruce.

 

[Ramo]

Dude this last sentence says more about your personal insecurities than it does anything about Tesla. You could vent about build QA or the thoroughness of the Delivery Specialist which would be understandable. Immediately jumping to profiling and discrimination is....odd.

Omarsultan, Let's be clear, I absolutely do not believe that Tesla would have any part in profiling and discrimination. However, they cannot control the actions or judgments of their employees or in this case delivery specialist. And that's where my qualm is, with the unprofessionalism and incompetence of an obviously unqualified "delivery specialist". I am purchasing a Tesla that I waited over 3 years for, not a Saturn... Just because Tesla cars sell themselves and no commissions are earned. Does that justify poor customer service?

 

[Ramo]

Dude, it's prevalent everywhere in this country! But if you think there's more racism in California as compared to former slave states, you're living in an alternate universe. The OP wanted to see racism; it doesn't mean there was any. A white person would have been just as upset in that situation, except that the white person would blame Tesla for being STUPID, not racist.

A white person I would presume, would have driven off in their car!

 

[Ramo]

Tesla is not now, nor have the ever been, discriminatory in any way\shape\form. I take offense to your suggestion that your experience was due to the color of your skin. Do you play the race card often or just when you don't get what you want? Tesla is simply trying to avoid unnecessary customer frustration for having to take their X right back to the service center due to known issues. You should be happy that they are proactive, or do you just like playing the race card to see what it'll get you???...

Mods, please feel free to delete\move my post as needed.

Wow...

Jeff

Easy for you to say Jeff. When chances are you've been a proud recipient of "White Privilege" your entire life. Sure racism, racial profiling, discrimination etc... Doesn't exist in this country. It never has. Just a figment of my imagination. My implications were not towards Tesla, but more or less the customer service "DS". Meanwhile, I'm sure your delivery experience went wonderfully as expected. I still don't have my car.

 

[omarsultan]

Omarsultan, Let's be clear, I absolutely do not believe that Tesla would have any part in profiling and discrimination. However, they cannot control the actions or judgments of their employees or in this case delivery specialist. And that's where my qualm is, with the unprofessionalism and incompetence of an obviously unqualified "delivery specialist". I am purchasing a Tesla that I waited over 3 years for, not a Saturn... Just because Tesla cars sell themselves and no commissions are earned. Does that justify poor customer service?

We shall have to agree to disagree on this one. Incompetence does not equal racism, heck even someone that is an cranky a-hole towards you does not automatically mean its because you are of color, he/she might simply be a cranky a-hole in general.

Much as you apparently do not want folks making assumptions based on your skin color or clothing, that sentiment cuts both ways.

Anyway, hope you have your car now (or get it soon) and throughly enjoy it.

 

[WentOffGrid]

For whatever it's worth, I also had that 3rd row latch issue which stopped me from delivery when I was all set and signed.
And this was after I traded in my MS, which made it even worse..

Had a happy ending as Tesla eventually did the right thing, but for a while I was not thinking it would work out well.
It did, and for all the things Tesla has to contend with including employees, I understand better and am pleased.

Hope the same happens to you, and it works out in the end.