I'm returning my Model 3. I need corporate intervention.

[Prunesquallor]

Part of the problem here is that Tesla is not allowed to sell in your state. I also live in a state where Tesla can't sell (Utah), and they were trying to be super accommodating with my financing, even allowed be to take the car with just a scanned copy of cashier's check from by credit union (that was mailed to them separately).

I’m in Texas and we have the same moronic “Certified Dealers Only” law. I started down the process of arranging my own financing, and to give them credit, when I told my bank it was with Tesla, they researched what would be involved. However, I foresaw potential problems and was fortunate enough to be in the position to pay cash and to sell my old car later. Everything was smooth, but I could could see complications in different circumstances.

 

[Trevor B]

My purchase of a Tesla Model 3 mid-range was the best experience ever. Ordered on 12/15/2018 @ 11:10 AM, a Tesla rep contacted me by 11:15 and connected my reservation number to a VIN. The next Tuesday I received an email with payment options, i chose one immediately. Wednesday I received an email saying that my Model 3 was ready ahead of time and that I could contact them if I wanted to pick it up prior to the scheduled December 26th delivery date. I picked it up on Sunday, December 23rd. It's the best experience purchasing a car I have ever had.

All in all, I spent 11 minutes interacting with Tesla to purchase the Model 3! So far, a month later, no problems (just tinted the windows!). Best car I've ever had!

How does this help with the topic here?

 

[CyberShy]

The lesson for buyers to learn is to NEVER leave the lot without paying for the car, no matter how much you want it.

I’m watching this thread closely because I also live in a non-tesla sales state and 250 miles from the nearest sales office.

The break down of the system within tesla is horrifying. Is the turnover so high that no one knows all of the proper steps to deliver a car to the customer? Is the training so poor that Tesla employees shrug off a customer attempting to pay by just saying someone else has to do it ?
Does not one say to themselves This guy says he hasn’t paid us. Maybe I should actually try to help figure out how to find someone so he can do this very necessary step?

Is there no sense of corporate responsibility?

Rural, did you sign anything when you picked up the car? Does Tesla have physical proof you picked it up?

 

[Runnergirl]

Don't hate- but I just don't get it.
OP: "When we arrived everyone acted as if though the car had been payed for already. "

I'm REALLY really trying very hard to be sympathetic with your frustration and your story but I just don't get it. Ive read the OP several times. To me it seems like since "everyone acted like the car was paid for" that you went along with it. It just seems that way. Did you flash your cashiers check at them and say, "Yooohoooo people, I haven't paid yet!".. of course you shouldn't HAVE to- you shouldn't have to stick your $ in their face and pull their hair to get them to understand.... But did you try? To me it SEEMS you went along with it too.

I couldn't sleep at night knowing I drove away without paying. ( unless there was some prearranged scenario that Tesla/your bank had already agreed to.)

I TOTALLY get the Tesla incompetence, believe me I do. I still have issues with money! Tesla still owes me $1000 2.5 months after delivery.!!,.( "it's processing")

To buy my 3, I had MULTIPLE ridiculous conversations with multiple different Tesla folk and a zillion different answers about how to do it/not do it. In the end, I had to go to TWO difference SCs on delivery day -3 hours apart- (one SC deals with $, the other SC not allowed to ) but that's what I had to do to pay for my car and then drive it away.. (NC is not very Tesla friendly either) anyway, I get it, but I don't get your version of your story.

I hope I'm missing something. But, then you seemed to be enjoying the car- until the lights flickered- and from your words I believe you thought they'd never notice you didn't pay. ("I just got a $2500 Model 3!) Please I hope I'm wrong.

If it were me, I'd PAY for the car, and THEN return it if you still don't like Tesla.

Did you ever enjoy driving it?
If you could have a do-over-delivery-day, would you handle it differently today?
Good luck going forward.

 

[CyberShy]

He tried to pay. They wouldn’t have it, I concede that he should not have left without confirming, but more than likely, if someone took his check, they would have never processed it properly and they’d still say he didn’t pay (there’s no way to know for sure). If he left without the car because he couldn’t pay and he knew it, Tesla would likely blame him for the screw up. It isn’t his fault.

When everyone around you says your good to go and you are excited about driving your new car home, it’s really hard to stand there and say “I insist one of you idiots take my check in spite of the fact that it’s clearly obvious you do not know what you are doing.”

The bigger problem is it seems like no one knows how to let him pay even now! This is corporate incompetence.

Rural should be down in Cleveland with his paperwork beating down the doors trying to pay. This needs to be resolved. Inability to solve obvious problems is a complete failure of the purchasing system at Tesla.

 

[Runnergirl]

Post above: "He tried to pay"... I don't glean that anywhere in his description of his Dec 9th delivery day experience.

His words: "no one was there to take it" ( his check).

So the OP will have to clarify.

Is he saying he took said check out, and tried to hand it to someone and they declined and said " no one here can take that".... or does OP mean .. no one asked for it specifically, so he doesn't mention it either. I almost feel like he took advantage of their incompetence.

 

[ohmman]

Rural should be down in Cleveland with his paperwork beating down the doors trying to pay. This needs to be resolved.

I respectfully disagree and feel that Tesla should be sending someone to @Rural, or more conveniently, calling and apologizing for the mixup and sending a paid overnight envelope for the check. Assuming, of course, that that’s an agreeable solution for the customer.

 

[Edward Reading]

This is really unfortunate. But I have to say it is somewhat the OP's fault for not giving them the check. I had a similar thing happen when I picked up my Model 3 in Santa Barbara. In all of the excitement of of getting the car I never gave them the cashier's check (odd that they never asked for it?). Realized it when I was about to drive away. I went back in and gave them the check and they took it sheepishly. I never had an issue after that. I have to think that if the OP had given them the check, it would have turned out the same for him.

 

[Runnergirl]

My own quote:
"If it were me, I'd PAY for the car, and THEN return it if you still don't like Tesla."

Correction: I should have said:
"... PAY for the car, and then SELL it if you still don't like Tesla" it's too late to return it.

Just like I would have to do if I decided I didn't like mine. ( will NEVER happen)

**And if it's any consolation, I never got my free supercharging either, nor my free charger for making a referral ( now an obsolete referral bonus anyway ). But I pick and choose my battles and didn't care to pursue it.

 

[Knightshade]

Don't hate- but I just don't get it.
OP: "When we arrived everyone acted as if though the car had been payed for already. "

I'm REALLY really trying very hard to be sympathetic with your frustration and your story but I just don't get it. Ive read the OP several times. To me it seems like since "everyone acted like the car was paid for" that you went along with it. It just seems that way. Did you flash your cashiers check at them and say, "Yooohoooo people, I haven't paid yet!".. of course you shouldn't HAVE to- you shouldn't have to stick your $ in their face and pull their hair to get them to understand.... But did you try? To me it SEEMS you went along with it too.

I couldn't sleep at night knowing I drove away without paying. ( unless there was some prearranged scenario that Tesla/your bank had already agreed to.)

I TOTALLY get the Tesla incompetence, believe me I do. I still have issues with money! Tesla still owes me $1000 2.5 months after delivery.!!,.( "it's processing")

To buy my 3, I had MULTIPLE ridiculous conversations with multiple different Tesla folk and a zillion different answers about how to do it/not do it. In the end, I had to go to TWO difference SCs on delivery day -3 hours apart- (one SC deals with $, the other SC not allowed to ) but that's what I had to do to pay for my car and then drive it away.. (NC is not very Tesla friendly either) anyway, I get it, but I don't get your version of your story.

I hope I'm missing something. But, then you seemed to be enjoying the car- until the lights flickered- and from your words I believe you thought they'd never notice you didn't pay. ("I just got a $2500 Model 3!) Please I hope I'm wrong.

If it were me, I'd PAY for the car, and THEN return it if you still don't like Tesla.

Did you ever enjoy driving it?
If you could have a do-over-delivery-day, would you handle it differently today?
Good luck going forward.

FWIW I also bought in NC, the entire process was an embarrassing clown show from start to finish as far as the tesla sales and delivery process.... thankfully the car was excellent...(though they forgot to inspect it before delivery- which is illegal) but they also owed me some $ back afterward- so for your reference I took delivery Sept 30, with them telling me at the time I should get the refund in 2-4 weeks... I got my refund check just shy of 3 months later.

 

[rickjames]

Sorry this does not pass the sniff test.

Did you get "poor" service and clueless service at delivery? Probably. Did you walk away knowing you did not pay utilizing any method of payment, agreement, transfer, etc? YES.

I hate to be blunt but this is entirely on you. The fact that you drove away with a vehicle likely upwards of $60k in total purchase costs and KNEW you only paid $2500 thinking it would buff out in the end means this is your fault. The fact you even thought it to yourself and posted it here leans toward this.

Hindsight is 20/20 and all that but you should have stayed until a transaction was completed or not taken delivery, PERIOD. People on this very forum have refused delivery for far less. This is a significant monetary transaction that could cause significant issues for your financial status for years. You stated you make 100k/yr and have/had an 820 credit score, this seems like something you should already know.

 

[CyberShy]

I respectfully disagree and feel that Tesla should be sending someone to @Rural, or more conveniently, calling and apologizing for the mixup and sending a paid overnight envelope for the check. Assuming, of course, that that’s an agreeable solution for the customer.

And I don’t disagree with you.

It goes both ways, a little. But if Tesla doesn’t try to contact him, how can they ever resolve it? Emails and phone calls from the buyer aren’t getting it done. And @Rural’s credit is the one that will be damaged if not resolved properly.

 

[S4WRXTTCS]

You have to pink them multiple times anytime something happens

Pink them? I can't wait for AI to come along to fix auto-corrects attempt at typo correction.

I meant poke them multiple times for them to fix an issue. This is mostly regarding corporate as I've had pretty good luck with my local service department.

 

[ChrisH]

Sorry this does not pass the sniff test.

Did you get "poor" service and clueless service at delivery? Probably. Did you walk away knowing you did not pay utilizing any method of payment, agreement, transfer, etc? YES.

I hate to be blunt but this is entirely on you. The fact that you drove away with a vehicle likely upwards of $60k in total purchase costs and KNEW you only paid $2500 thinking it would buff out in the end means this is your fault. The fact you even thought it to yourself and posted it here leans toward this.

Hindsight is 20/20 and all that but you should have stayed until a transaction was completed or not taken delivery, PERIOD. People on this very forum have refused delivery for far less. This is a significant monetary transaction that could cause significant issues for your financial status for years. You stated you make 100k/yr and have/had an 820 credit score, this seems like something you should already know.

The amount of defense for Tesla regarding what they do or don’t do from some people on here is unbelievable. The story says they’ve been trying to pay and are not getting responses. This is partially on Tesla too.

 

[datoda]

The amount of defense for Tesla regarding what they do or don’t do from some people on here is unbelievable. The story says they’ve been trying to pay and are not getting responses. This is partially on Tesla too.

You must not have read forums.tesla.com much or at all. I feel folks here are much more fair and balanced here.

 

[ChrisH]

You must not have read forums.tesla.com much or at all. I feel folks here are much more fair and balanced here.

Lol. I rarely reads threads over there. I’m usually on here.

 

[SMAlset]

OP Quite an interesting thread read. From what I can gather the Cleveland store/delivery center had every right to think your car had been paid for in full based on what sounds like an erronious MVPA sent to them for your delivery. That would explain why someone there told you the title would be mailed to you. California's DMV sent our title to us via mail. I assume what you were told was correct whether the car had a clear title or had a lien on it from a financing source. The lending institution would protect the title of the car by making sure there would be a lien recorded on it with DMV so they would get paid before release of clear title, ie. once they sent the paperwork to the DMV for registration you would in this case be mailed a title with a lien on it--lien holder is the bank. I get this is your first new car purchase but even a used car that was financed would follow the same procedure.

When we ordered our Model S at a store location our referral was processed at the time of purchase by staff when we placed our order. From what I read on the forum those that ordered online did have their referral updated by Telsa at some point in the process, even I think after delivery in some cases. From what you said Tesla did come through and applied the referral code's free 6 month supercharging to the car's account.

We did bring the check to delivery, no one was there to take it, we never met <redacted> and the balance due on the car was $0.00

Confused about the payment,flustered about not getting the referral and excited about the car, thinking there must be a logical explanation* we drove away with our new Model 3 taking it back to Michigan. After taking delivery of the car we couldn't reach <redacted>, so we started to reach out to Tesla directly.

*my emphasis--yes, someone in the document prep department made a mistake.

I'm sorry but I don't understand how you could knowingly drive away in a car you knew had incorrect paperwork let alone one that you knew required final payment but you didn't tender it. Mistakes happened, as did clearly one in this case, and the law wouldn't hold that the car was free to you for the $2500 deposit.

How was no one at the Delivery Center not there to take the check? Did you ask to speak to the store manager to get this corrected and remit payment? Unclear from what you wrote but did you even inform the Delivery staff that the MVPA was in error and that you had a bank check and plans to pay the difference owed by credit card at time of delivery? Kind of sounds from what you wrote that the Delivery Assistant didn't ask (clearly because their documentation said it was paid in full) and so you decided to just drive off with the car knowing this. Didn't you in effect commit fraud by signing the MVPA knowing there wasn't a Zero balance due and leaving with the car? Is your bank expecting a loan payment having given you the money? and curious what you have informed them about this. Sounds like a huge mess to clear up.

In effect Tesla delivered the car to you, the supercharging referral did get processed, the headlight issue which I can see can be concerning I'm sure will be fixed. People who had a faulty turn signal stalk or paint issues did get their issues corrected. I will be interested to see how this all gets handled.

 

[bigroccrek]

Did you log into your Tesla account and submit a note using the "escalate" button?
This is supposed to send the note to executive management. Sending a note to investor relations will not get very far.

Whee is the "escalate" button? Can't seem to find it??

 

[Revelation]

I guess I will chime in here. When I bought my Model 3 in Dec there were some issues; nothing major.

At delivery the specialist didn't realize there was a trade-in and was ready to send me on my way without taking the trade-in. I chimed in and ensured that they had everything right and I did the right thing by making sure they were aware of the trade before leaving. Sorry the OP has had issues but the fact that he left the dealership knowing full well that he had not paid for the car is on him.

While some other things that he has experienced have soured his relationship with Tesla; he hasn't actually paid for the car yet. If I were the OP I would work tirelessly with Tesla to get the car paid for in full. The OP has, in essence, committed theft or fraud and that is further exhauster-bated by driving across state lines - that makes it a Federal issue. Signing the wrong purchase documents knowing that they are wrong will also fall under Bank fraud due to financing and since the check was sent in the mail to the OP (my assumption) that would also be mail fraud. Understand that that is how the government works on criminal matters which this certainly is.

Granted, the likelihood, of Tesla going the route of filing a police report on this issue is slim-to-none. The PR nightmare would probably far outweigh any benefits. The OP still needs to understand the severity of the situation he/she finds themselves in.

The OP should have required the proper paperwork before taking delivery. If the OP pushed for that they would have figured out, just as my delivery specialist did when I purchased my Tesla.

That doesn't forgive Tesla for the other issues you have experienced. Just keep in mind you have no grounds to complain until you have PAID FOR THE CAR.

 

[datoda]

I guess I will chime in here. When I bought my Model 3 in Dec there were some issues; nothing major.

At delivery the specialist didn't realize there was a trade-in and was ready to send me on my way without taking the trade-in. I chimed in and ensured that they had everything right and I did the right thing by making sure they were aware of the trade before leaving. Sorry the OP has had issues but the fact that he left the dealership knowing full well that he had not paid for the car is on him.

While some other things that he has experienced have soured his relationship with Tesla; he hasn't actually paid for the car yet. If I were the OP I would work tirelessly with Tesla to get the car paid for in full. The OP has, in essence, committed theft or fraud and that is further exhauster-bated by driving across state lines - that makes it a Federal issue. Signing the wrong purchase documents knowing that they are wrong will also fall under Bank fraud due to financing and since the check was sent in the mail to the OP (my assumption) that would also be mail fraud. Understand that that is how the government works on criminal matters which this certainly is.

Granted, the likelihood, of Tesla going the route of filing a police report on this issue is slim-to-none. The PR nightmare would probably far outweigh any benefits. The OP still needs to understand the severity of the situation he/she finds themselves in.

The OP should have required the proper paperwork before taking delivery. If the OP pushed for that they would have figured out, just as my delivery specialist did when I purchased my Tesla.

That doesn't forgive Tesla for the other issues you have experienced. Just keep in mind you have no grounds to complain until you have PAID FOR THE CAR.

Wow! I hope there's a 'scared' button in addition to the 'informative' one!