Logistics Ugh

[CPD2601]

I was super excited when I realized I was able to purchase a dream car of mine. Lucky for me I was able to trade both mine and my wife's car in on two teslas (one new, one certified preowned). The sales team have been unbelievable, but on the logistics side has been a nightmare. I was told the new one (which is coming out of Austin, Texas) was hoping to be on a truck before Labor Day. That did not happen. I was then told that both cars would be shipped on Tuesday this week, This also apparently did not happen as both the cars have still not arrived. I was told this morning that they are unable to ping the cars due to the enclosed trailer, and he was going to call California and have the logistics manager physically call the drivers to find out where the vehicles are. The logistics part of Tesla has been the most antagonizing part of this whole process, it is ruining my dream car experience. I hate being told one thing and it not coming to true. It's like being over promised and extremely under achieving those goals. I know the Tesla vehicle is unbelievable but if anybody out there is getting ready to purchase a car please know that it is at least going to take one month to get your car. As long as your expectations are at least four weeks no matter what the sales team tells you you will be super satisfied.

Now I know this is out of everyones one control here in the City (due to all the moving parts of getting a vehicle from point A to point B) and they want me to have the cars probably just as bad as I do, but being a tech company I would have expected a little more knowing and not as much guessing. Again this is not a rant about any thing other than to make sure peoples expectations are at a certain level.

and if by chance some of tesla's peeps here in CBUS read this, I'm sorry I call every day! really like multiple times a day lol. Sorry it will be over hopefully soon

 

[Rockster]

I hear ya. Part of the problem, I think, is that Tesla has set our expectations very high with promised delivery dates, a tracking dashboard, etc. I remember when I custom ordered a BMW M Roadster I was told by the dealer in late June, "It will probably be here from the factory some time around mid August. We'll call you when it arrives at the dealership." That's it. No progress, no real promised date. Plus, the car showed up the last week of July without any warning whatsoever, which required a bit of scrambling to handle the logistics.

 

[David29]

I agree, it would be easy to complain about the logistics process, especially if you live east of the Rockies. And it seems it gets worse as the distance requires trains vs. trucks and further worse for those overseas folks who depend upon ocean transport as well.
But I have tried to be patient, trusting that the Tesla team is doing their best, that modes like railroads are way out of Tesla's control, and that they need to juggle lots of deliveries and satisfy lots of customers, and we do not know what their challenge really is. Besides, what choice do I have? The last thing I want to do is to p--- off the local delivery guy.
But it certainly got harder for me today when Tesla changed my Model S status from "in transit" to "being prepared for pickup!" I was tempted to call the delivery specialist but sent an email inquiry instead. I have not yet heard from him, which is frustrating but I am sure he is busy with earlier deliveries -- or maybe he is a part-timer and is off today.
So, I hear you, I share your pain, and I hope we get our cars real soon!

 

[CHG-ON]

I had planned on picking mine up at the factory last Sept. But they kept bouncing the delivery date around, day to day, during the last two weeks prior to delivery. For me, trying to juggle work schedule with picking the car up became a real pain. Not mention trying to time the wiring of 135K to them (I don't prepay those kinds of dollars lightly). In the end, they delivered to my house so that they could make their Q3 numbers (I live close). But in the end, they did a good job. I chalked it up to growing pains. Sad to hear that a year later, they still do not have it down. I do think, however, that much of it has to do with the simple fact that they cannot build them fast enough.

But I am curious, why would a new car be coming out of Austin, TX and not directly from the factory? That confuses me. Unless you had ordered a config that was sitting at one of the stores, which would tell me that they are building inventory in the field, which goes against the idea that that they have a backlog of orders and can't get them out of the door. Hmm.

I hope it gets resolved quickly for you.

 

[CPD2601]

a quick update but still no cars.
#1 Car is a 2015 black 60kwh it has 3,000 miles on it and was at the service center in austin.
#2 Car is a 2014 CPD coming out of New Jersey

Last night I was told by the delivery person that #2 car was heading from Detroit MI and that he could not GPS ping the other one must likely due to the inclosed trailer. I closed at the Credit Union today because of my schedule so i have the checks on my person. I knew i wasn't going to get them but it was around 2ish and i figured that one of the cars were there now. I swung by unannounced and my delivery guy stated sorry none of your cars came in yet grrrrrrrrr. The guy was super nice and told me that he was going to gps them and call me today before he leaves work at 5. That is 10 minutes away and i still haven't heard anything yet.
I just don't get a tech company and they can't find where or when the cars are coming. They have literally been on a truck for over a week. I was told when i bought them that it would take 2-3 weeks but there is a possibility i would get one in a week.

 

[CPD2601]

Well my black car came in this morning (1 week late) but still no word on the white one. They try to ping it and get nothing, so i guess its a mystery. This process sucks and its driving me insane. If the car comes in tomorrow i might be able to pick them up Thursday night.... maybe

 

[David29]

I agree, it would be easy to complain about the logistics process, especially if you live east of the Rockies. And it seems it gets worse as the distance requires trains vs. trucks and further worse for those overseas folks who depend upon ocean transport as well.
But I have tried to be patient, trusting that the Tesla team is doing their best, that modes like railroads are way out of Tesla's control, and that they need to juggle lots of deliveries and satisfy lots of customers, and we do not know what their challenge really is. Besides, what choice do I have? The last thing I want to do is to p--- off the local delivery guy.
But it certainly got harder for me today when Tesla changed my Model S status from "in transit" to "being prepared for pickup!" I was tempted to call the delivery specialist but sent an email inquiry instead. I have not yet heard from him, which is frustrating but I am sure he is busy with earlier deliveries -- or maybe he is a part-timer and is off today.
So, I hear you, I share your pain, and I hope we get our cars real soon!

I just wanted to add that my eventual delivery was several days prior to the first delivery forecast I got, and at the early end of the revised forecast. So I was pleasantly surprised to receive the car earlier than promised. Plus, the delivery experience was very, very positive! So however long it takes, I hope everyone else's is as nice as mine and enjoys their car when it arrives.

 

[jeffro01]

Well my black car came in this morning (1 week late) but still no word on the white one. They try to ping it and get nothing, so i guess its a mystery. This process sucks and its driving me insane. If the car comes in tomorrow i might be able to pick them up Thursday night.... maybe

Did your cars ever show up?

Jeff

 

[green1]

I find it odd that when I buy a $5 widget from China there's tracking information every step of the way, but I buy a $100,000 car and they can't even guess at when it will arrive.

 

[richrootes]

There has to be a business opportunity here, for someone to become a delivery driver (like they used to do in the old days)

As long as you can someone mature and responsible, there's effectively no fuel charge, just someone's time. It'd probably suit someone at or close to retirement - and you could track the car and speak to the driver on the way

You can send me a bit of commission if someone takes this on......might even consider it myself!

 

[jeffhre]

I find it odd that when I buy a $5 widget from China there's tracking information every step of the way, but I buy a $100,000 car and they can't even guess at when it will arrive.

Seems to me it would be fairly easy to track the 1 millionth widget sold. And very easy to ship by the box. Try instead,tracing the very fist widget shipped and sold by a company that shuns outside third party assistance (auto dealers - love em right?).


Shipping something as large and individualized as a car would cost a lot more. And if shippers offered more information per vehicle, they would certainly charge for the service. And though cars are mass manufactured, I don't think you'd be happy if you ordered a black one, opened the box and discovered it was a red one!

 

[green1]

Seems to me it would be fairly easy to track the 1 millionth widget sold. And very easy to ship by the box. Try instead,tracing the very fist widget shipped and sold by a company that shuns outside third party assistance (auto dealers - love em right?).


Shipping something as large and individualized as a car would cost a lot more. And if shippers offered more information per vehicle, they would certainly charge for the service. And though cars are mass manufactured, I don't think you'd be happy if you ordered a black one, opened the box and discovered it was a red one!

It is not harder to track a car than a widget, it is significantly easier. As for shippers charging for the service, no, that's just what's expected of any shipping company. The post office can offer tracking for less than a couple bucks and someone charging hundreds or more to ship a car can't?

I'm sorry, you're making excuses for poor practices that have no reason to exist.

Tracking an object as large as a car, one which actually has built in GPS and cellular connection, and is travelling by way of another vehicle which almost certainly has the same, should be the easiest thing ever. I also can't understand why they can't tell me when it will be shipped, what company would ever do business with any shipper who can't tell you what MONTH they'll ship your item in????

 

[Cyclone]

This doesn't help the Op much, but most of the problem we are experiencing around delivery logistics is really Tesla's own doing. For instance, on a new, custom-build order, Tesla could easily quote a date for it to be completed at the factory, and then put an estimated range for delivery. Those who are watching the process like a hawk would see their car progressing through the sections Tesla primarily controls, then get estimates where Tesla is depending on other parties and delivery cost decisions. In essence, they are assigning the dates and what the dates mean, and that is doing customers a disservice. I would much rather Tesla say that "you car should be completed at the factory by the mid-October" and shipping will take about 2-3 weeks. The local service center will reach out to you once delivery is about 72 hours away (which is actually when it arrives at the SvC and they do final prep). This would minimize having to keep changing dates on customers and setting exact expectations up front.

 

[lucy]

This doesn't help the Op much, but most of the problem we are experiencing around delivery logistics is really Tesla's own doing. For instance, on a new, custom-build order, Tesla could easily quote a date for it to be completed at the factory, and then put an estimated range for delivery. Those who are watching the process like a hawk would see their car progressing through the sections Tesla primarily controls, then get estimates where Tesla is depending on other parties and delivery cost decisions. In essence, they are assigning the dates and what the dates mean, and that is doing customers a disservice. I would much rather Tesla say that "you car should be completed at the factory by the mid-October" and shipping will take about 2-3 weeks. The local service center will reach out to you once delivery is about 72 hours away (which is actually when it arrives at the SvC and they do final prep). This would minimize having to keep changing dates on customers and setting exact expectations up front.

This kind of stuff shouldn't be too hard for a computer-savvy company like Tesla.

It would certainly free up the staff for other duties besides calming crabby, anxious buyers (talking 'bout myself now). :wink:

 

[jeffhre]

It is not harder to track a car than a widget, it is significantly easier. As for shippers charging for the service, no, that's just what's expected of any shipping company. The post office can offer tracking for less than a couple bucks and someone charging hundreds or more to ship a car can't?

I'm sorry, you're making excuses for poor practices that have no reason to exist.

Tracking an object as large as a car, one which actually has built in GPS and cellular connection, and is travelling by way of another vehicle which almost certainly has the same, should be the easiest thing ever. I also can't understand why they can't tell me when it will be shipped, what company would ever do business with any shipper who can't tell you what MONTH they'll ship your item in????

Yes, alas so much of that is true at Tesla's current scale. And I don't know why they didn't try, considering so much of what they do differs from the industry. Except perhaps to try to decrease unit costs that are IMO, much higher than other OEMs delivery costs. Though this is an industry which has yet scaled the concept of transparency in shipping. And try telling all of this to Southern Pacific RR (incredulous silence followed by distant laughter).