So I took delivery Sept 30 (after a serious of only-hilarious-in-retrospect) events.
The car is fantastic.
Last week a ranger came out to provide and program the second, missing-at-delivery, keycard and 2 missing phone cables... (though he was unable to delete the never-delivered card and couldn't explain why as he's sure he should be able to).
So I figured "Great, that's finished- I'm done dealing with folks who have no idea how to actually sell cars"
Nope.
First- for those not following the keystone-cop-like NC Tesla saga- Raleigh is the only place they can legally sell cars, but they have parking space for like 4 cars there- so 99% of them were physically going through Charlotte location they can NOT legally sell cars... this is apparently the black hole my 2nd keycard and phone cables fell into, anyway...
Raleigh eventually rented a lot from a sketchy bodyshop like 25 minutes away where they can park/deliver some cars, and that's where I took delivery Sept 30.
I've had temp tags since, and have been waiting on the "real" ones and paperwork.
Over the weekend I get a text from someone at Tesla Charlotte.... Oh, sorry... we forgot to do state inspection on your car before delivery....and no plates/registration for you until that's fixed.
Can you go to Tesla Service in Raleigh so they can fix?
Sure, I'll go back there...again...to fix your mistake....again...
So I go there this morning and tell them what I was told.
First they tell me "Oh, that's a delivery problem... we do service here, not delivery- you need to go up the street to the sales office"
So I ask them "You're telling me the SALES office does car inspections?"
Them- "Oh...no...they don't... but actually neither do we"
Me: ".... so nobody at this actual tesla dealership inspects new cars? Why was I sent here?"
Them: "Oh, well, we have a deal with Snappy Lube 10 minutes up the road... so we can send someone to follow you over there and pay for them to do your inspection"
Me... "Sure. Whatever."
And off we go.
The Tesla guy talks to the Snappy Lube guy for a minute, tells me I'm good to get inspected, and leaves.
Inspection done about 30 minutes later (there was a line).
The Snappy Lube guy was very nice- and informs me they've been doing a ton of these because Tesla apparently delivered a ton of cars without bothering to have them inspected...but mine should be in the NC system as approved now and I'm good to go.
I ask if I need to go to a DMV to get plates now or is Tesla going to handle this since I've only got 9 days left on temp tags?
He says he's not sure, but gives me the phone # for the state License office. (plates not drivers).
I call them- and tell them what happened... the lady asks for the zip of the dealership, and says "Oh, that's inspector so-and-sos area... he's out till Wednesday, but I'm going to send you to his voicemail- please let him know what happened- because it's illegal to deliver a car without inspecting it and he's going to need to fine them for every car they delivered that way"
Me: "Uh...ok... but what about my getting a license plate?"
Her: "The dealer should be handling that paperwork for you so we can't help you with that"
Anyway, I hung up when I got the voicemail- not looking to help bankrupt the folks I hope will honor my warranty should I ever need it.
But between this, and the $1000 per car fine Tesla should've been hit with for not leaving Monroney Stickers on windows at delivery (and not delivering with accurate ones either)... plus all the previous delivery screw-up stuff...
Clown car music. Every time.
PS- I did text back the dude in Charlotte to tell him the car was inspected. He claims I'll have plates in the mail in 2-3 days, a claim of which I am...highly dubious.
My current plan if nothing shows up in the next week or so is to drive back to Tesla in Raleigh on the 30th and inform them I'll be taking a loaner car home with me till the plates arrive.
The car is fantastic.
Last week a ranger came out to provide and program the second, missing-at-delivery, keycard and 2 missing phone cables... (though he was unable to delete the never-delivered card and couldn't explain why as he's sure he should be able to).
So I figured "Great, that's finished- I'm done dealing with folks who have no idea how to actually sell cars"
Nope.
First- for those not following the keystone-cop-like NC Tesla saga- Raleigh is the only place they can legally sell cars, but they have parking space for like 4 cars there- so 99% of them were physically going through Charlotte location they can NOT legally sell cars... this is apparently the black hole my 2nd keycard and phone cables fell into, anyway...
Raleigh eventually rented a lot from a sketchy bodyshop like 25 minutes away where they can park/deliver some cars, and that's where I took delivery Sept 30.
I've had temp tags since, and have been waiting on the "real" ones and paperwork.
Over the weekend I get a text from someone at Tesla Charlotte.... Oh, sorry... we forgot to do state inspection on your car before delivery....and no plates/registration for you until that's fixed.
Can you go to Tesla Service in Raleigh so they can fix?
Sure, I'll go back there...again...to fix your mistake....again...
So I go there this morning and tell them what I was told.
First they tell me "Oh, that's a delivery problem... we do service here, not delivery- you need to go up the street to the sales office"
So I ask them "You're telling me the SALES office does car inspections?"
Them- "Oh...no...they don't... but actually neither do we"
Me: ".... so nobody at this actual tesla dealership inspects new cars? Why was I sent here?"
Them: "Oh, well, we have a deal with Snappy Lube 10 minutes up the road... so we can send someone to follow you over there and pay for them to do your inspection"
Me... "Sure. Whatever."
And off we go.
The Tesla guy talks to the Snappy Lube guy for a minute, tells me I'm good to get inspected, and leaves.
Inspection done about 30 minutes later (there was a line).
The Snappy Lube guy was very nice- and informs me they've been doing a ton of these because Tesla apparently delivered a ton of cars without bothering to have them inspected...but mine should be in the NC system as approved now and I'm good to go.
I ask if I need to go to a DMV to get plates now or is Tesla going to handle this since I've only got 9 days left on temp tags?
He says he's not sure, but gives me the phone # for the state License office. (plates not drivers).
I call them- and tell them what happened... the lady asks for the zip of the dealership, and says "Oh, that's inspector so-and-sos area... he's out till Wednesday, but I'm going to send you to his voicemail- please let him know what happened- because it's illegal to deliver a car without inspecting it and he's going to need to fine them for every car they delivered that way"
Me: "Uh...ok... but what about my getting a license plate?"
Her: "The dealer should be handling that paperwork for you so we can't help you with that"
Anyway, I hung up when I got the voicemail- not looking to help bankrupt the folks I hope will honor my warranty should I ever need it.
But between this, and the $1000 per car fine Tesla should've been hit with for not leaving Monroney Stickers on windows at delivery (and not delivering with accurate ones either)... plus all the previous delivery screw-up stuff...
Clown car music. Every time.
PS- I did text back the dude in Charlotte to tell him the car was inspected. He claims I'll have plates in the mail in 2-3 days, a claim of which I am...highly dubious.
My current plan if nothing shows up in the next week or so is to drive back to Tesla in Raleigh on the 30th and inform them I'll be taking a loaner car home with me till the plates arrive.
