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Model S Delivery Issues and Communication Concerns
- Thread starter brianman
- Start date
That was then. This is now. I think we just have to get over this and realize that what is important is getting an excellent product and having Tesla succeed at this stage of Elon's long-term strategy.
With all due respect, what's also important is not being lied to or jerked around by a company to whom you've committed $100K and a LOT of faith.
That was then. From today's conversation I understand that they have changed it to first come first serve. When this happened?, I didn't ask.
timdorr
Model S P90D w/AP3.0
Not quite. As evidenced by the requirement of air suspension for cars shipped this year and 85kWh batteries for the first batch of vehicles, every Model S made is the same base configuration up until a certain point (probably body assembly). So, as long as they know you're planning on buying, they just have to made so many frame/drivetrain/whatever bases for everyone in line. If, by the time they finish producing those bases you, haven't finished your paperwork, they can continue with other finalized configurations in line. Once you decide, the next base that's available becomes yours.
But it also sounds to me like they have a large supply of completely finalized orders that they've got queued up. I'm willing to bet this is more of a geographic batching and parts availability issue. And given the number of parts and potential individual updates that would have to be made, it becomes a problem trying to manage that communication with us. Honestly, do you want them writing up thousands of individual emails a day to customers or spending time fixing the supply chain? I'd rather be black boxed and have my car sooner than be placated by some emails. It's a lose-lose situation, but that's the choice I'd make.
bonnie
I play a nice person on twitter.
Of course the base configuration is the same. During the time that the base is being made, my assumption is that other components are being assembled ... and it all comes together. Both inventory management and basic mfg quality principles would dictate that the different subassemblies are made on demand for the scheduled cars. Just in time, pull methodology, kanban ... whatever you prefer to call it. If you build any subassembly too far ahead, you're just asking for problems. So while some components, like the drivetrain, are the same, many are not. All speculation on my part, obviously. Only those working in the factory know what is actually going on.
+1. They should have handled communications better, but the focus really needs to be on getting production running smoothly.
+1. They should have handled communications better, but the focus really needs to be on getting production running smoothly.
ModelS1079
Member
It just hit me. The waiting. The anticipation. The Special Signatures, like Golden Wrappers. We, the Sigs and Gen production townsfolk, wondering what is happening behind the Factory Closed Doors while smoke comes from the chimney day and night. The prodigious workers and the magical Leader: Elon Is Willie Wonka. The Candy Man Can because he mixes The S with love and makes the world go round... I may send him a purple top hat and cane for the next earnings reports. And, should there be 100's of S's ready to go - just awaiting a final frosting or Gobstopper Grillwork, to be released en masse - well, the WOULD be brilliant. And yes, The Model S is our own, personal Glass Elevator...
smorgasbord
Active Member
That's not what we were told when we got the call to configure. Maybe it's different now, but I don't see why they'd need to do that unless they're surprised with how many cars they can actually deliver.
The way Tesla said they were doing it when they started doing it was that they'd ask people to configure at least 30 days before they needed them to configure. And, since then they've delivered at a slower rate than they expected, so there's almost no reason for not keeping people's place in line.
Sorry I can't offer up any better explanation for my Sig #802 coming earlier than other, lower numbers. Geography and finalize date seem to make the most sense to me. Unlikely parts availability or QC, since my VIN# is very low (209). I'm not friend or family. Don't know anyone at Tesla, have never even attempted to sit in a roadster (at 6'3 and 310# I doubt I could get back out), and I made my reservation end of November 2011. Received my counter-signed pre-mvpa on June 15. As far as them assigning an already under production car to you when you finalize, I don't think so. I tried to change my wheel selection and they said it couldn't be done once production had started because the whole manufacturing process is locked in when they start the build and the options (even wheels} have some impact on build parameters.
And just in case it does have something to do with parts availability, I'm getting non-perf, sig red, black leather, obeche, silver wheels, paint protection. No jump seats.
And just in case it does have something to do with parts availability, I'm getting non-perf, sig red, black leather, obeche, silver wheels, paint protection. No jump seats.
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It really is puzzling. I am Sig #236. I am also out of the Washington DC store so delivery area should not be an issue. My configuration is pretty standard (no child seats). I signed my MVPA on 5/17/12. Still no call. I did order the wall charger, but I'm guessing many others did as well. I also checked the box that said I'd be interested in looking at Tesla financing - but would hate to think that they delayed my order because they couldn't get thier financing ducks in a row...
I know rationally this shouldn't be a big deal, but Tesla has made the "Signature" premium basically be all about timing. So you are tying up $40,000 for a very long period of time and paying more for the early delivery. It makes no sense to then randomly deliver cars...
Hopefully, I get the call today. Right now I'm pretty frustrated with the process.
My bet is they were 1 car short of a full trailer headed to baltimore (maybe DC too) and you were the next one with a MD or NOVA address.
EDIT:
Well this may have torpedoed my thoughts! That is what I get for not reading all the posts before responding.
Back to the drawing board on this one heh. Maybe it has something to do with the reservation number, or the customer advocate who put in the orders?
I believe that there are SSL's without calls yet. Maybe Elon pulled a few out of line (maybe even yours) to take them for a test spin.
I'll bet the reps are swamped with inquiries. If they are busy responding to inquiries it takes time away for them so they can't make those important outgoing calls.
At least we know they are coming. It is an exciting but somewhat puzzling time that makes one a bit restless.
Sparrow
S105/ Roadster 189
I called the corporate office and the rep I spoke with politely talked his way around every question I gave him. About the only concrete information I got was that i should get notified within 2 weeks and that I should get delivery in October or early November. He also stated that cars were being built in order of their sequence number, which would imply that there could be hundreds of cars sitting around if cars in the 800 sequence are scheduled to go out and they built them in order. He couldn't tell me who the delivery specialist was, whether they are affiliated with any store, my VIN number or if the car was actually finished. As above the fact that they are skipping some cars that seem destined to the same store in favor of ones that are much later in the sequence implies georgraphy may only be one small part of the reason cars are being delivered out of order.
Not to shoot arrows in the theory of 100's of cars lying around awaiting release into the wild, but Tesla just let me change my order (rims from silver to grey.) Now they made it sound urgent, said I needed to sign the changed MVPA paperwork that day. I hope that means they are about to "actually" start building my car (sig 371), but assume that means nothing has been started on it as of yet, and it's not lying around awaiting whatever mystery part is currently being blamed for all the delays. They said the change order will not delay my build (still telling me Sept/Oct but I no longer believe anything coming out of my reps mouth). Hate to sound cynical but they are in complete spin mode right now, feel like I could straighter answers from Congress. I know I haven't ordered anything special or unique, as some customers have already received cars with the same specs that I have chosen (perf, Sig red, spoiler, grey rims, black int, CF, no paint armor or kid seats).
Sparrow
S105/ Roadster 189
Oh, I agree it is highly unlikely they have hundreds of cars finished waiting for delivery, which to me means they aren't actually building them based on sequence numbers as they had told me.
JRP3
Hyperactive Member
I'd think a rim change is probably the easiest change to make at the last minute, even after the car is done and off the production line.
I cannot disagree that this is important, but I still think getting a quality product and having the long-term strategy succeed is more important. And we may be underestimating how difficult it could be to achieve more perfect communication with customers in a very fluid ramp up situation. As someone else noted, time sending e-mails to customers may increase time waiting for product to be delivered.
Tesla229
Member
Spoke with my "Ownership Experience" person yesterday. No VIN yet for Sig. Perf. #229. His best guess for delivery was sometime first 2 weeks of October. I asked about the apparent randomness in deliveries. He either couldn't, or wouldn't, elaborate...
Update:
Spoke with a different "Ownership Experience" person, who told me that there is batching going on at 2 levels. During production, cars are batched, according to items such as car color, interior color, etc. Deliveries are being batched according to geographical location, for non-factory deliveries.
Hopes this helps clear up a few questions.
Update:
Spoke with a different "Ownership Experience" person, who told me that there is batching going on at 2 levels. During production, cars are batched, according to items such as car color, interior color, etc. Deliveries are being batched according to geographical location, for non-factory deliveries.
Hopes this helps clear up a few questions.
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To me it is a big deal because early delivery is about the only thing left to justify the Signature premium in my case. I'm Sig Regular #69. I've been told I will not get my car until November, probably one of the last Sigs to be delivered despite my high reservation number. If Tesla still intends to deliver 5,000 cars, or anything close to that, by the end of the year it is quite possible that general production reservations could be getting their car before I do. Granted I live in Hawaii which is far away so I can understand some of the logistical problems. However, I already know of one Model S being delivered to Hawaii, so it is not impossible. It actually only takes 7-10 days to ship a car from the West Coast to Honolulu.
If the sales pitch to me over two and half years ago when I signed up was, 1) you will not get a test drive before you place your final order, 2) the only extra features are red exterior/white interior while general production cars will have other colors not available to Sigs, 3) you will pay a premium, and 4) your car may be delivered after some of the general production models or right around the same time, I can guarantee you I wouldn't have put down the $40k.
I still want my car...what else can I do but wait, and I'm in too deep...but this has been a fiasco. I could have just gotten a regular P number and gotten pretty much the same thing I'm getting for a Sig. Very disappointing. I hope the thrill of the car makes me forget all of this. It better.
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