Model Y price drop - status of refund request

[kpinthebay]

So when I placed my order for my LR AWD MY pearl white/black interior/geminis in late June, I was content with paying the $52,990 + tax and fees for the car. The form told me I had a 4-6 week wait ahead of me, so I settled in and didn't think about it. About 10 days later, I got a VIN and was told my car would be ready in 2 days on July 7. Picked up in Fremont, so that may have had something to do with the quick turn.

I texted Tesla back and told them I needed more time as I hadn't gotten financing set yet and wasn't expecting it so quick. They texted back saying they could only hold the VIN until July 9, so I agreed to pick it up then. Went down there and despite a few small body issues (wasn't a huge deal), accepted delivery.

On these very forums, I found out that the price of the MY dropped by $3,000 less than 24 hours after I took delivery. Yes, I was pretty salty. The optics were bad. They told me they could only hold the car until 1 day before a price drop? Maybe it was just a coincidence, but it still sucked.

I chatted and sent a few generic emails to customer service. Even did the survey and complained about it. Then, I got in touch with my sales advisor, and sent him a very polite email. My mama told me it's easier to catch more flies with honey than vinegar. At first he told me there was nothing he could do, and that he was just as surprised as I was.

A few days later, I get an email and he had tried to escalate my situation with his management team. Told me it was a long shot, and to not expect much more than maybe a Tesla store credit.

Fast forward to today. Got an email with good news. I'm getting a rebate check for $3k + CA taxes. Boom!

Happy with my Tesla again.

 

[NCAviator]

You should do something for that Sales Advisor. He clearly did a good job of representing your case to his supervisor.

 

[Eugeinus]

Congrats - you were luckily in the refund window. Lots of folks who just happen to be "out" the extra $2-3K just based on timing, which sucks.

 

[jimmym1981]

Wow, this is the first I have heard of this happening and them returning money! Congratulations!

I feel there are going to be a lot of pissed off people here in a few. LOL

 

[TSLA Pilot]

This is an EXTREMELY rare event.

Hope you purchased some TSLA shares with the refund money?

If you wait long enough, it'll pay for your Tesla;-)

 

[Y_NOT]

Im shocked. Fedex delivered an envelope from tesla today. It said MY Price Change and check amount of $3232.50 what a pleasant surprise. When I contacted my delivery specialist he straight up told me since im still within 7 day return period i can schedule to return the car. So I just said f it and kept the car since im so in love with this thing. Two weeks later I get this refund check? Im forever Tesla fan now lol

FYI: Price change occurred less than 48 hours of me picking up MY.

 

[kpinthebay]

Im shocked. Fedex delivered an envelope from tesla today. It said MY Price Change and check amount of $3232.50 what a pleasant surprise. When I contacted my delivery specialist he straight up told me since im still within 7 day return period i can schedule to return the car. So I just said f it and kept the car since im so in love with this thing. Two weeks later I get this refund check? Im forever Tesla fan now lol

FYI: Price change occurred less than 48 hours of me picking up MY.

Hey did you actually request a refund? Or did this come to you unsolicited?

 

[Zer0t]

I have a Y PUP so the difference was 1k. I called and emailed several times and each response was return the car and for a grand i decided not to. I haven’t gotten a magic check back from Tesla.

 

[Y_NOT]

Hey did you actually request a refund? Or did this come to you unsolicited?

I emailed my delivery specialist ONCE. And he told me there’s nothing they can/will do about price change after the purchase of the vehicle but I can return the car and order another one with different trim to get the special pricing. I didn’t want to wait for another model y and my MY was perfect in every way no defects or flaws so i just kept the car. Two weeks later boom refund check from Tesla.

 

[Zer0t]

I emailed my delivery specialist ONCE. And he told me there’s nothing they can/will do about price change after the purchase of the vehicle but I can return the car and order another one with different trim to get the special pricing. I didn’t want to wait for another model y and my MY was perfect in every way no defects or flaws so i just kept the car. Two weeks later boom refund check from Tesla.

This is exactly what I was told. You can return the car and order a different trim. I have a PUP and probably would’ve been fine with stealth performance but that doesn’t exist after the price change. My wife and I co-own so I couldn’t even her order. I guess I could’ve used one of my kids names but it was getting to be a bit much for a thousand bucks.

However, if they want to send me a grand I’ll happily accept.

 

[Brad Esq]

You don't know how lucky you are. Our M-Y, after two delivery delays, was supposed to be delivered after the "price drop." (We paid $55K). They suddenly had our vehicle ready to be picked up on the Saturday before the Monday when the "price drop" came into effect. Unbeknownst to us, the vehicle had 450 miles on it and had been driven around for several days in New Jersey (only noticed it after we brought the vehicle home). It appears that the vehicle was rushed to us to avoid the price drop. I wrote Telsa a respectful letter requesting that we receive the benefit of the price drop in light of the foregoing and my request was ignored. Now, apparently, they want to charge me an additional $2,000 if I want my vehicle to be able to accelerate 1/2 a second faster which appears to me to be an "unlock" of my vehicle's potential that it came with rather that an upgrade. I had complained about the foregoing before on this club's website and received mostly critical and some nasty replies. As a lawyer, I fully understand what contracts are. I am also aware of intrinsic fairness and, as a matter of law, the "covenant of good faith and fair dealing implied in every contract." Just because Tesla can do something (legally), doesn't mean that it should. I am aware of the value of software and gladly accepted the fact that if I wanted FSD, it would cost me. It certainly appears that the acceleration upgrade was merely a pre-planned way of getting me to pay more for what should have originally been included with the vehicle from the day I purchased it. Throttling back on the M-Y LR appears to be intended to first, steer buyers to the more expensive performance model and then cause buyers to pay more for the vehicle they originally purchased. The FSD and additions like it are novel, unique and developmentally costly upgrades that are ancillary to the vehicle's basic functions and should be expected to cost more. Obviously, Tesla was aware that the Model Y, LR, as originally equipped, could accelerate faster, but chose to withhold that info. at the time of my purchase. Now after I owned it for 4 months (drove 40K+ miles), Tesla wants me to pay again for what should have been included in my original purchase. Secretly throttling my car that I fully paid for and 4 months and later offering what amount to more of an "unlock" looks to me more like Tesla is attempting simply have me now pay more for vehicle that I purchased rather than an "upgrade." Tesla made no mention of this so-called "upgrade" until after we owned the vehicle for 4 months. I find it difficult to believe that a highly sophisticated company such a Tesla only recently discovered that the Model Y LR could accelerate faster. I'll pass on that upgrade/unlock.

On a brighter note, we (my wife and I) love the Model Y. It is a great car in nearly all aspects. It is unfortunate that Tesla didn't make the choice to do better by us. It is not a matter of us wanting something for nothing. It is more about receiving the full value of our purchase, good customer service and relations by Tesla.

"kpinthebay" - I was glad to see that Tesla treated you fairly. No doubt, that type of treatment enhances brand loyalty. Unfortunately, we did not receive similar treatment.

 

[Brandon#]

So you agreed to purchase a MY for $x that went 0-60 in 4.8 seconds, and that’s exactly what you received, and you’re upset about it?


Every vehicle has the capability to go faster. Tesla is in a unique position to make that happen without turning a wrench or popping the hood. If 4.8 wasn’t fast enough you had other options, and now you even have 1 more option.

 

[Aimbdd]

You already posted your own post Brad. No need to hijack others.
You paid for the long range and you got the long range. Just because it can go faster, doesn’t mean your entitled to it. You received exactly what you paid for. Now should Tesla honor the price adjust for people close to the day, I would think so, for good customer service. Are they required to, absolutely not. You agreed to that price, and that’s what you paid. The same if you bought a car from one dealer, and than realized another dealer would have given you a better deal.

 

[TSLA Pilot]

FYI:

to piggyback on others' comments: that additional acceleration comes at A COST TO TESLA. There is likely additional set-aside for increased warranty costs for additional repairs and replacements many years down the road.

And, BTW, other brands are famous for doing this as well. BMW "software locks" many of their engines so that despite having exactly the same displacement, turbo, intake, cooling system, etc., you don't get the "extra" power unless you pay more. (The 3 Series BMW is a classic example of this.)

And, no, you can't ever upgrade later (like you can with Tesla) . . .

 

[Brad Esq]

You already posted your own post Brad. No need to hijack others.
You paid for the long range and you got the long range. Just because it can go faster, doesn’t mean your entitled to it. You received exactly what you paid for. Now should Tesla honor the price adjust for people close to the day, I would think so, for good customer service. Are they required to, absolutely not. You agreed to that price, and that’s what you paid. The same if you bought a car from one dealer, and than realized another dealer would have given you a better deal.

There is a big difference as to whether Tesla can do something, should do something, and even the manner in which it does do something. Between rushing a vehicle with 450 miles on it for delivery to avoid the price drop, later offering an unlock on an obviously throttled back (secretly) vehicle with a plan to charge more later, regardless of the legality of it, lets me know that I, and others similarly situated, are not valued customers. I know what I paid for, and I know what Tesla withheld from me up front. Currently, Telsa makes a very good product and is the only manufacturer of the same. Should that change, how they treat their customers will become more important.

 

[Brandon#]

Tesla regularly sends out updates to improve your Y. Are you paying for those? They’ve actually improved your ride since you bought it. How many other
manufacturers do that? 0.

 

[Brad Esq]

There is a big difference as to whether Tesla can do something, should do something, and even the manner in which it does do something. Between rushing a vehicle with 450 miles on it for delivery to avoid the price drop, later offering an unlock on an obviously throttled back (secretly) vehicle with a plan to charge more later, regardless of the legality of it, lets me know that I, and others similarly situated, are not valued customers. I know what I paid for, and I know what Tesla withheld from me up front. Currently, Telsa makes a very good product and is the only manufacturer of the same. Should that change, how they treat their customers will become more important.

 

[Brad Esq]

Tesla regularly sends out updates to improve your Y. Are you paying for those? They’ve actually improved your ride since you bought it. How many other
manufacturers do that? 0.

Lexus

 

[TLLMRRJ]

There is a big difference as to whether Tesla can do something, should do something, and even the manner in which it does do something. Between rushing a vehicle with 450 miles on it for delivery to avoid the price drop, later offering an unlock on an obviously throttled back (secretly) vehicle with a plan to charge more later, regardless of the legality of it, lets me know that I, and others similarly situated, are not valued customers. I know what I paid for, and I know what Tesla withheld from me up front. Currently, Telsa makes a very good product and is the only manufacturer of the same. Should that change, how they treat their customers will become more important.

Wow, you should really be pissed about the 450 miles! You got a used car at a new car price. I bought my car as a demo that had only 150 miles on it, and I got $1075 off the price from Tesla. The only reason I went with that demo is because it got me to the $1875 tax rebate plus the $1000 savings since it was made before the $1000 price hike. Those 150 miles saved me almost $4000.

You had 3 times the miles, and not only did they not give you the $3000 for the mileage, they boned you on the $3000 price drop.

That stinks.

 

[Brad Esq]

Wow, you should really be pissed about the 450 miles! You got a used car at a new car price. I bought my car as a demo that had only 150 miles on it, and I got $1075 off the price from Tesla. The only reason I went with that demo is because it got me to the $1875 tax rebate plus the $1000 savings since it was made before the $1000 price hike. Those 150 miles saved me almost $4000.

You had 3 times the miles, and not only did they not give you the $3000 for the mileage, they boned you on the $3000 price drop.

That stinks.[/QUOT

Honestly, what irked me was all the issues combined. The way they handled making sure we wouldn't receive the benefit of the price drop, then the 450 miles (didn't notice it for a few days after taking it home), then the acceleration "unlock." My issues are cumulative. It was just one issue after another.