It is interesting to note that for many of us, our relationship with Tesla has started with 3 bald-faced lies -
1. "
Estimated Delivery: within 2 weeks from order placed date"
Yes, it says "estimated," but clearly, there was no ability or intention to meet the 2-week estimate.
2. "
Next Steps - We are drafting up your contract and will contact you when you can make your final payment."
That isn't the "next step" at all. My Tesla page has said this message from the day I ordered (Aug. 8) until today. Surely it doesn't take 23 days (and counting) to "draft up" a contract?
3. "
We are waiting for a few finishing touches to be made on your vehicle." (From the text message received on Aug. 24)
"My" vehicle? There's no VIN assigned, and no one is making "a few finishing touches" on any vehicle. And what "finishing touches," exactly, are going to add 4-5 weeks to the original delivery estimate?
I fully acknowledge that complaining about your Tesla Model 3 Performance order is pretty much the definition of "first world problem." But it's a great illustration of the business advice to "under-promise and over-deliver." Had customer expectations been set more honestly, I doubt many folks would feel any frustration. But straight-up lies like "
we are drafting up your contract" (really? can I see a copy of the "draft" so far?) and "
a few finishing touches" (like what? can you be specific?) definitely harm the trust we new owners-to-be have in Tesla, when we should (and want to be!) shouting its praises from the rooftops. It's kind of weird, actually - it would cost precisely $0 for Tesla to build a strong relationship with its new customers, but instead, they're fumbling it away. And yes, I fully acknowledge that once I drive my much-anticipated white-on-white Model 3, I will probably completely forget about all this.