Referral Buyer in Virginia Denied FSD Free Trial Benefit?

[eux118]

Virginia places restrictions on referral credits and benefits which I'm trying to figure out.

Tesla's terms and conditions: "Ohio and Virginia residents are able to qualify for buyer and loyalty benefits, but they are not eligible for referral benefits".

Seems people who refer get nothing but buyers do. I ordered a Model Y in Arlington, Virginia, using a referral code. I don't have the car yet. Online order processing indicated I would receive $500 and 3 months free FSD. Sales associate who helped agreed. The $500 discount is reflected in my contract as a referral bonus. I thought I was on track to receive full referral buyer benefits. Perhaps not.

I visited the Tysons Corner, Virginia delivery center to check it out and talked with a delivery specialist who indicated I would receive the $500 referral bonus but not the 3 month free FSD trial. He said it was due to Virginia law. This seems strange. Does anyone know the facts and have experience as a buyer in Virginia? Do I get 3 months free FSD?

 

[Tam]

Virginia places restrictions on referral credits and benefits which I'm trying to figure out.

Tesla's terms and conditions: "Ohio and Virginia residents are able to qualify for buyer and loyalty benefits, but they are not eligible for referral benefits".

Seems people who refer get nothing but buyers do. I ordered a Model Y in Arlington, Virginia, using a referral code. I don't have the car yet. Online order processing indicated I would receive $500 and 3 months free FSD. Sales associate who helped agreed. The $500 discount is reflected in my contract as a referral bonus. I thought I was on track to receive full referral buyer benefits. Perhaps not.

I visited the Tysons Corner, Virginia delivery center to check it out and talked with a delivery specialist who indicated I would receive the $500 referral bonus but not the 3 month free FSD trial. He said it was due to Virginia law. This seems strange. Does anyone know the facts and have experience as a buyer in Virginia? Do I get 3 months free FSD?

Some states forbid direct sales.

Sales have to go dealership. They get all the "referral" benefits.

They rationalize that anyone gets the referral benefits that is a form of sales commission must be employed and paid by the dealership.

 

[eux118]

Thanks Tam,

What I'm wrestling with is interpretation of the wording in Tesla's referral terms and conditions as it applies to Virginia buyers. It seems a $500 discount qualifies as a buyer benefit or I wouldn't get it. Is 3 months free FSD a buyer benefit as well? If one of the two benefits qualifies for buyers why not the other? This is important to me because 3 months free FSD is worth $600 to buyers.

 

[ModelNforNerd]

It's called "bird dogging". It's a tactic used in military towns where a soldier or sailor buys a car and then refers all his buddies to the same "stealership" that charges each of them 20%+ interest.

The law was put in place as a consumer protection, and there's no carve out in the language for Tesla's program.

 

[ccampbell]

Virginia places restrictions on referral credits and benefits which I'm trying to figure out.

Tesla's terms and conditions: "Ohio and Virginia residents are able to qualify for buyer and loyalty benefits, but they are not eligible for referral benefits".

Seems people who refer get nothing but buyers do. I ordered a Model Y in Arlington, Virginia, using a referral code. I don't have the car yet. Online order processing indicated I would receive $500 and 3 months free FSD. Sales associate who helped agreed. The $500 discount is reflected in my contract as a referral bonus. I thought I was on track to receive full referral buyer benefits. Perhaps not.

I visited the Tysons Corner, Virginia delivery center to check it out and talked with a delivery specialist who indicated I would receive the $500 referral bonus but not the 3 month free FSD trial. He said it was due to Virginia law. This seems strange. Does anyone know the facts and have experience as a buyer in Virginia? Do I get 3 months free FSD?

I referred a friend who ordered a model 3 and picked it up yesterday at Tysons Corner - he did get the $500 bonus and 3 month free FSD trial and I did get an email from Tesla when he placed the order thanking me and saying that I would receive the credits when he picked up his car. When he picked it up I got another email from Tesla saying that I should see -1 credits in the app but I never received any credits. Thought the -1 was a typo but maybe not?

 

[eux118]

Ccampbell,

Thanks. All I need to know. Pick up my MYLR tomorrow at Tysons Corner. Looking forward to those buyer referral benefits. Please let us know if you get your referrer credit as this is also an issue in Virginia.

 

[ccampbell]

Based on the fine print I don’t expect to get the referral credit but I’m happy my friend got his discount and the 3 month FSD trial - he’s enjoying it and I’ve been using FSD on my MYLR for 2 years now and I love it. Congrats on your new car - enjoy !

 

[eux118]

Picked up my MYLR yesterday at Tysons Delivery Center, Virginia. Got the $500 discount and 3 month FSD as well. Very happy. Payment, processing (including trade-in), and delivery 5-star. Never had a car purchase go so seamlessly without being nagged by salesman or final "closer" in some small cubicle trying to sell me undercoating, extended warranty, 4 years paid maintenance, etc, etc. Car delivered in excellent condition.

Two weeks from inventory order at nice end-of-quarter discount, referral discount, and federal tax credit. This is how car buying should work.