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Reserving your Model 3 (official Tesla blog)
- Thread starter neptune2000
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- Model 3
From the blog, after the paragraph that starts with "In order to be as fair as possible, ...",
Wait, how is that fair? I understand their excuse for markets in other "regions" (countries), but it doesn't apply to East vs West coast in the US.
Wait, how is that fair? I understand their excuse for markets in other "regions" (countries), but it doesn't apply to East vs West coast in the US.
cbin97
Member
Yesterday I visited the Tesla store in Highland Park, Illinois. I was informed that they will open at Noon CDT on March 31st rather than the usual store opening at 10:00 am. Noon is also when they will begin taking Model 3 reservations.
A product specialist indicated that they’re expecting a crowd. I’ll be among them. He said they’re expecting even more people at the Old Orchard Mall in fairly nearby Skokie. He told me that more cars are sold at the Highland Park store on the ritzy North Shore, but more people visit the other store in a mall.
A product specialist indicated that they’re expecting a crowd. I’ll be among them. He said they’re expecting even more people at the Old Orchard Mall in fairly nearby Skokie. He told me that more cars are sold at the Highland Park store on the ritzy North Shore, but more people visit the other store in a mall.
A product specialist at the Tesla store in Highland Park, Illinois just now emailed me to inform me that their opening time on March 31st has reverted back to a normal 10 am CDT opening, and Model 3 reservations will be accepted at that time. He writes that all Tesla stores will open and accept reservations on the 31st at their normal opening times. I then phoned the Tesla store in Skokie, Illinois, and they confirmed that they had just been told the same thing by the company.
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Brian at the Natick, MA store told me the same thing this afternoon - opening at 10am ET, reservations start when the doors open.
Tedkidd
Member
I called Toronto. Was told the same thing, and also told that there is basically a daily bucket. Everyone who reserves on a given day will be notified at the same time that configurator is open to them.
The real competition begins then. First to configure get's delivery priority, all else being equal. This seems much more fair, reduces likelihood of rioting, and takes pressure off the store.
I just now tried to phone the Tesla store in Skokie, Illinois. They were busy and I was transferred to a Tesla representative in Fremont, California. He confirmed much of what you wrote, but disputed the notion of a daily bucket. He said that notifications to configure would be sent out to those who reserve a Model 3 within each region in the order in which reservations were made there. However, if #2 in the regional queue configures before #1, then #2 would be given priority in the production queue.
Just talked to a product specialist in Minnesota who said owners did NOT need to show up at store. According to him someone would reach out ahead of time via email so we can make our reservations early without showing up. Also, priority is by VIN# with earlier VINs receiving preference. I'm hoping I'll get a decent placement with VIN 8870 in Minnesota!
That's not part of the fair paragraph.
The "fair" paragraph talks about having a queue for each time zone. That way east coast people don't have a 3 hour advantage in a single queue.
I never said it was part of the so-called "fair" paragraph. In fact I specifically said it came after that paragraph.
It seems odd to me that they would try to be "fair" with store opening times in different time zones, but not strive to be fair with deliveries in different regions of the US.
The first cars would wisely be delivered to residents near the factory in California. That way any bugs could be quickly studied by engineers, corrected and prevented from recurring in the production process. Then deliveries would proceed in incremental sweeps further from the factory. It may not seem "fair", but it appears rational. It also means that buyers on the East Coast would be the most likely to receive a more fully reliable product.
Ulmo
Active Member
I just called my local Tesla store, in California, and they said they would be opening on March 31 at 10 AM, and that they will be taking reservations. Now for the important part:
I asked if I should bring cash or cashiers check and he said neither one, because it needs to be debit or credit. I said oh my I don't have that (the daily max on my cards are all way below $1,000). And then they said well you can bring account number maybe I'll have to check into that. And I said as in a checking account, are you sure? They said they could call me back. I said what else could I do? He said they're also taking Paypal. He said they can't take cash or paper check.
I do have checking account and PayPal. I'll bring one of each.
Any confirmations this is enough?
I asked if I should bring cash or cashiers check and he said neither one, because it needs to be debit or credit. I said oh my I don't have that (the daily max on my cards are all way below $1,000). And then they said well you can bring account number maybe I'll have to check into that. And I said as in a checking account, are you sure? They said they could call me back. I said what else could I do? He said they're also taking Paypal. He said they can't take cash or paper check.
I do have checking account and PayPal. I'll bring one of each.
Any confirmations this is enough?
strider
Active Member
Assuming they are using the same back-end as the current Model X reservation system (which I believe to be a safe assumption, why build multiple systems), you can reserve with a Credit/Debit Card (Visa/MC/AmEx), PayPal, or a Checking/Savings Account Debit (for this you need the bank routing and account numbers - they can be found on your checks). With PayPal and a checking account you will be fine. My guess is this is the page you will fill out at the stores and later, on-line. Obviously it will say Model 3 instead of Model X and will only ask for $1,000.
Reserve your Model X | Tesla Motors
Reserve your Model X | Tesla Motors
Ulmo
Active Member
Unfortunately, I think you and the store salesman I contacted might be wrong: in another thread at Is PayPal an option as payment for the reservation? they pointed to evidence that "only credit or debit will be accepted", from three sources.
I then scurried to find a way to meet this, and found out one of my debit cards has a daily purchase limit of $3,000, so I'm good.
