Not too well. As folks may recall, the AutoVIN inspector noted that I didn't have both keys at the time of the inspection at my workplace parking lot, so he marked one missing. He said it wouldn't be a problem since I'd have both keys when I returned the car. I also had the rim rash repairs on the 3 rims prior to returning the car. the total price in excess wear that I would have been charged had I not addressed the issues was $750 ($375 for a 'missing' key and the rest for the 3 xurb Rasheed rims).
Anyway, prior to returning the leased car, I had all three runs repaired, and of course return to the car with both keys.
Notwithstanding the fact that I return to the car with both keys, and repaired all the rims, the delivery specialist who handled my return didn't even bother evaluating the steps I took at remediation. He took pictures of the car, and acknowledged that I have return to both keys, but said the paperwork still needed to show that I had $750 worth of excess wear. Even though I repaired everything and handed both keys back to the guy! He told me that AutoVIN is the only party that can assess my car. I also brought a receipt showing the rim repair that have been made, as per guidance on the Tesla lease return website. He indicated he didn't need to see it, since he wasn't empowered to evaluate any remediation.
First he told me that I should have repaired the car and had both keys present before the inspection. Then he told me that I should have had the inspectors come back and evaluate my car a second time, artea I had the rim repairs completed, and had both keys present. Then he told me I should call AutoVIN and have them come quickly to the Tesla return center so that they can evaluate the car in the next one to two days before Tesla ships it off. It just didn't make any sense. They certainly didn't need AutoVIN to see that I handed in to keys.
Also, I never had a chance to see the people who process the lease return paperwork. The delivery specialist, who didn't seem very experienced, kept going to the back to speak to the lease return paperwork people. The paperwork said I would be billed for the excess wear charge.
After I left, I wrote an email to
[email protected] about the problem (I couldn't manage to reach them by phone). They apologized for my experience, and for the lack of communication between their teams. They said they would provide my information to US Bank, who I presume was involved with the lease. They said having the excess wear charge removed was 'trickly', but that they'd take care of it.
For good measure, I returned back to the Delivery Center, insisting that I shouldn't be debited for the excess wear considering that I 1) returned both keys and 2) fixed any rim damage. I then spoke to someone who seemed more experienced. He went down, took extra pictures of the car, took a picture of the two keys I had returned earlier, and also took a copy of my repair receipt. He said he would forward them to the 'remarketing department' who would remove the excess wear charges.
The experience was really suboptimal. The only takeaway I have is that folks should try to address any repairs before the AutoVIN inspection. If you don't, and do repairs afterwards, be sure to see if the inspectors can come out a second time. And definitely be sure to have both your keys at the time of the inspection.
It was a negative experience.
