Tesla is communicating better.

[Norbert]

Let me know when It is passing Tampa ...I can snap some photos for you!

As long as you don't hijack the truck...

 

[NigelM]

You're not at all excited Nigel, are you ????

Noooooo. Not me! :biggrin: Truck stopped for gas and is now driving through Holly Springs National Forest heading towards Tupelo, MS.

Seriously though, critique where it's due but also kudos where it's due. Tesla even managed to get my wife excited now. Things may not be perfect yet, but they are definitely trying and I wrote them encouraging them to do more things like this whenever they can.

 

[dsm363]

If by early next year communication is the same then I would be worried. It sucks for the early people things have gone this way but I really hope things are finally turning the corner. I think they are a bunch of nice, well intentioned and overworked people trying to make the best of an inadequate communication system. With a more robust communication and tracking system that makes their job easier and more automated (checking status online), things should improve.

 

[JakeP]

Honestly, look what has happened here. By sharing just a tiny bit of information (admittedly not available on all transports), Tesla has turned an agonizing black hole of a 10-15 journey into an addictive video game for NigelM and everyone else on that truck, and turned them into excited participants. This is precisely how it should be done...and the same thing should be done to track the vehicle through the assembly process. I am going to guess their manufacturing software (likely SAP, from secondhand info) can handle that as well.

 

[dsm363]

I agree. Maybe a chip or bar code on each car going through the assembly line. The workers can scan the car at certain stations including final prep and delivery so people can follow along online. Would lead to many less e-mails and calls for them.

 

[Norbert]

Noooooo. Not me! :biggrin: Truck stopped for gas and is now driving through Holly Springs National Forest heading towards Tupelo, MS.

Seriously though, critique where it's due but also kudos where it's due. Tesla even managed to get my wife excited now. Things may not be perfect yet, but they are definitely trying and I wrote them encouraging them to do more things like this whenever they can.

I hope if the truck takes an exit just before Sarasota and stays there for half a day, you'll be able to take it.

 

[efusco]

I agree. Maybe a chip or bar code on each car going through the assembly line. The workers can scan the car at certain stations including final prep and delivery so people can follow along online. Would lead to many less e-mails and calls for them.

That would be awesome...so long as everything was going right.

 

[NigelM]

I agree. Maybe a chip or bar code on each car going through the assembly line. The workers can scan the car at certain stations including final prep and delivery so people can follow along online. Would lead to many less e-mails and calls for them.

I believe that Tesla is close to implementing a barcode system. They'll want time to bed it in but should eventually be able to connect it to MyTesla online.

- - - Updated - - -

I hope if the truck takes an exit just before Sarasota and stays there for half a day, you'll be able to take it.

A buddy in the Sheriffs office offered to escort it the last couple of miles.....:wink:

 

[ElSupreme]

make stops in Georgia before coming south,

As long as you don't hijack the truck...

Only if I don't hijack it first!

 

[Charged_Up]

I-55 Memphis this morning. Do you know for definite that your car is due?

Maybe I'm easily pleased but it really is kinda fun to see the truck moving across the map. I hope that Tesla can do this for more people (noting their dependence on the transport companies). Anybody ever watch NORAD Tracking Santa?

I'm told it cleared quality control and was ready for transport about the same time as you indicated. Of course, there could be another truck behind this one headed this way, but my best info right now is that I am in transit as well. Best..Keith

 

[vfx]

I agree. Maybe a chip or bar code on each car going through the assembly line. The workers can scan the car at certain stations including final prep and delivery so people can follow along online. Would lead to many less e-mails and calls for them.

That would be awesome...so long as everything was going right.

Yeah, what if the car is pulled off the line? Part NA, paint scratch, whatever, The person at home would be looking at a "paused" page for a long time. How long till they get antsy and start vocalizing?

 

[JakeP]

Yeah but even that would be better than no information at all. Think of the calls that would not occur because you could see your car's status moving along....and it would only be at exception points that you would consider calling. And that assumes you monitored it daily.

And I am not saying Tesla is obligated to do anything like this, but just that it would be neat, and would avoid the current sentiment of "being uninformed".

 

[Norbert]

Yeah but even that would be better than no information at all. Think of the calls that would not occur because you could see your car's status moving along....and it would only be at exception points that you would consider calling. And that assumes you monitored it daily.

Recently there was a multi-week delay due to missing parts or something of that kind. So hundreds of sig-res-holders (not only those reading reports on the forum) would see, maybe, no movement past some specific point. Maybe, for weeks. Guess whose phone would be ringing. All day.

 

[AnOutsider]

Wouldn't be an issue if an email went out at that same time explaining there was a delay and that some cars might end up stationary.

 

[Norbert]

One email? I wanna see that.

 

[dsm363]

Yeah, what if the car is pulled off the line? Part NA, paint scratch, whatever, The person at home would be looking at a "paused" page for a long time. How long till they get antsy and start vocalizing?

I agree. More information can be good and bad depending on the person. If the delay was significant, I'd imagine the system could auto-generate an e-mail saying there is a small delay in production and flag the order for a customer service person. They would then need to follow up with a personal e-mail with more details. Hopefully this is rare enough in the production process that it wouldn't be time consuming.

 

[pete8314]

I agree. More information can be good and bad depending on the person. If the delay was significant, I'd imagine the system could auto-generate an e-mail saying there is a small delay in production and flag the order for a customer service person. They would then need to follow up with a personal e-mail with more details. Hopefully this is rare enough in the production process that it wouldn't be time consuming.

This kind of process is not unusual at all, and relatively easy to implement (I worked on a web portal that did the same thing for warranty repairs for a major PC manufacturer). Once the process is in full swing, 95% of cars will be plain sailing, with regular status updates on the website, leaving the CSRs to follow-up with the 5%. Customers can choose to subscribe to email updates etc...just like tracking a UPS package.

 

[vfx]

... Once the process is in full swing, 95% of cars will be plain sailing, with regular status updates on the website, leaving the CSRs to follow-up with the 5%. Customers can choose to subscribe to email updates etc...just like tracking a UPS package.

I agree it's a cool idea. Just don't think it would solve any of today's issues.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

I agree it's a cool idea. Just don't think it would solve any of today's issues.

It's very cool! Pretty much like tracking an Amazon shipment - much shorter timeframes there, of course, but, yes, I've had occasions when a package got stuck at a UPS hub; those were the only occasions when I had to reach out to Amazon or other shippers.

I think this bit of automation will reduce a whole lot of inbound email/phone call traffic for Tesla.

 

[Norbert]

The system could take pics of your Model S at each major stage and email them to you.