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Tesla Stores
- Thread starter doug
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- Tesla Inc.
When the Seattle store opened we ( many of the local early adopters ) informed Tesla that Seattle was actually the wrong location and that Bellevue was better. For those that don't know Seattle, there is a huge lake that divides the "east side" from Seattle, and most of the owners are actually on the east side. I was actually hopeful that the service location would be on the east side, but this is good too. Once it opens I'll be in there all the time pestering them about the Model S.
S-2000 Roadster
#1244
The Roadsters don't have to disappear for the Model S to be shown. The Seattle Tesla Store has plenty of room to show cars. In fact, I saw the Model S there along with two or three Roadsters.
In other words, it's gonna look really lonely in these stores with just one car that you can't drive.
kgb
Member
I spoke with my ranger, he says that Tesla still hasn't gotten around the dealership law in Texas. The store in the Galleria is just for display (so far). Customers can walk in, look, touch and feel, but purchases will still go through California. Plus, service will not be out of Texas (I'm not sure how that will be enforceable). The Ranger will still have to drive in from out of state... the in-state location cannot be used for service (... again according to the ranger).
W.Petefish
Active Member
Another route is their partnership with Toyota. They could have select dealerships also service Tesla.
They confirmed that there will be a Tesla Store in Houston and opening in 3 weeks! I would have thought they would let the Texas owners know about this.
George Blankenship also said they intend to have stores in all 4 major cities in Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio).
George Blankenship also said they intend to have stores in all 4 major cities in Texas (Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio).
W.Petefish
Active Member
Mycroft
Life happens
Well, you whiney-butts have gotten your way. :smile: They're moving the Seattle sales store to the Bellevue Town Square Mall. Just like Denver, it will be inside the mall itself. The grand opening date is to be Nov 5th (I believe) and they're going to have one of the betas onsite. Woo hoo! A special preview for reservation holders will be on the 4th. I'm gonna be there with bells on! :biggrin:
Actually, even though it's a longer drive for me, I think it's an excellent move. As richkae said, the east side is definitely the Tesla demographic and they're going to get lots of walk-in traffic in the mall. Practically nobody walks by the Seattle store.
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Sure wish they'd put a store in Kansas City (St.Louis would be preferable, but probably not as logical geographically since there's already a store in Chicago) to accomodate us "middle of the country" folks.
Since the small sales stores require a smaller footprint, I'd imagine you'll start seeing those in more cities. That doesn't mean they'll expand their service centers though. I still think they're working on exactly how they'll do service when the Model S hits full production. They need a service center for minor things in each major city then they can keep their regional service centers like Chicago, Menlo park...etc
I think that the Menlo Park location was on a non-perpetual lease from Stanford, so they might have to move someday.
Now that they have the Fremont Factory space, I would think they might move Roadster service over there, and find a new boutique location for sales.
Since Santana Row has arrived to service the far south-bay, they might consider going closer to San Francisco if they move it.
Now that they have the Fremont Factory space, I would think they might move Roadster service over there, and find a new boutique location for sales.
Since Santana Row has arrived to service the far south-bay, they might consider going closer to San Francisco if they move it.
S-2000 Roadster
#1244
Can you cite references showing that the Seattle Tesla Store sales will close down when the Bellevue Tesla Store opens? All along I had the impression that there would be two Tesla Stores and just one service center. But I've not seen any official news to confirm any changes to the Seattle location.
Mycroft
Life happens
Nope, strictly verbal, so it's possible there is a miscommunication. However, I feel confident that that's what is going to happen.
WhiteKnight
_____ P85 #549 _____ Sig Red / Sig White
My guess is that eventually Tesla will have a showroom everywhere there is an Apple Store.
And hopefully they'll have a charging station everywhere there is a Cracker Barrel.
And hopefully they'll have a charging station everywhere there is a Cracker Barrel.
Mycroft
Life happens
I hope you're right WK. Sadly there aren't any Cracker Barrels around here, but lots of Apple stores. :smile:
I received my invitation to the Bellevue store preview. Thurs. 11/3 at 7pm. There will probably be over 100 other reservation holders crowded into the store, but I don't care. I'll finally get to see the car and the color in real life!
I received my invitation to the Bellevue store preview. Thurs. 11/3 at 7pm. There will probably be over 100 other reservation holders crowded into the store, but I don't care. I'll finally get to see the car and the color in real life!
It seems like an interesting strategy to have Tesla Stores in retail locations, I am not sure if people buy these cars on a whim while shopping for something else. From my conversations with other Tesla and EV owners it seems as if the people who buy these cars have done their research and buy them after doing research. Maybe Tesla will be leasing warehouse or industrial space within close proximity to these retail showrooms, and the retail component is the draw and the actual warehouse is where customers can select their cars. I would think that the vast majority of Model S' cars sold will be Spec cars. With all the car dealerships that have closed over the past few years it seems as if Tesla Motors could have leased space at these dealerships for comparable or cheaper rates than the retail spaces they currently have been locating in. The benefit is being able to locate the sales and service in one place. It will be interesting if the Tesla Store model evolves with the release of the Model S or if they will still use the Roadster sales concept. I think Fisker got it right, partnering up with other luxury dealerships, it seems like a more effective strategy when the time comes to ramp up production and move units.
I know of a couple other luxury dealerships who tried this model of locating Sales and Service in two different places, customers often grew frustrated when they would have to drive across town (or even a few blocks down) to have some warranty work done or car serviced (granted this dealership was an ICE dealership), after a few years and spending millions on their new car (sales only) building they ended up relocating to their old space (which was adjacent to Pre Owned & Service). The several million dollar building they built now sells Sprinter Vans.
I am sure there will be warranty issues with the Model S and confusion will ensue when Model S owners drive to the retail locations to find out that they have to drive to a service center located elsewhere. Remember Apple Stores actually do service their products at the retail location so I do not think the Apple analogy is 100% correct.
Personally while I have had cars in service I have purchased other cars located on the new car dealers lot. I think Tesla is missing a huge opportunity with these retail stores, as customers with older model Tesla cars may purchase newer model Tesla's if they had the opportunity to test drive and sit in them while their cars are being serviced. By seperating the sales and service component, the possibility of attracting the "move up" buyer is almost taken out of the equation. Furthermore it will be interesting to see if Tesla actually does implement a loaner car program, its not very fun to have your expensive Roadster in for service and have to call someone to pick you up from the dealership and then get another ride back to the dealership a few days later. For any luxury marque I think loaner cars should be standard, and if Tesla does not implement this I think it will be a big deal. This is another advantage for Fisker as they can leverage the loaner car program at the dealerships they have located in for added convenience.
So I guess the question is, would you have bought a Roadster if it was located elsewhere (I know there is at least one case (where someone bought a roadster on a whim) of this as posted on the Tesla Motors Blog with regards to the Colorado Tesla Store). Does it really matter the location of the dealership and would you have bought a Roadster etc regardless of where the dealership was located?
I know of a couple other luxury dealerships who tried this model of locating Sales and Service in two different places, customers often grew frustrated when they would have to drive across town (or even a few blocks down) to have some warranty work done or car serviced (granted this dealership was an ICE dealership), after a few years and spending millions on their new car (sales only) building they ended up relocating to their old space (which was adjacent to Pre Owned & Service). The several million dollar building they built now sells Sprinter Vans.
I am sure there will be warranty issues with the Model S and confusion will ensue when Model S owners drive to the retail locations to find out that they have to drive to a service center located elsewhere. Remember Apple Stores actually do service their products at the retail location so I do not think the Apple analogy is 100% correct.
Personally while I have had cars in service I have purchased other cars located on the new car dealers lot. I think Tesla is missing a huge opportunity with these retail stores, as customers with older model Tesla cars may purchase newer model Tesla's if they had the opportunity to test drive and sit in them while their cars are being serviced. By seperating the sales and service component, the possibility of attracting the "move up" buyer is almost taken out of the equation. Furthermore it will be interesting to see if Tesla actually does implement a loaner car program, its not very fun to have your expensive Roadster in for service and have to call someone to pick you up from the dealership and then get another ride back to the dealership a few days later. For any luxury marque I think loaner cars should be standard, and if Tesla does not implement this I think it will be a big deal. This is another advantage for Fisker as they can leverage the loaner car program at the dealerships they have located in for added convenience.
So I guess the question is, would you have bought a Roadster if it was located elsewhere (I know there is at least one case (where someone bought a roadster on a whim) of this as posted on the Tesla Motors Blog with regards to the Colorado Tesla Store). Does it really matter the location of the dealership and would you have bought a Roadster etc regardless of where the dealership was located?
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I stumbled across this at Oakbrook Mall (Chicago suburbs) while shopping yesterday!
Looks like they're hiring too - Product Specialist - Chicago
Looks like they're hiring too - Product Specialist - Chicago
