Tesla Used (NOT CPO) taking a HUGE step back (bye-bye pictures).

[Blitz3RS]

Posting this here since I was an avid active MS poster/viewer here, but currently hunting for a used MX P90D or 100D from Tesla used inventory.

I emailed my Tesla Used Car Specialist and she had an out of office message (presumbaly for labor day holiday weekend), who added in her out of office mssage stating the website no longer has pictures of the cars, and she could no longer provide used car pictures.

Shocked, I went online to the car I was interested in, with the "Chat now" option and asked for confirmation that I can no longer see the car. They responded that that is correct, and to read the new policy on used car cosmetic condition.

Tesla will no longer be posting pictures of the actual used cars, and instead have included this generic statement amended to all used car purchases (see on the right of the used car in question):

So for me, my option now is to deal with the current owners wanting a huge mark-up on their cars, Vroom/Carvana (with potentially little/no warranty left, Buy a Model Y... or just walk away for now.

Shocked, stunned, and disappointed.

 

[ThomasD]

It would not surprise me if Tesla stopped taking in trades in the future

 

[EV-CPO]

Wow, you are correct. The used car listing on Tesla.com no longer show the actual images. This is a sad step in the wrong direction.

But for a short time anyway, you can still access the stored images for any currently listed car by using EV-CPO and clicking on the red link under the "Color" column (see below).

Or using this URL with the VIN appended at the end: https://backwebs.homenetinc.com/tesla/details/@/<vin>

I suspect this will stop working soon.

 

[TimT]

No longer on the fence on either to buy used S or new 3.

 

[BlindPass]

It would not surprise me if Tesla stopped taking in trades in the future

I could see it.

Could make cost of ownership higher.

 

[TigerNinety]

This sucks. I know it's not satisfactory, but when I bought my used Tesla (from Tesla) a couple months ago, the policy had been updated such that all of the deposit and transport cost was refundable if I refused the car at delivery. If that remains the case, at least you'd be able to see the car at delivery, walk away, and get your money back if it has scratches, etc that aren't acceptable.

 

[dannycamps]

I saw this too yesterday when I was just browsing (I like to see what's available and I am starting to look for an X to go along with my S). I suspect this is a cost-cutting move (eliminating the Manheim photo services - and just when they were starting to get good at it). I would think the used car business would be lucrative for them as they effectively get to expand their customer base and make money on the sale of the same car multiple times but who knows.

Disappointing in any event. I would never purchase a preowned car without being able to see it beforehand in some form - period.

 

[ahhlun]

This is crazy~ considering some of their used car are SO SO beat down both exterior and interior....

 

[cwerdna]

Yeah, Tesla reverts to again not sharing pictures of used cars for sale - Electrek had a piece on this.

 

[GeorgeSymonds]

Doesn't make sense - this car was supposedly listed today

And tesla-info seems to have images

2017 Tesla MS P100D in US listed at $85,600

but the tesla website doesn't

Are we sure its not a website change thats preventing rendering rather than anything else, it wouldn’t b3 the first time someone at Tesla got it wrong?

 

[Super_Popular]

Buying a used Tesla from Tesla has always been a crap shoot, going to buy new...

 

[BlindPass]

Buying a used Tesla from Tesla has always been a crap shoot, going to buy new...

Buying new is a crapshoot too, compared to buying new from other manufacturers.

 

[BrianS85]

I’ll be curious to see how this plays out. Does this mean they will actually be fixing more imperfections? For example, when I was looking at used inventory back in June I kept skipping over an otherwise perfect car because the rear seat leather had some weird stain/scratches on it. I imagine that’s why that car sat around for so long. Under these new rules, that seat would have to be replaced because the scratch was longer then one inch. perhaps the cars coming out will be in better shape now. Back in the day you didn’t need images because the cars were nearly perfect. Maybe this is a small step back in that direction?

Having said that, it’s still annoying and stupid not to publish pictures. It can’t possibly save that much money.

 

[cookie99]

Buying a used Tesla from Tesla has always been a crap shoot, going to buy new...

*Buying a Tesla is a crapshoot

 

[Uncle Paul]

Interesting how Tesla views a used car, and how a customer views that same car.

For Tesla, it is just moving a VIN. Everything done with keystrokes and an algorithm setting the price.

For the buyer it is intensly emotional. They want a fantastic, like new condition, no flaws, no stories and super high expectations, combined with the screaming desire for a great price and a mis-market valuation. They want hundreds of photos, from all different angles, and close up high definition of any flaws. They want to know how much it would cost to make it "perfect" and all those details as well. They want to know how much supercharging, how many times charged over 90% or run down below 5%. Any accidents, repairs, service history and how it was driven and stored.

Would perhaps be better if Tesla, like all other manufacturers, stayed completely out of the used car marketplace. Let the private market and wholesalers take all the used car anguish and headaches.

 

[AMPd]

Interesting how Tesla views a used car, and how a customer views that same car.

For Tesla, it is just moving a VIN. Everything done with keystrokes and an algorithm setting the price.

For the buyer it is intensly emotional. They want a fantastic, like new condition, no flaws, no stories and super high expectations, combined with the screaming desire for a great price and a mis-market valuation. They want hundreds of photos, from all different angles, and close up high definition of any flaws. They want to know how much it would cost to make it "perfect" and all those details as well. They want to know how much supercharging, how many times charged over 90% or run down below 5%. Any accidents, repairs, service history and how it was driven and stored.

Would perhaps be better if Tesla, like all other manufacturers, stayed completely out of the used car marketplace. Let the private market and wholesalers take all the used car anguish and headaches.

Crazy how people want to buy a vehicle in good condition considering they’re spending a lot of money. Crazy how people want to see the vehicles condition before they buy it.
God your fanboyism is super annoying sometimes... and yet I still laugh

 

[dannycamps]

Interesting how Tesla views a used car, and how a customer views that same car.

For Tesla, it is just moving a VIN. Everything done with keystrokes and an algorithm setting the price.

For the buyer it is intensly emotional. They want a fantastic, like new condition, no flaws, no stories and super high expectations, combined with the screaming desire for a great price and a mis-market valuation. They want hundreds of photos, from all different angles, and close up high definition of any flaws. They want to know how much it would cost to make it "perfect" and all those details as well. They want to know how much supercharging, how many times charged over 90% or run down below 5%. Any accidents, repairs, service history and how it was driven and stored.

Would perhaps be better if Tesla, like all other manufacturers, stayed completely out of the used car marketplace. Let the private market and wholesalers take all the used car anguish and headaches.

There is a small independent used car dealership near my home. On their website, you can view any car in their inventory and get detailed photos, walkthroughs, carfax reports, etc...

It's really not unreasonable to expect Tesla to provide at least a comparable service regardless of whether you are looking for a near perfect condition car or a barely running hooptie.

 

[am_dmd]

How else can Tesla sale all those panel gaps and mismatch paint MY ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

*Buying a Tesla is a crapshoot

* pig in a poke.

With a crapshoot you know the odds.

 

[BigNick]

Hell, you're better off buying from the shady corner lot these days, at least you can see those.
What a sorry state of affairs.
Lucid and others can't come soon enough.