Got into a long discussion with a fellow owner, and boy was he not a happy camper. Not about his car, he of course loved it, but someone had told him that he was going to have AP working before Christmas. Obviously that didn't happen. Apparently this person presented themselves as being in the know, and was a Tesla employee. This rang so close to my experience, and a few others we read about here and other places, that I felt the need to say something.
In my experience Tesla employees don't necessarily know what it is they're talking about when it comes to things that are GOING to happen. I've learned to be very wary of these "inside" sources who are usually no more informed then we are, by design. Tesla doesn't share secrets with employees before they have to.
It's not even worth going down the list of things I was told by someone who professed to be in the know (and based on their position this was plausible) only to find out later they were wrong on pretty much every count. I doubt their was malicious intent. It is human nature to enjoy being the authoritative person in a position to know things most people don't. It makes them feel special for decimating what was rumor and conjecture and adding the air of authority and credibility due to their position. It makes us feel important for being entrusted with this "secret" information. Of course our egos get in the way of asking what specifically makes us so special this person would risk there livelihood to reveal company secrets in the first place? But, malicious or not genuine harm can be done.
The issue for Tesla is deeper. It gives the public the feeling they are being lied to. Or that Tesla is missing goals it never actually promised. (how many complaints about "poor communication" have we sen? In one case I was told Tesla's profit margin per car was "close to 4%". Something I'm sure would get many investors making a panicked call to their brokers, for if this person is to be believed Tesla is filing false documents with the SEC and lying to their shareholders, including myself. Anyone believe that would happen? Of course not. This individual was speaking out of their rear. I had the benefit of history and I retained my position in TSLA (of course).
Now that said, I have found the Service Centers, and indeed EVERY interaction with Tesla Motors (save for this one individual) to be professional, second to none, and incredibly informed. The folks at Van Nuys Service Center who tolerate me rambling about my cars [knowing full well they are in there heads like "yea Jim, we know" (Talking to you Dave :biggrin
] have been the best group of folks I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I'll badger them for info on AP release or what have you, and they'll tell me the truth, they don't know. If Im having the slightest "issue" with my car, they are on it. I simply could not invent a better customer experience if I tried.
That kind of service comes from the top down. We see it time and again with Tesla. Excellent service at virtually every turn. Poor communication regarding events that are going to happen but second to none when it comes to dealing with things that already have happened.
Moral of the story: If the employee offering you the secrets of Tesla is customer facing, leave the future predictions to your Magic 8 ball, it's probably more accurate anyway. But if you are on the fence worried about Tesla standing behind your purchase... jump off that fence and join us. The water's warm and everyone is friendly.
In my experience Tesla employees don't necessarily know what it is they're talking about when it comes to things that are GOING to happen. I've learned to be very wary of these "inside" sources who are usually no more informed then we are, by design. Tesla doesn't share secrets with employees before they have to.
It's not even worth going down the list of things I was told by someone who professed to be in the know (and based on their position this was plausible) only to find out later they were wrong on pretty much every count. I doubt their was malicious intent. It is human nature to enjoy being the authoritative person in a position to know things most people don't. It makes them feel special for decimating what was rumor and conjecture and adding the air of authority and credibility due to their position. It makes us feel important for being entrusted with this "secret" information. Of course our egos get in the way of asking what specifically makes us so special this person would risk there livelihood to reveal company secrets in the first place? But, malicious or not genuine harm can be done.
The issue for Tesla is deeper. It gives the public the feeling they are being lied to. Or that Tesla is missing goals it never actually promised. (how many complaints about "poor communication" have we sen? In one case I was told Tesla's profit margin per car was "close to 4%". Something I'm sure would get many investors making a panicked call to their brokers, for if this person is to be believed Tesla is filing false documents with the SEC and lying to their shareholders, including myself. Anyone believe that would happen? Of course not. This individual was speaking out of their rear. I had the benefit of history and I retained my position in TSLA (of course).
Now that said, I have found the Service Centers, and indeed EVERY interaction with Tesla Motors (save for this one individual) to be professional, second to none, and incredibly informed. The folks at Van Nuys Service Center who tolerate me rambling about my cars [knowing full well they are in there heads like "yea Jim, we know" (Talking to you Dave :biggrin
] have been the best group of folks I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I'll badger them for info on AP release or what have you, and they'll tell me the truth, they don't know. If Im having the slightest "issue" with my car, they are on it. I simply could not invent a better customer experience if I tried. That kind of service comes from the top down. We see it time and again with Tesla. Excellent service at virtually every turn. Poor communication regarding events that are going to happen but second to none when it comes to dealing with things that already have happened.
Moral of the story: If the employee offering you the secrets of Tesla is customer facing, leave the future predictions to your Magic 8 ball, it's probably more accurate anyway. But if you are on the fence worried about Tesla standing behind your purchase... jump off that fence and join us. The water's warm and everyone is friendly.
