Waiting 3 years for Model X. Now a bait & switch?

[Maury Radin]

I am an early adopter who has owned a Mode S since 2013.
Placed an order for Model X 60D on August 6, 2013. Have been given several different delivery dates when I contact Tesla to inquire. Latest delivery date given was June/Jul 2016.
Now received a call from Fremont advising that the car shown on their order forms and ordered by me is still not in production. We spec'd ayou 5-seater without the third row. So Tesla has changed the deal as follows:

1. If you don't change your config, it could be January 2017 (or later, no guarantee),
2. If you want it sooner (maybe by September, no guarantee) you need to order the extra row of seats,
3. The changed config will cost an additional $3,000-$4,000,
4. Tesla is magnanimously offering to waive the $500 change fee, but nothing else,
5. The Model S that you were going to trade will continue to decrease in value while Tesla continues to frustrate and irritate an early supported and stock owner with this extremely unprofessional conduct.

Am seriously considering getting off the Tesla electric bandwagon. Has anyone else been the victim of this sales tactic?

 

[Matias]

How could you order Model X 60D in 2013? Disclaimer; I didn't follow Tesla so closely in 2013, but I thought X 60D came available just couple of weeks ago.

 

[bonnie]

I am an early adopter who has owned a Mode S since 2013.
Placed an order for Model X 60D on August 6, 2013. Have been given several different delivery dates when I contact Tesla to inquire. Latest delivery date given was June/Jul 2016.
Now received a call from Fremont advising that the car shown on their order forms and ordered by me is still not in production. We spec'd ayou 5-seater without the third row. So Tesla has changed the deal as follows:

1. If you don't change your config, it could be January 2017 (or later, no guarantee),
2. If you want it sooner (maybe by September, no guarantee) you need to order the extra row of seats,
3. The changed config will cost an additional $3,000-$4,000,
4. Tesla is magnanimously offering to waive the $500 change fee, but nothing else,
5. The Model S that you were going to trade will continue to decrease in value while Tesla continues to frustrate and irritate an early supported and stock owner with this extremely unprofessional conduct.

Am seriously considering getting off the Tesla electric bandwagon. Has anyone else been the victim of this sales tactic?

They're not producing the 5-seater yet. That's the reality. Look around the forum. No one has received it yet.

You ordered your vehicle in the last few weeks (because the 60 wasn't available before that). They called to let you know that one of the options you picked would delay delivery. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

 

[AnxietyRanger]

In all fairness, Tesla did advertise and take paid reservations for 60D/85D in 2013 - in 5 and 7 seat configurations - for various unrealistic delivery dates in the 2014/2015 ballpark.

It didn't go quite as advertised.

 

[Merrill]

They always said mid to late 2016 for the 5 seater, if you just ordered and stay with the 5 seater it will be late 2016.

 

[Maury Radin]

Thanks for your thoughts. I did make an error in my original post. My wife actually ordered a P90D on 8/7/13.
Just seems to me if they were not going to produce the 5-seater as advertised, we should have been advised of a realistic anticipated delivery date of January 2017 and given the opportunity to adjust our order. Many other X's were delivered in the meantime. Just seems kinda shoddy to me.

 

[timf]

I know it's frustrating when you wait for something in futility, but that's where Tesla is right now with the 5 seat configuration. Either continue to wait an indefinite amount of time, or change to what's available now. You have the benefit of having an extra 10,000 Model X built before yours to work out the production kinks even if you do end up ordering the same configuration that could have been delivered 6 months ago.

If there was any guarantee the 5 seat configuration would have folding seats or some tangible benefit over the 6 seat configuration besides extra storage compartments, I could see the benefit in waiting. However, I am glad I went with the 6 seat configuration because the gap between the seats has satisfied much of the utility concerns I had. Sure it's an extra $3,000 I would have rather not spent, but when you're already spending this much on a car it's hard to consider a deal breaker. I would suggest upgrading and enjoying your Model X that much sooner.

 

[jsollender]

I got tired of waiting for 5 seaters ordered in January 2016. I now am filling up my ICE one last time as I drive to SC for delivery of my 90D 6 seater upgraded on same deal. I suggest you upgrade or wait. The option is yours. I'm so excited .

 

[Sah75d]

I ordered X75D with 5 seater on April 2016. Since 5 seaters are not coming out, I contacted Tesla and got similar choices.

Upgrading to 6 seater needs SAS upgrade also (hence total 5.5K increase).
I tried to negotiate with Tesla as I will never use the third row. The only extra offer was referral bonus 1K.
But for this referral bonus purpose, they cancelled my current order and placed a new order (moved my deposit to new order).
As part of these changes, I also downgraded from 75D to 60D (convinced by some of the forum posts).
My new order is in initial 1 week wait period, which will be confirmed tomorrow. Hoping to late Sep or early Oct delivery.

 

[Maury Radin]

I really appreciate your comments. My mistake was in not watching the forums to understand the production issues.
Remain disappointed that Tesla did not reach out much sooner. Thanks everyone.

 

[Merrill]

Thanks for your thoughts. I did make an error in my original post. My wife actually ordered a P90D on 8/7/13.
Just seems to me if they were not going to produce the 5-seater as advertised, we should have been advised of a realistic anticipated delivery date of January 2017 and given the opportunity to adjust our order. Many other X's were delivered in the meantime. Just seems kinda shoddy to me.

Also keep in mind that the head room in the 5 or 7 seat configuration is for someone 5 feet or shorter, not sure if you have had a chance to sit in the middle seat but if not I suggest you go to the showroom and do that. We originally ordered a 5 seat and then had a chance to sit in the 7 seat, very tight and claustrophobic.

 

[RKap]

Also keep in mind that the head room in the 5 or 7 seat configuration is for someone 5 feet or shorter, not sure if you have had a chance to sit in the middle seat but if not I suggest you go to the showroom and do that. We originally ordered a 5 seat and then had a chance to sit in the 7 seat, very tight and claustrophobic.

I'm 5'4 and had no problem sitting in the 2nd row middle seat (which is one of the reasons we went with 7 not 6 seats; we'll primarily use it as a 5 seater).

 

[Eyejay]

I recently ordered a Model X 75 5 seater switched to the recently announced 60 the final day my order was still "editable". Fast forward a couple of weeks and I decided to use the 60 savings to switch to a 6 seater and take delivery sooner. To my surprise I was told in no uncertain terms the $500 fee would apply. Seems quite different from the experience others have been having. I assumed Tesla would want the sale sooner rather than later.

For those that were able to switch without a charge, can you please clarify what you mean by "contacted Tesla"? Perhaps I need to try a different route. Thanks.

 

[Sah75d]

Try contacting your delivery specialist. I worked with local sales person (whom I met when I test drove the car).

 

[Eyejay]

Thanks for the reply! It my was delivery specialist who told me the fee was unavoidable. Interesting that yours had a different story. I'm not upset with Tesla and I understand why the fee exists. In this case though I feel it benefits Tesla to deliver a car that they can actually produce rather than one the will be at least another 6 months.

 

[Scoopup]

I have a 5 seat on order and yes they they said mid to late 2016 and as long as I get it in 2016 I am ok with that. If I don't receive until 2017 that means a year before I get my 7500$ tax credit. I would upgrade if it was just 3 to 5 k but I do not want SAS if they gave it to me. I have had 2 cars with it BMW X5 and after a few years I had to spend 10 k on repairs. I am planning on keeping the MX past the warranty and know SAS will cost me at some point. I still think they should fill all reserved cars before excepting new orders no matter what the config. I will get the M3 with every option in order to get it faster and hopefully SAS want be offered.

 

[MP3Mike]

I will get the M3 with every option in order to get it faster and hopefully SAS want be offered.

Elon has already said that SAS will be available on the Model 3.

 

[Scoopup]

Elon has already said that SAS will be available on the Model 3.

Wounderful

 

[Eyejay]

I have a 5 seat on order and yes they they said mid to late 2016 and as long as I get it in 2016 I am ok with that. If I don't receive until 2017 that means a year before I get my 7500$ tax credit. I would upgrade if it was just 3 to 5 k but I do not want SAS if they gave it to me. I have had 2 cars with it BMW X5 and after a few years I had to spend 10 k on repairs. I am planning on keeping the MX past the warranty and know SAS will cost me at some point. I still think they should fill all reserved cars before excepting new orders no matter what the config. I will get the M3 with every option in order to get it faster and hopefully SAS want be offered.

All excellent points. The SAS is a concern for me as well. My current thinking it to keep the X for four years or less or get an extended warranty if I absolutely love it. That and the ability to tow the occasional trailer have me leaning towards 6 seats. Like you my concern is that if the delivery date slips too much there will be cost concerns. In my case my corporate year end in Feb 2017.

And yeah, as an early reservation holder you should get your vehicle first! As a Tesla investor I understand why they want to move the $$$ cars first but goodwill should also be a consideration.

 

[ccutrer]

Placed an order for Model X 60D on August 6, 2013.

You did not order in 2013. No one did. You reserved a place in the line to have the privilege of being first to wait in line (actually order). As to Tesla incorrectly setting delivery expectations (and the process of reserving to ordering to confirming) -- probably to definitely. The Model X kept getting pushed back. And even after configuration was opened late last fall, they set expectations that certain configurations (5 seat; 70D at the time; coil suspension) would take longer to go into production, even if you actually ordered earlier than others. For the most part the other priority factors have completely dissipated by now (performance, premium, 90kWh), but 5 seat and coil are still not in production. While the anticipated date for those to start production has shifted around a bit, the overall expectation that you still have to wait for them has not. There's always room for improvement with Tesla communicating how the process works, and even more likely a DS or salesperson that sucks even worse at communicating than Tesla as a whole.

As for Tesla not accepting new orders until all reservations have been filled - that's just silly. For one, why should they delay other orders arbitrarily and let the factory sit idle until they're actually ready to build coil or five seat (at this point it's widely rumored that the delay is no longer due to prioritizing higher margin vehicles, but instead waiting on some sort of engineering or verification process)? For another, many reservations have not actually placed a firm order for a variety of reasons. Again, why should Tesla let the factory sit idle when there are other people perfectly willing to commit to buying now? *sugar* or get off the pot. Seriously, if you have a reservation and haven't ordered, there's no point to continuing to hold that reservation. Might as well get it refunded and if/when you're ready to commit to buying, place a new order. (Okay, there is one reason - afaik, reservation holders are still locked into the 70D pricing for a 75D, and matte Obeche wood as the freebie trim option. If you're waiting for autopilot 2.0 or a 100+ kWh battery, there is no evidence that you would still be locked in in the face of price hikes).