Thanks that is very helpful! There was not the specific third party carrier option but I do have a delivery destination fee in my order.
i ordered August 17. No VIN yet. Received a 2-3 week timeline via auto text on 9/9.
From what I’ve seen of my YouTube rabbit hole viewing sessions, Tesla has been very open to fixing all of the issues that have popped up (tailgate, panel gaps, seat alignment, paint defects, etc.). Good idea to get on the phone with someone right away. I will probably refuse to fully sign delivery paperwork and instead note that full inspection is not possible.
thanks again!
Everyone pays the destination fee, even if you pick up at a store. The only way around that is buying a used car. I would strongly caution not signing since this is a 3rd party carrier and not Tesla. While this is a free service to you, Tesla IS paying someone to deliver the car to you. When I had mine delivered in the Tri CIties the driver had three cars on his truck and was a Spokane based driver. He had mine for RIchland, another Tesla for Kennewick, and some crappy early 2000s Chevy Van that was going back up to Spokane. If you refuse delivery I assume it just gets kept with the driver where ever he ends up going and you might be responsible for getting the vehicle back to Tesla to return it within the seven day period. When you sign with the carrier direct driver, you're not signing to take delivery from Tesla, that has essentially already happened when you paid in full and they loaded the car onto the carrier. When you sign with the carrier you're releasing them of liability and saying they actually got the car to you. As long as it didn't fall off their truck, or they damage it when loading it on (again, probably something large like broken glass or large dents) then they have done their job and expect you to sign.
The contacting Tesla immediately and documenting any issues you want fixed is so Tesla can't come back and say that the scratches or misalignment might have been caused from you driving around for a few days or something.
Carrier Direct is kinda a crap shoot in that you "accept" the car when Tesla loads it on the truck. You still have seven days to return the car, but per their agreement you can't order the same configuration for a period of one year if you do return a car to them. Now if there are large issues maybe you can work with Tesla to allow another order, but YOU still need to get it back to them within 7 days and 1,000 miles, which means driving it to Seattle area to hand it over to them or paying for it to be shipped back.
I still think it's a FANTASTIC service that they offer, you just need to be willing to deal with a couple things possibly or extra hassle in getting them fixed. They adjusted their mileage requirements now so the Tri Cities is no longer far enough for the carrier direct. I've worked something out where someone is going to be able to pick up my vehicle for me (no I won't explain, I think this is unofficial and them going way above and beyond to help me out, both on Tesla and the person's part) and I'm paying ~$900 to have it transported from that side over to me in the Tri Cities... last year with my Model 3 it was free since Tesla took care of it.
If gaps or alignment really bug you, go pick the car up in person, it's probably ~$250 for a flight, even if booked the night before (Thanks COVID!) and then drive it home. You have a 3 day window now they can delay delivery, hopefully that works with your work schedule, or duck out of work an hour or two early and catch a flight, pick up the car "late" with Tesla at like 7 or 8 pm and then get home by midnight or something. Or just accept that the gaps are a little mismatched or roll the dice that Tesla will approve the Spokane service center to make adjustments the best they can.
(While there are many stories of Tesla allowing adjustments and corrections, there are just as many stories with Tesla saying that some misalignment is "within spec", so calibrate your expectations)
