Snobbish tesla delivery

I would like to share my Tesla delivery experience. It may help buyers for upcoming years. In my case I leased it through a leasing company.

As soon as I learned about tax advantages for EV’s, I checked my options unfortunately Tesla model 3 was the only option to get in last quarter of 2019. Tesla announced a last date for purchase if you want delivery in 2019 with tax advantage. I applied on the last day which was 7th of October in 2019.

Leasing company made the application to Tesla on my name the same day and we started wating. After 2–3 weeks, I received a notification from Tesla indicating that my account is created and I installed the Tesla app on my phone immediately and saw the car that I’ve chosen. I spoke with a few colleagues and tried to understand how long does the delivery takes.

I learned it is usually around 6–8 weeks, it’s great just a few weeks left. I was so excited with new gadget as a geek tech lover. The idea of getting a Tesla feels more then having a new car, it’s a high tech gadget. It really is, but I’m so disappointed with it since the beginning but I will write another story as a long time review. I will not go in details about pros and cons in this article. I invested a lot on cars before, I had quite decent cars, like 2016 SLK 300 and 2008 3.20i and I was happy with them, except their periodic services from authorized services and prices.

When we hit the begining of December, I started getting worried. I had a planned trip for Christmas starting from 20th of December and still couldn’t hear anything from Tesla. I called my leasing agency. I learned that Tesla knows about me and they suppose to get in touch with me. They just paid in my name but Tesla will be directly communicating with me for delivery.

I called Tesla, it was quite difficult for me to reach them out. I called several times and wait around 30–40 minutes in the line. In third or fourth try I managed to talk with someone and learned that my vehicle is in the ship and suppose to arrive in a week. I shouldn’t worry and I will receive an SMS when its ready to be delivered.

I waited 10 days more and there was a few days left to my flight, I tried to call Tesla several times. Unfortunately, with no success. And time arrived and I went on my trip. I assumed car arrived anyhow, so that I can get it when I’m back from my trip. But I was wrong…

It was new year day, 31th of December, yes there is no typo it was 31th of December, I was having brunch with my friends. I received a phone call around 10:30 in the morning. The guy told me that he is calling from Tesla about my car delivery. He started blaming me being unreachable. They texted me, they emailed me, they called me but couldn’t get a response which was absolutely not true.

After blaming part he told me if I don’t get the car today at 12:30 o’clock I will loose my tax advantage. Whaaat??? I told him I’m even not in the country. It’s impossible. I explained that I didn’t get any SMS or emails nor phone call. I said that the car is paid already, why I am loosing tax advantage, I can pick it up when I return. He told me that it doesn’t work like that, they have to finish paperwork in 2019. I insisted that the car is paid already, why don’t you finish paperwork today and let me take it on 2nd of January. Again response was negative, they can’t complete paperwork without me being there. it’s ridiculous.

I was advised to find a friend whom I trust and who can pick up the car for me. But it is New Year day, everyone has their own plans, how can I ask this kind of favor on such a special day. I learned that they will send me an email with a power of attorney attached. If I can find a friend I need to fill this power of attorney on my friends name and my friend needs to show up at Tesla at 12:30 o’clock.

I asked it’s less then 2 hours left and very difficult to organize so quickly and give me some more time. I learned my appointment is at 12:30 o’clock and they are getting closed around 15:00 so they can’t promise for anything but my friend can try till 15:00 to get the car.

I immediately called my friend who got his Tesla a few weeks ago, I asked him this favor and learned that he has something to do but he can go around 13:00 o’clock so that he can be there around 14:00. I told him everything that they’ve been told on the phone so it can be too late if he misses my appointment time.

Mean time I received following email.

With Power of attorney attached.

My friend told me that he will check his todo’s with his wife and if he can handover to her. He will immediately go. But he needs one more guy so that they drive with his car and come back with 2 cars. I told him forget about that problem and take a taxi.

I filled the power of attorney form and shared with him and also with Tesla. My friend called me back that he organized everything and he called a taxi. It took an hour for him to arrive Tesla.

It was 12:10 I received a call from him telling me that car is not ready and my appointment is for 15:00. I was so surprised to hear that. I forwarded the email that I got from Tesla. I asked him to show this email.

Guess what they did when he showed the email and insisted about appointment time? They told that “You will get the best car of the world, what is the problem with waiting for a few more hours.”

Long story short, he got the car around 14:30, he lost 4–5 hours because me on such a special day. I can’t explain about how much I’m thankful to him. I will not forget this attitude from Tesla. So for future buyers I recommend to be ready for any kind of inconvience during those busy days. If you are leaving away while waiting car delivery, agree with a friend and fill a power of attorney in advance.

More than anything be ready for that snobbish attitude from Tesla.

I will share my experiences with model 3 in another Sunday story.

Enjoy your Sunday