So, I've been throwing around the idea of upgrading my P85D's pack to a 90 kWh pack. Independent of any Ludicrous update, mind you, which I'm not entirely interested in paying for.
Anyway, when I inquired about a month ago I was given a quote for the process. It was $25,000 for the 90 kWh pack, less a $2,500 "core refund" for turning in my 85 pack, plus minimal labor, and obviously sales tax.
OK, but I don't want to sell my 85 pack to Tesla for $2,500. Why would I do that when they sell on the open market for $15-20k easily? I asked about this and I was told that I could just not do the core refund portion (basically pay full price for the 90 pack) and keep my old pack, provided I transported it away in a timely manner. Cool. This works out then. Long story short, I'm looking for a pack to use for an upcoming EV conversion project and a Tesla 85 pack (dismantled and rearranged) would work just fine. What better way to do it than to just get a new pack for my Model S and use my own old pack? Win-win, right?
So I pulled the trigger on it. I was told it'd take a week or so to get the pack to the service center. Cool!
Shortly after, it turns out that Tesla doesn't want to sell me a new pack if I'm not going to sell them my old pack for $2,500. I mean, the 85 pack is mine. I own it completely. This isn't a lease and isn't even financed. I'm under no obligation to sell it to them or anyone for any price, let alone 12% of fair market value. That makes no sense from my end of the deal. The 90 pack part is listed as $25k. They offer a buy back/core refund on the old pack to shave a whopping $2,500 off that price to bring it to $22,500... but that would be pretty stupid, IMO. For a little bit of labor and a U-Haul rental you could at the very least just resell the old pack for way more money.
I mean, I know they want to discourage people from upgrading their packs, as per Elon's comments, but really, who would sell them their old pack for $2,500? That is certainly ludicrous.
Anyway, obviously just like I don't have to sell Tesla my pack, Tesla doesn't have to sell me a 90 pack, but I just figured I'd share this in case anyone else was considering anything similar.
Just doesn't make much sense to me. Either the $25k is the actual cost of the pack, or it isn't. If the $25k number is contingent on the core refund of another pack, then the part price should be higher and the core refund should also be higher. If the 90 pack is actually something like $40k, they should price it as such and give a $17,500 core refund on the old pack, not price it at $25,000 and force a $2,500 core.
I mean really, something fishy is going on here. Again, nothing to do with Ludicrous mode. That's another can of worms.
I'm waiting to hear back on a final decision on the matter from the powers that be at Tesla, but I'm not hopeful on it. What company has a list price for a product, has that product in stock, and has a customer with a check in hand willing to pay that price.... and then doesn't want to sell it?
Anyway, when I inquired about a month ago I was given a quote for the process. It was $25,000 for the 90 kWh pack, less a $2,500 "core refund" for turning in my 85 pack, plus minimal labor, and obviously sales tax.
OK, but I don't want to sell my 85 pack to Tesla for $2,500. Why would I do that when they sell on the open market for $15-20k easily? I asked about this and I was told that I could just not do the core refund portion (basically pay full price for the 90 pack) and keep my old pack, provided I transported it away in a timely manner. Cool. This works out then. Long story short, I'm looking for a pack to use for an upcoming EV conversion project and a Tesla 85 pack (dismantled and rearranged) would work just fine. What better way to do it than to just get a new pack for my Model S and use my own old pack? Win-win, right?
So I pulled the trigger on it. I was told it'd take a week or so to get the pack to the service center. Cool!
Shortly after, it turns out that Tesla doesn't want to sell me a new pack if I'm not going to sell them my old pack for $2,500.
I mean, the 85 pack is mine. I own it completely. This isn't a lease and isn't even financed. I'm under no obligation to sell it to them or anyone for any price, let alone 12% of fair market value. That makes no sense from my end of the deal. The 90 pack part is listed as $25k. They offer a buy back/core refund on the old pack to shave a whopping $2,500 off that price to bring it to $22,500... but that would be pretty stupid, IMO. For a little bit of labor and a U-Haul rental you could at the very least just resell the old pack for way more money.I mean, I know they want to discourage people from upgrading their packs, as per Elon's comments, but really, who would sell them their old pack for $2,500? That is certainly ludicrous.
Anyway, obviously just like I don't have to sell Tesla my pack, Tesla doesn't have to sell me a 90 pack, but I just figured I'd share this in case anyone else was considering anything similar.
Just doesn't make much sense to me. Either the $25k is the actual cost of the pack, or it isn't. If the $25k number is contingent on the core refund of another pack, then the part price should be higher and the core refund should also be higher. If the 90 pack is actually something like $40k, they should price it as such and give a $17,500 core refund on the old pack, not price it at $25,000 and force a $2,500 core.
I mean really, something fishy is going on here. Again, nothing to do with Ludicrous mode. That's another can of worms.
I'm waiting to hear back on a final decision on the matter from the powers that be at Tesla, but I'm not hopeful on it. What company has a list price for a product, has that product in stock, and has a customer with a check in hand willing to pay that price.... and then doesn't want to sell it?
