Model S/X Owners Have Priority Model 3 Orders Over Non-Owners

[sports4eva115]

will you fellow non-owners actually NOT put down the deposit because of this? o.o

 

[Electric.Rider]

As a current Model S owner, I plan on reserving 2 (two) Model 3s online in April 1
#1 will be for use by my immediate family
#2 reservation will be used to help someone - not sure who exactly yet, but friends/ extended family etc - get a Model 3 perhaps sooner than they otherwise might
If, at any point in the reservation/ order/ configuration/ production process, either one of these reservations is no longer needed, I intend to offer that reservation spot to forum members here at the earliest point possible - at no upcharge or markup. I cannot say or project how this will reservation spot transfer will work with tax incentives available at that point in time, but I intend to allow whoever picks up such reservation to benefit as much as possible, while certainly staying within the bounds of any IRS regulations or other State/ local laws (a.k.a 'no funny business')
I urge other current owners to consider this option as well should their own reservation no longer be needed in future. Thank you
I urge potential future owners who are unhappy with Teslas reservation priority for current owners to not turn that against us current owners. Most if not all of us are looking to help 'grow the tent of EV owners'. Thank you

 

[Tam]

...I intend to allow whoever picks up such reservation to benefit as much as possible, while certainly staying within the bounds of any IRS regulations or other State/ local laws (a.k.a 'no funny business')...

I do appreciate that you are looking for ways to help out.

If I may clarify about the problem in getting a tax incentive in this scenario:

Tesla does not allow transfer your reservation to another person (some people do post to sell and transfer their reservation slot.)

However, to get around that, you can go through the reservation process and paid it in full (It doesn't matter who pays, cash or finance: you or the one whom you want to transfer the car to.)

Once, you are the car's owner, it is yours and you can transfer the title to anyone.

The problem is: Even if it's practically brand new and undriven by anyone, no one would get the Federal Tax Credit in this scenario.

The original owner cannot buy it for a "resale" (in this case, a change in title name) and still expect to get the credit.

The second owner cannot claim the credit because there's an original buyer already..

 

[Model 3]

I based what I said on what Elon Musk said not once but twice in the last six months in the front of groups of people. He is the man and as the head and largest stockholder of Tesla I have to believe what he says is true. Who else are you to believe?

Ok, I just know about that time in front of a group of people in France where he did answer the question about when we will see the first pictures of Model 3. Do you have a source I can see/read about this second time? Where and when did this happened? Is it recorded or is it just a quote in a media/forum?

 

[SureValla]

The sequence is:
1) You make a refundable deposit.
2) You'll get an e-mail with "RN" prefix which is like an account number that you include for any further payments from then on.
3) You won't hear anything for a long time. You can check your "My Tesla" web page for any change.
4) People will report that they've gotten an e-mail to configure.
And you will too!
5) You then can click on the link in the e-mail to configure. You can also go to "My Tesla" page to do that too.
6) Once you click to configure, you can click on how many options you want depending on how much you want to pay.

I think you can practice to do that with Model S without logging in your "My Tesla" page to see all the options and pricing.

You cannot do that (that means configuring without logging in) for Model X or Model ≡ currently, because you need an e-mail that unlock your "My Tesla" page.

7) After you are happy with your configuration, you can now "finalize" it and your deposit would be then converted to "non-refundable." That means you've entered a buying contract at that point.

8) Most people won't hear anything for a long time. But if you check your My Tesla page, you'll get a VIN posted there in a few weeks.

9) Then after a few weeks, Tesla would call you to set up a delivery schedule.

And so on...

So let's get back to your question:

a) at what point we are asked if we want a fully optioned car?

No one will ask you.

When you see an e-mail telling you that you can configure now, that's when you can choose barebone, maxed out, or anything in between options yourself.

b) if we will be able to see the effect in change of delivery date when we make that call:

I don't think so. It's been done by faith and been confirmed with past historical reporting. You pay for more options, you'll get it faster than others with less options after factoring in other factors.

c) I might be willing to take a few more options if it gets me a car 1-2 years sooner.

Historically, it is very difficult to predict a delivery date at the start of production because it might be very slow or even stalled for sometimes to iron out some wrinkles.

Once the production is fully ramped up, how many Model ≡ per week, then your Delivery Specialist can give you an educated guess of when you will get yours.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Thank for for the thorough breakdown! That helped significantly. One clarifying question. I think I read from your above that everyone with a RN gets the email to configure at the same time correct?

 

[McHoffa]

But what if you don't like it?

They would have to make a seriously ugly car for me to dislike it. I'm dead set on never buying another ICE again, but my car is already 7 years old. I'd rather not wait ANOTHER 3 years before I get my M3

 

[SureValla]

I agree, when I bought my Volt the marketing of the tax credit was very terrible, making it look like it was going to come immediately off the top.

When I bought my prius the money did indeed come off the top. Its interesting they switched from a rebate for hybrids to a credit for EVs.

 

[houdini]

...........

If Tesla is going to make as many Model 3's as they hope and claim, production will go very quick anyway..

That's a big if. And given all the 15,000 new S and X owners per month up until then can jump the queue there could be as many as 100,000 cars to be delivered before non-tesla owners can start getting cars. That makes it realistically 2018, possibly even 2019. Wow.

 

[houdini]

I just tweeted to Musk, don't really expect him to reply - If I reserve a Model 3 on 2016-Mar-31st in the store, can someone buying a Model S/X in 2018 still jump ahead of me in the queue ?

Thanks, wanted someone to ask this (and I refuse to join twitter just to d o it). So many things wrong with this approach that it would be nice to find out if this is one of them.

 

[houdini]

I don't get the tax argument.

Chances are if you can't afford a Model S, you're nowhere near getting the full $7500 out of the tax credit. So even a phased tax credit will still be close to full value.

This is coming from someone who is purchasing a M3 and won't come close to the full $7500 rebate. Not a current Tesla owner.

It makes a ton of sense for Tesla to prioritize owners, too.

1) I doubt early Model 3's will be any better than early Model S's or Model X's. They will be buggy and they will require a lot of servicing early on. Current S owners are far more likely to deal with these issues in stride (and they also will likely have jobs much more capable of taking time off / time away to help deal with these issues).

2) This helps lessen, drastically, the number of Model 3's that will require long trips for these early bugs and servicing issues. Model S and X owners are predominantly near service centers because centers have literally sprung up around the highest concentrations of owners over the years.

3) It's no different than the in-store reservations first, sight unseen. More chance of enthusiasts, and a near-guarantee that the reservation holder will be near a service center. Beta test #2--non-owner in-store reservationists--will still very easily deal with issues.

4) First impressions are a big, huge deal. A current Model S enthusiast won't care as much about quirks/bugs because they've likely seen far worse on the MS/MX. Someone of moderate income who runs into financial trouble because of M3 issues? Not so caring or understanding.

5) They took a huge chance on a company that may not have made it. Even later adopters still had the risk of the company possibly going belly-up with one bad mistake, lawsuit, or natural disaster--making their 70k+ purchase worthless over time. With the MX launch now successful, Tesla is pretty much a zero-risk company now.

6) Tesla will have zero trouble filling orders. You'll be forgotten to history, just like those who cancelled MX reservations over "foldgate". Especially the Bolt/Leaf 2 folk--seriously, it's your loss if you go this route.

I can understand how much it sucks with the timing--my current Leaf lease comes up mid 2018 and it's unlikely I'll get my car by then--but this decision makes sense for Tesla, it doesn't have to make sense for me.

Dude. Do you really think they average punter is going to be queuing up and doing an early reservation? The enthusiasts are going to do that, not just current S owners.

Hardly anyone buys EV's anyway. No one who isn't a Tesla fan is going to just randomly put $1000 down and pickup a car un-test driven and then complain about early bugs. EV sales are such a small percentage of the market. The smallest percentage are buying it without knowing anything about it. I don't own a Model S but I could quote verbatim every problem people have had with early models. I have no illusions, would be able to handle the early bugs as an early adopter so why shouldn't I be rewarded for queuing up, waiting 2-3 years for a car I haven't seen or test drove. Instead I'm being bumped for someone who could afford what down under is a very expensive car (no tax incentives). I want to support Tesla but I'm thinking I'll now keep my $1000 interest free loan money and instead lease something really nice for three years until I can buy a second hand S or a 3 once they're producing reliable numbers.

 

[houdini]

I sent a tweet asking almost the exact same thing yesterday. Hope they clarify. I'm still driving to be there in store that morning, though this news makes me not quite as excited about being in the front of the line, since it won't mean I'm really at the front of the line.

You might be the front of the non-tesla owners line. here might only be 50,000, 60,000 people who came behind you get ahead of you.
Sorry, I'm being sarcastic at your expense. I'm just really peeved t this move by Tesla.

 

[houdini]

will you fellow non-owners actually NOT put down the deposit because of this? o.o

Yes I'm seriously thinking about not doing it now. I see no point in lining up overnight like I was going to, so no free publicity for you there Tesla Motors. I hardly see the point now in even doing it online on the 1st as I don't see an advantage in doing so now. I was looking at being in the first 1000 or so reservations and then configuring up a fully spec'd car or doing whatever maximizes the chance of getting an early car. But now there's so much stacked against any of that happening (including being in a right hand drive Country with not many Tesla owners and fewer superchargers). We haven't even got X's down here yet. On current guess we might be a year behind the US anyway.

 

[ModelNforNerd]

Chances are if you can't afford a Model S, you're nowhere near getting the full $7500 out of the tax credit. So even a phased tax credit will still be close to full value.

You sir, are absolutely wrong.

A married couple, making just about $200K combined, with no dependents, who only have to pay healthcare for one (the other has a free government-paid plan), mortgage interest, and the usual deductions still has a "tax burden" of almost $33K, more than enough to qualify for the tax break, but making ~$200K combined, before taxes and expenses makes it rather tight to order a Model S and start checking boxes on the configurator.

So yes, there are plenty of us out there who CAN get the tax break, but can't quite afford a Model S. (CPO maybe, but I want AP...if not, what's the point, right?)

 

[Mark Z]

...I'm just really peeved with this move by Tesla.

If the existing owner line is only open for a limited time (ideally for a few days) then the reservation number for new buyers could be known early on.

If Tesla Motors keeps the current owner line open indefinitely, then, IMHO, new buyers will continue to be pushed back in line.

One question: Do current owners who order at the Tesla Store at 10 AM get in the reservation order line before the current owners who order on-line or at the Model 3 event?

No need for the forum to guess at the question. Tesla Motors needs to be more specific.

 

[YBT]

As someone who is looking to buy their first Tesla - and EV - in the M3, I personally think this is a great decision by Tesla.

This car would not be possible without the community of Roadster, S & X owners.

So what your reservation will get delayed a little - boo hoo.

I personally see this an opportunity to start ticking off a few used examples of ICE vehicles I've always wanted to own - I doubt once I make the jump there will be any going back

 

[bonnie]

If Tesla Motors keeps the current owner line open indefinitely, then, IMHO, new buyers will continue to be pushed back in line..

That is not how it has been done historically. For the Model S, there was a limited time that Roadster owners could reserve and get to the front of the line. It was not 'open indefinitely'.

One question: Do current owners who order at the Tesla Store at 10 AM get in the reservation order line before the current owners who order on-line or at the Model 3 event?

How else would they do it? If they have 100 current owners who have reserved, then the ones who reserved first would logically get priority.

No need for the forum to guess at the question. Tesla Motors needs to be more specific.

Well of course the forum is going to guess at the question. That's the point of this entire thread.

And yes, TM should be more specific. But I think this thread is overthinking the 'existing owners have priority' statement. I suspect that it will be for a very limited amount of time - if not, does that then mean that someone who buys a Model S in six months & has an existing 3 reservation, would then become an owner and change places in the line? What a logistical nightmare that would be . The priority will undoubtedly apply for the first few days of reservations. After that, imo, existing owners had their chance.

 

[McHoffa]

You might be the front of the non-tesla owners line. here might only be 50,000, 60,000 people who came behind you get ahead of you.
Sorry, I'm being sarcastic at your expense. I'm just really peeved t this move by Tesla.

Yeah, and that really bugs me. I've been evangelizing for Tesla for a decade, and I get bumped simply because I can't afford their current cars? Believe me, if there was any way I could get a Model S, I would already have one, but my wallet says I have to wait for a 3. Now I have to wait even longer because of that AND possibly miss out on $7500 in savings?

Current owners have already gotten one or more of the EV tax credits, while those of us who have been patiently (or impatiently) waiting for the "affordable" Tesla to get here have not. So now, existing owners get to take another credit, while those of us further down the pole get bumped out of line and might not get the credit. If I hadn't been waiting for this car since August 2006, I would say screw it and not go get in line on March 31. But I refuse to buy another ICE car, no other EV is worth buying, and I am not going to throw away a decade of waiting, so I'll still be there. I just might not be as excited as I was before.

 

[AnOutsider]

If Tesla does Signature Model 3s (which all indications are, that they won't), then it would be the same, wouldn't it? Those who pony up more cash go to the front of the line. There really wasn't any complaining about it during the S and X rollout -- which makes this argument even more about class warfare IMO.

 

[bonnie]

If Tesla does Signature Model 3s (which all indications are, that they won't), then it would be the same, wouldn't it? Those who pony up more cash go to the front of the line. There really wasn't any complaining about it during the S and X rollout -- which makes this argument even more about class warfare IMO.

I tend to agree ... with one addition/modification: It seems to be more about 'how do I get to the front of the line' for many. I've noted a few also feel employees should come after them instead of be at the front of the line. (And I've also noticed those of you saying 'I really want to be up at the front, but I get it and it's not unfair.)

I understand people are disappointed, but c'mon. Tesla is thanking customers who have supported them to get to this point. Many of those customers spent far more than they should have for a car, economics be damned. A lot have bought used. Some of us bought cars that will never be able to update to the latest tech. Many bought an S not knowing there would be a Supercharger network. And not every current customer is reserving a 3. A lot of current customers will want to wait until production has been up and running for awhile.

This is a small thank-you for early adopters and those who came after them. And I guarantee when the 3 rollout begins, there will be threads on trying to figure out the order that cars are delivered, because it won't match the reservation order. "I reserved at 10am at the store, I was an owner, I ordered fully optioned, and allllll these people are getting their car before me!!! It's not fairrrrr!".

If you're upset over the possibility of not getting a tax credit, then start organizing a letter writing campaign. Do something about it. Because expecting Tesla to change the line order isn't going to fix the issue of a lot of people who would like the tax credit are not going to get it -- no matter what the order/priorities are for reservation holders. Someone is going to miss out. So DO something about it.

 

[tga]

Once, you are the car's owner, it is yours and you can transfer the title to anyone.

The problem is: Even if it's practically brand new and undriven by anyone, no one would get the Federal Tax Credit in this scenario.

Other problem - In most states, both first and second purchasers will be on the hook for sales tax.