I have owned 3 Teslas. First 2 had amazing home delivery experience. I live in northern Vermont, so hours from nearest Tesla showroom in the US. Roadster rolled off transport into a parking lot of bank near my home (eg, not delivered by Tesla rep). Car came with NY temp tags and everything I needed to register. Still have that car 7 years later and it has been my daily driver all year round until now. A year after Roadster, I took home delivery of a Model S Signature (now with my ex-partner). Tesla guy drove it up on a one-car trailer. The car came with CA temp registration and everything needed. Model 3 has been much worse. Once I was told delivery was at hand, they told me where to send $. As instructed, I got them the bank loan check and a Bank (eg, Teller's) check for my portion. They had it in their hands Sept 17. I was told car was in Baltimore waiting to ship. I got an email Friday morning Sept 21 saying car was going onto a transport and would be to me "in a day or 2." I went home late afternoon to take care of my dogs because we were going to be out Friday night having dinner with another couple. I found a message on my answering machine from the driver of the car carrier that he'd be there that same evening with my car. Huh?? Well, while I was there with the dogs before heading back out, fortunately he called again to say he wouldn't make it after all. Great. He says the next morning. So he shows up at the same bank parking lot where I took delivery of the Roadster. I didn't want him to navigate the dirt roads to my house with a car transporter—he had asked for an easy in/out place. I took the car, looked it over and off he went. Much to my surprise, I found the car had no temporary registration! So no way to legally drive it home from there. Let's just say I got it home somehow. But no MCO, so or odometer statement, so I can't fully register it in Vermont. When I finally got hold of my very difficult to get hold of Home Delivery specialist (located in Las Vegas, go figure), he told me they won't Fedex the MCO for at least 7 days after they get my payment so the checks can clear. Well, the day he was talking to me, it was already 9 days after they had the payment in their hand, and if that was their plan, why did them tell me I had to pay my downpayment in a BANK check and take on that extra hassle and expense. He said he'd see what he could do. Crickets. Still no MCO. As far as trying to get service to manage the punch list of items on the car I needed fixed at delivery, I was referred by local service (eg, Watertown, MA) to call Dedham, MA Tesla and go through the home delivery prompts. I did. No one ever answers, and it always rolls over to a full mailbox that won't take messages. I did manage to finally get through to the Tesla Main number you can be transferred to. After another 20-minute plus hold, the guy told me he would get me into Dedham on the phone. He came back to say he had them but his phone wouldn't set up the 3-way call or transfer the call for some reason. He said he was talking with them on his line though and would have them call me immediately at whatever number I needed call to come to. Great, except they didn't call. I called Tesla main number again later that day and got another person. She said there was no record of my first call. No one was able to set up the 2 repairs I needed or get my car to show up in the app. Finally, today, after another 20 minute call to Dedham that had to be rolled over to the main Tesla number because, well you know—no one picks up and the voicemail box is full—I found a guy who at least got the car turned on in my app and put in a service request for the 2 items needing fixing. But still no words on the MCO, and if I don't get one in a "timely" manner, my temporary registration will expire and I will forfeit the registration payment. The inability to talk to anyone is frustrating.
I accept Tesla is growing fast and has growing pains. I don't expect better service as a prior Roadster or Model S owner. But I do know they can do better because I have experienced it. Moreover, as a Tesla enthusiast, I am probably a little more patient than many for whom this is their first experience with the company. This is not a great PR thing. I was at an electric car parade today and was chatting with another local Model 3 owner. Same problem. He doesn't have an MCO either. When I was at DMV trying to get a temporary registration I met a guy who had been waiting WEEKS for his and still didn't get it. How can you ship a car to someone that they cannot legally drive away in??
Very sad situation for such a great car and company.
Sigh...
I accept Tesla is growing fast and has growing pains. I don't expect better service as a prior Roadster or Model S owner. But I do know they can do better because I have experienced it. Moreover, as a Tesla enthusiast, I am probably a little more patient than many for whom this is their first experience with the company. This is not a great PR thing. I was at an electric car parade today and was chatting with another local Model 3 owner. Same problem. He doesn't have an MCO either. When I was at DMV trying to get a temporary registration I met a guy who had been waiting WEEKS for his and still didn't get it. How can you ship a car to someone that they cannot legally drive away in??
Very sad situation for such a great car and company.
Sigh...
