Just a quick update on our experience: We took delivery of our new 2024 Model Y LR in Stealth Gray on White Saturday. Our process wasn't quite as smooth as others, part of that was on us and part was on Tesla.
The Tesla issue is an easily addressable one, if they actually cared. Something tells me that they don't other than it really bogged things down on their end for deliveries. Our Sales Associate told us that they started the morning with 50 deliveries scheduled and by about lunch time that number had already climbed to 72 with many more projected to come in that day still. The number of Tesla employees to process that number of deliveries was incredibly low. I seriously doubt the total number of customer-facing Tesla reps was in the double digits.
That wasn't our issue but it did create audible issues around us. Our issue was a simple requirement on Tesla's end: the proof of insurance stipulations. They want the new VIN to show ON your policy (even though you get 30 days coverage automatically to add new vehicles anyway) and on top of that the policy HAD to be valid day-of-delivery and then for a full 60 days. I can understand this for those financing or leasing as they still have an interest in that asset after the sale.
In our case, we were paying cash. Once they have funds, their interest in the vehicle ends other than making sure they get us title work in a timely fashion. Other than that, they interest in what we do with the asset is of zero concern. In our case, we have all of our vehicles on the same insurance policy as our home and other items that is on a 6-month policy. It just so happens that ours renews on the 10th of next month so less than the 60 days they specified.
Since they had so few people this little issue created a nightmare of touches by no less than 6 different people that day. It delayed things dramatically and cost lots of time Tesla can't afford on that day. They need to make a simple tweak to their requirements so that those paying cash just need to show valid proof of insurance. No other stipulations as these are unnecessary and cost us and Tesla lots of lost time. It negatively impacted our experience but was even more impactful to Tesla's day, given how backed up they were. Fix this Tesla.
There was also a glitch with the app where it wasn't properly processing payment via attached bank accounts w/o any explanation as to why. Everyone on-site was dumbfounded by it and, once again, it required several people and lots of time for them just to be able to take my money. Another item that Tesla needs to address in order to make this process run smoother for both customer and Tesla alike.
As for trade, I can confirm that the estimate they gave me ($31,500 for a 2023 MYLR blue on white w/20k miles) was actually increased $200 the day-of. Not sure why but I also wasn't going to argue either. I wasn't able to 100% confirm this amount through the entire process as we literally sold our 2023 MYLR at the time of delivery of our 2024 via private party for a couple of grand more (net total w/lost taxable savings factored in) than Tesla was going to give us. This was the figure on the paperwork so I'm 99.9999% sure it would have carried through the entire delivery process. Just to provide that data point for others.
Summary: upgraded to a year newer MYLR in a new color (wife loves it, says it's more her "style" to which I replied that I didn't know she had style. lol) and we basically reset the odometer to zero as well as get a full warranty back plus got paid a few grand. Not to shabby.