Tesla Model 3 Buyers Complain That They Are Being Pressured To Move To A Model S

Model 3 production ramp-up is going to be painfully slow, and Tesla Motors wants to convert Model 3 orders into sales... ANY Tesla sale... ASAP, rather than lose an order. They're working aggressively to do that.

I can't blame the order-holders for not liking the pressure tactics.

It is weird hearing people refer to pressure tactics in relations to Tesla, especially when you compare the store experience with any car dealership (except for maybe Saturn back in the day). No one in the store gets a commission if you buy a car, and they are not going to be anywhere near as aggressive as a traditional car salesperson.

A rep did tell me that they are trying to encourage people to go with a Model S instead, so I can verify that. Some early owners are even lending out their Model 3s for under-the-radar events for reservation holders to check out the car and do a more direct comparison with the S which is obviously a better car. Is it $30k better than a premium-trim Model 3? Depends on the buyer, but I will probably trade mine if for the 3 with autopilot since that is the main feature I want and don't have.

Tesla needs cash quickly and converting existing inventory into a sale is the fastest way to get it. Any car dealer knows that (cash on the hood) and these Tesla folks are acting like the stereotype car salesperson.

Can anybody explain how the "reservation" to order to sales process works for the Model 3? A lot of articles seem to treat these refundable $1000 "reservations" as orders for a vehicle which they are not. How many of these reservations have been turned into actual firm orders so far?

In addition - As I have said before - it appears that there is a limited market for Green EVs - and the sales of higher priced ones have Tanked. With no availability of the Model 3 for years - and FEW sales of the Higher priced evs - TEsla might have to reduce production of the S cars - something they did not plan on.Tesla clearly planned on being able to sell EVERY car it could produce - and people are BALKING not only at UPSALES to the S - but ALSO Upsales to higher priced model 3s.

AS far as the reservations - they are sending Invitations to those who have them Invitations are sent based on the date and time you placed your reservation, whether you are an employee, if you own a Tesla, and if we have started production in your country. Only Premium Upgrades Big Battery available at first - then by Fall 2017 - they expect Standards with the INTERIOR option to be available- soon after with the Standard Battery - and ALL wheel Drive not until late spring 2018. People who already own Teslas get Priority. And a noted - while the Model 3 will have the ability to use the Suoercharging stations - they will not be free - there will be a charge for charging!

The fee in California is 20 cents per KWh for supercharging, and that is on the more expensive side of states. Each KWh provides 4.4 miles of range on a Model 3, bringing the cost to 4.45 cents per mile. Gas prices here are around $3/gallon, so you would need a 68 mpg car to get the same rate as a CA supercharger.

Compared to a normal car, you are saving about half of your "gas" costs at a supercharger. Even if you compare it to a Prius, you are cutting your bill by 20%. That is assuming you don't charge at home or take advantage of free chargers (which in Silicon Valley at least are everywhere, especially if you go shopping).

Tesla also has a bunch of "Destination Chargers" which are free and charge slower than superchargers (30 miles per hour). If you look at Napa or Lake Tahoe, almost every winery and hotel now has these chargers for patrons. They'll have about 15,000 total by the end of the year worldwide.

When I visited a Tesla 'store,' I saw that one office was labeled the 'Strong Arm Dept."

Wait a minute...car salesman are pressuring people now to buy their product?? This is unheard of in this industry.