Wow! Buying a Tesla....best experience ever! Even at the dealer and when not a preorder!

[Obxcast]

Hello future Cybertruck owners!

If you are like me and you are drooling over any information that comes out about our Cybertruck, and you constantly search YouTube and the internet trying to find any information you can on it, then let me fill you in on how awesome it's going to be to actually buy the Cybertruck!

I have owned ICE vehicles all of my life; however, my wife and I recently purchased a Model Y. Remember as you read this that this was not a preorder, but rather a phone call to a Tesla dealer location that had this Model Y on their lot and is the same way I have purchased ICE vehicles in the past. While we did not get the 1000 supercharger miles that we wanted by using my Cybertruck referral number (see that post here), it was the best car buying experience I have had.

If you have ever purchased an ICE vehicle then you probably understand my angst buying an ICE vehicle. For me, the process is usually as follows. First you walk on to the car lot pretending that you don't want a salesperson to bother you, but you're intentionally giving the "excuse me I need help" vibe as you look at a car you like. Then, like sharks to blood, the sales people come a stormin in (I am kidding...most have been very helpful). Then you take the test drive. Then your salesperson ask you "what do you want to pay a month?" and the infamous dance of me thinking I am smarter than them while they gracefully make me pay too much money as I am thanking them to do so begins. The salesperson goes and talks to the sales manager perched on high (literally elevated above the showroom a foot or two for me most of the time) and comes back with an offer $150 more a month than you wanted. After a few negotiations and me saying I'm leaving, they magically meet the magic monthly number I asked for, because they are doing me a favor, as it is the end of the month. Then you head to finance and that's where they assault my wallet with overcharged fees and free "services for life" that cost me $3500 up front. Finally, 6-8 hours later I am driving home, having had a cavity search I didn't even know I was getting.

Now let's talk Tesla. We called the dealer and they had a standard Model Y on the lot that we wanted. We put down a $100 deposit (non-refundable) to hold the vehicle. We drove to the dealer, test drove a vehicle (not ours) of the same model, and decided we wanted the vehicle. Our sales person stated the paperwork was in our email. I logged in and it was there. My wife and I both signed, I pulled up my insurance card and showed them, signed about 3 pages of paper (10 total pages or so), and received a short description of how to drive our vehicle. There were no oil changes and priority BS services for life. There were no hidden fees, only title and taxes. I was utterly shocked.

From the time I stepped on the lot until I left with our new Tesla...it was 45 minutes. There were no hidden fees, and I worked with my salesperson from start to end. Holy heck what a great car buying experience. I am now really excited to take possession of my Cybertruck. Remember, this was a car lot purchase, not an online purchase I was picking up. So the preorder purchase can only be so much better!

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[CyberT]

Awesome story! My experience in buying my Model 3 was similar (except for I pre-ordered mine and 16 months later it was ready). The Tesla staff were almost as excited as I was when I walked in the the delivery center. They were incredibly friendly and different people kept coming around asking which car did I order and when I told them which configuration I had purchased they would say"oohhh I just saw your car in the back it's beautiful" getting me even more excited to see it for the first time. I signed a few pieces of paper and paid the taxes and registration. After that my wife and I were escorted to where my M3 was parked (sitting on red carpet with a giant red bow on top). We received a brief tutorial on how to use the vehicle and then as we drove off every Tesla staff member lined up in a row at the exit and cheered and clapped as we drove away!

Man, my wife and I still tell that story to strangers when they ask about our car. Best car buying experience ever! Picking up the Cybertruck might top that though. My cousin (who has a later reservation than I) are flying out to Austin and then driving the CyberTruck back to Cali.

 

[Obxcast]

Awesome story! My experience in buying my Model 3 was similar (except for I pre-ordered mine and 16 months later it was ready). The Tesla staff were almost as excited as I was when I walked in the the delivery center. They were incredibly friendly and different people kept coming around asking which car did I order and when I told them which configuration I had purchased they would say"oohhh I just saw your car in the back it's beautiful" getting me even more excited to see it for the first time. I signed a few pieces of paper and paid the taxes and registration. After that my wife and I were escorted to where my M3 was parked (sitting on red carpet with a giant red bow on top). We received a brief tutorial on how to use the vehicle and then as we drove off every Tesla staff member lined up in a row at the exit and cheered and clapped as we drove away!

Man, my wife and I still tell that story to strangers when they ask about our car. Best car buying experience ever! Picking up the Cybertruck might top that though. My cousin (who has a later reservation than I) are flying out to Austin and then driving the CyberTruck back to Cali.

Dude that’s amazing! That story is great! I didn’t realize how great the company was until now. Had to get a service done for a panel out of line and even that was a great experience. Drove the model 3 as a loaner and it’s drives great also. Thanks for the story!

 

[CyberT]

Dude that’s amazing! That story is great! I didn’t realize how great the company was until now. Had to get a service done for a panel out of line and even that was a great experience. Drove the model 3 as a loaner and it’s drives great also. Thanks for the story!

Just wait until you need to use Tesla Mobile Service. Schedule an appointment on the App, they show up to wherever YOU are and complete the service without you ever needing to be involved. They don't need your key, signature, anything! You walk out of your place of work or home and your car has been serviced. No needing to take time off work to drive to a service center or needing someone to pick you up. GAME CHANGING.

 

[Obxcast]

Just wait until you need to use Tesla Mobile Service. Schedule an appointment on the App, they show up to wherever YOU are and complete the service without you ever needing to be involved. They don't need your key, signature, anything! You walk out of your place of work or home and your car has been serviced. No needing to take time off work to drive to a service center or needing someone to pick you up. GAME CHANGING.

Amazing I bet! The company really knows how to pamper you. It makes owning one of their vehicles an experience and not a task.

 

[Crissa]

I have a friend who's become disabled over time, and he finds the mobile service super-handy, especially since he can't always walk. When it got worse, he overbought to get an X after trading in his 3 he waited so long for. (And his motorcycle he could no longer safely ride. But it was something seeing him ride, then dismount and pull out his crutches...) The X is a little higher up, has more room, which he found helpful. So he bit the bullet and made it his one vehicle.

It's great hearing stories like this. All companies should aspire to this.

-Crissa

 

[TruckDaddy]

At a regular dealer, never negotiate about monthly payments. They will just extend you to 84 months instead of 60.

Always negotiate difference between trade-in and price, then just do the math on that number divided by 60. Use Kelly Blue book to keep from getting hosed.

 

[Obxcast]

I have a friend who's become disabled over time, and he finds the mobile service super-handy, especially since he can't always walk. When it got worse, he overbought to get an X after trading in his 3 he waited so long for. (And his motorcycle he could no longer safely ride. But it was something seeing him ride, then dismount and pull out his crutches...) The X is a little higher up, has more room, which he found helpful. So he bit the bullet and made it his one vehicle.

It's great hearing stories like this. All companies should aspire to this.

-Crissa

I agree! I’m happy he got what he wanted. The service is amazing. I’m just really please with Tesla so far.

 

[Pappy]

Awesome story! My experience in buying my Model 3 was similar (except for I pre-ordered mine and 16 months later it was ready). The Tesla staff were almost as excited as I was when I walked in the the delivery center. They were incredibly friendly and different people kept coming around asking which car did I order and when I told them which configuration I had purchased they would say"oohhh I just saw your car in the back it's beautiful" getting me even more excited to see it for the first time. I signed a few pieces of paper and paid the taxes and registration. After that my wife and I were escorted to where my M3 was parked (sitting on red carpet with a giant red bow on top). We received a brief tutorial on how to use the vehicle and then as we drove off every Tesla staff member lined up in a row at the exit and cheered and clapped as we drove away!

Man, my wife and I still tell that story to strangers when they ask about our car. Best car buying experience ever! Picking up the Cybertruck might top that though. My cousin (who has a later reservation than I) are flying out to Austin and then driving the CyberTruck back to Cali.

Great story and thanks for sharing, I’ve always said; “The PEOPLE working for the company makes the difference”. I truly hope Tesla continues to realize that and invest in their employees as time moves on. Looking forward to meeting these fine people when I go to pickup my CT.

 

[Obxcast]

At a regular dealer, never negotiate about monthly payments. They will just extend you to 84 months instead of 60.

Always negotiate difference between trade-in and price, then just do the math on that number divided by 60. Use Kelly Blue book to keep from getting hosed.

I fully agree. No worries TruckDaddy..I won't be buying ICE any longer unless its a classic car when I am older lol! Seriously though, its crazy how some places are. I really appreciate having everything honest and upfront with Tesla and it was so strange (in a great way) to come in and close the deal with only one person who did not pressure us the entire time.

 

[datechboss101]

My father was shocked to learn that Tesla won't negotiate the price down one bit. He was literally about to buy a Model 3 White/White, like last minute, just like he did when he was to buy me a CPO RX350 a month after my previous car got wrecked. I actually liked the buying process, and I still get emails from Tesla in Miami (I go to school down there) for test drives and events they hold.

 

[Crissa]

Shocked that they sell for the price they advertise?

Is this a generational thing?

-Crissa

 

[FutureBoy]

Shocked that they sell for the price they advertise?

Is this a generational thing?

-Crissa

Might be a personality thing. I’ve met people who would negotiate prices in Sears or JCPenny.

 

[datechboss101]

Shocked that they sell for the price they advertise?

Is this a generational thing?

-Crissa

Actually, its not a generational thing at all (my father is a gen x and I'm a Gen Z/I [whatever the generation is called for my entitled generation of Homo sapiens ]). We are part of a classification known as "shrewd negotiators" on prices (Ed Bolian from VINWiki term). Its trying to get the best deal possible whether its a moving piece of metal on X # of wheels or a wooden structure permanently fixed to the ground (real estate), there's always room to negotiate on price. Its also not a gender based thing either (since most people have the misconception that car enthusiasts are limited to guys only); just not everyone bothers to negotiate on the price (that's where merchants rip people off). This is why it surprized my father when he "placed" an order for a White/White M3 (not the bimmer version).

Honestly, I did negotiate prices on cars while I was looking for as a potential temp car so I could use as a trade-in for the CT when my previous car was wrecked. Well, now I am just adding the CT into the fleet instead.

 

[TheLastStarfighter]

The whole idea of negotiating price on cars is so stupid. It's why I'm glad to see dealers leave the world. Not that I wish dealers and their employees ill, but the price of a car is what it is. The company makes it for a given cost and sells it for a price that makes sense. But then you have a dealer get involved and add nothing to the car-buying experience except add as much markup as they can for the right to sell it to you. And attempt to sell you extra stuff you don't need. And cause stress to people who don't enjoy the whole experience.

You don't "win" in a car negotiation. The best you can do is not "lose" as much to the dealer as possible. There are some great guides on the internet now for how much any given car should cost. For my last car I did that. It was a demo, so that meant lower price but higher interest. I did some quick math on the extra loan interest cost, subtracted that from the price and said this is what we will pay. There were 3 exact cars within 200km of us, so naturally the guy said sure. The only time a dealer won't charge you what they "should" is if a car is in high demand and sold before it hits the lot. But the whole process is stupid and juvenile. People get a high because they feel they defeated the evil dealer by not paying all of the valueless markup they had on the car.

I really like the Tesla option of stating the price, decide to purchase. I've read some estimates that the dealerless system saves buyers up to 20%.... without the stupid "negotiation".

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