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0 pointswill_hughes9y ago0 comments

> no notice from BMW, the sales guy, or the press

Tesla has done this for a long while. Newer larger battery pack options, newer interior and tech package options, and completely new performance and configuration options (insane, dual motor, and autopilot 1.0 all hit at once)

While there wern't announcements ahead of time what was coming, there were often advance notice that there was an announcement coming, and even when there wasn't - there was a big period of quiet from Tesla leading up to it.

For Autopilot 2.0 everyone knew it was coming for at least the Model 3 launch (Elon said as much at the Model 3 announcement), they just brought it forward.

It is really no different to what happens to customers for a bunch of other tech companies. Canon sure doesn't tell anyone when their new models are coming out - you know it'll probably happen at a major trade show, but only if you're someone that follows that kind of thing. The average customer at their camera shop isn't going to have the sales guy say "Hey, wait a week and we'll have the next version available."

0 comments

vsl9y ago

Yes, they keep doing it, and if you pay close attention to Tesla, you’re aware of it. You’re also aware of rumors of AP2 coming. If you don’t follow Tesla news, you’re in for a surprise.

Regardless, I think it’s a fair critique: buyer’s remorse is a real thing with Tesla. It’s one thing to buy a $3000 computer from Apple and have it replaced with a much better one the next week, it’s another to buy a $100K car and have a major improvement two weeks later.

misterhtmlcss9y ago

Everyone discounts before they launch a new product. You don't need to follow Tesla to know a new product is eminent when you walk into a show room and they knock $10k of the price because you look pretty or walk nicely. Big deals and big discounts with serious need are always informative to the buyer.

Plus people but cars when then want cars, some will always lament they could have waited a bit, but most I expect will be happy to own a Tesla that was (and is) amazing just a few days ago.

erezyehuda9y ago

I don't think making an good buying decision should need to take subliminal cues into account, like someone predicting a storm by a sudden shift in wind behavior, and forcing your customer base into this buying paradigm is a huge risk for resentment and product dissatisfaction.

totalZero9y ago

Car manufacturers generally telegraph their intentions for introducing new technologies in advance of actually unveiling the new models. People who buy a new 2016 Honda Accord generally can find out exactly what's going to be in the 2017 model just by googling around a little. Not the case with Tesla.

kakarot9y ago

At the end of the day however, it is not Tesla's responsibility nor in their best interest to educate their customers to make intelligent purchasing decisions.

If you want change in this regard, it's not going to come from Tesla.

lallysingh9y ago

It can lead to buyer hesitance, which is a problem. Why buy now when the car can suddenly become better? Without any understanding of when it would get better, or how much, the fear of the regret can be substantial.

lmm9y ago

Well if BMW communicate upcoming changes much better than Tesla do, maybe I'll buy BMW instead. Shrug.

saiya-jin9y ago

depends what kind of brand they are trying to develop. with cars many people are still traditionalists and stick to what they were happy with.

mtgx9y ago

It doesn't help that Tesla tends to have long delays for cars.

For instance, let's say I pre-ordered a Model 3 now. But I won't get it the first half of 2019. And then a month later, Tesla announces Model 3 with Autopilot 2.5 hardware or whatever, holographic HUD, and so on. And that new car will ship within 2 months. Then I'd feel pretty screwed by Tesla...

greglindahl9y ago

You don't understand the Tesla order process. People waiting in line for Model 3 have not picked the exact details of their cars -- they do that right before the car is produced. If new stuff is announced, it's immediately available. So the only people who are pissed are those whose cars are in the assembly line.

In short, the delay between reservation and receiving the car is not an issue.

0864213579097649y ago

If they announced upgrades and that the new car was shipping in 2 months you would be at whatever current build was being deliver (sans any cosmetic changes they may request your input on). If the manufacturing lines are updated to add features as a baseline after you order but before your build, you will get whatever they are.

forgetsusername9y ago

Canon sure doesn't tell anyone when their new models are coming out

Big difference between buying a camera and buying a car.

will_hughesOP9y ago

Depends entirely on perspective - for a student just getting into photography, buying a DSLR from Canon is pretty evenful and a significant portion of their income/savings.

For a young professional, buying a $35k car is probably just as eventful and significant to their savings/expenditure.

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