Tesla's "$35K" Model 3 Price Fiasco Continues With False Delivery Info and Upsell Attempts

Tesla just can't seem to keep a promise, regardless of when it is made. Standard trim Model 3 deliveries are now uncertain.

Tesla's seemingly deceptive Model 3 price practices are apparently still underway. It was four weeks ago that Tesla thrilled the EV-advocacy media with news that its long-promised and never delivered "$35,000" Model 3 was now ready for order. The promise then was that cars would be delivered within two to four weeks, with priority going to those reservation holders who had been waiting the longest, presumably since early 2017. The problem is, none have yet appeared. No Tesla owner has stepped forward and shown off her new "$35,000" Model 3. That got the Tesla fans talking.

Related Story From One Year Ago: Tesla's Seemingly Deceptive Pricing For Model 3 Will Continue Into Second Year of Sales

Tesla customers on Teslamotorsclub.com are reporting that not only were their delivery dates misleading, and often contradicted by Tesla employees on the phone, they were repeatedly contacted with upsell offers. One member on the forum reports, "Yes SR needs separate waiting room since it’s a unicorn. Tesla built exactly zero of them and switched over to Euro production. I’ve been getting couple of upsell calls, and those fake delivery date texts.... Trap buyers then upsell." Another wrote yesterday, "SR here - got two calls from Tesla - trying to pitch me solar roof. Then that whole fake delivery text for the 30th. Stop toying with me Elon!"

Related Story From December 2017: Tesla Model 3 Actual Deliveries vs. Tesla's Broken Promises

The Tesla scheduling issues were not disclosed at the time of the vehicle order being accepted by Tesla. Rather, the orders were taken and then later the customers' orders were rescheduled. One member's post at the club mentioned above is typical. The member writes, "Same as everyone else, just got the "Our apologies, we will need to reschedule..." text this afternoon. I hope the reschedule is not too far in the future. Seems like maybe they are looking to end the quarter with all higher-margin SR+. Maybe that means that starting April 1st, we will see some SR deliveries."

Tesla's false promises regarding delivery, upsell attempts and mysterious rescheduling of cars just about to hit their order date are not the only apparently unethical practices. The "$35,000" Model 3 is actually priced for delivery by Tesla at $36,200. On the Tesla website where customers go to configure their car, Tesla also includes a deduction for gas savings in the estimator. The problem is, there are no meaningful savings for the Model 3 compared to any other electric vehicle its size.

If you are the lucky owner of a Tesla Model 3 standard range trim. Please let us know via the contact us button at the bottom of the page when you received your Tesla. If you have an opinion on Tesla's apparently unethical pricing and delivery promises, feel free to add a comment below this story.