First look at @ “Introducing the R1 Shop” -- Rivian website to shop for R1T that delivers in 6-8 weeks

[RivnSoon]

For those tracking VIN numbers - I got a VIN in mid the 9000s

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[Atlrivian]

22 trucks and counting available in Atlanta. 1 each with black and bright 22s. Rest 21s.

For some reason my phone's screenshot above picked up an extra truck. Weird.

 

[sickhews]

22 trucks and counting available in Atlanta. 1 each with black and bright 22s. Rest 21s.

For some reason my phone's screenshot above picked up an extra truck. Weird.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, would love to see Rivian’s internal numbers on the shop. There’s no way they just have 22 (or more, if each of these represents more than one vehicle potentially) vehicles sitting around week after week with no one claiming them, right?

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

Seeing such a huge inventory in Atlanta while people from other areas have very few trucks available is very odd. It indicates to me that Atlanta either is set to receive more trucks than they have preorders for or have a bunch of trucks at the SC currently with no orders to match them to. Either one is frustrating as I'd happily drive to the Atlanta SC tomorrow to get my exact config that's showing in the shop.

 

[Atlrivian]

Seeing such a huge inventory in Atlanta while people from other areas have very few trucks available is very odd. It indicates to me that Atlanta either is set to receive more trucks than they have preorders for or have a bunch of trucks at the SC currently with no orders to match them to. Either one is frustrating as I'd happily drive to the Atlanta SC tomorrow to get my exact config that's showing in the shop.

I have no clue why I can see so many options. I truly believe these are factory builds. When I have swung by the service center, there were trucks there, but no more than 10-12. My one guess is some sort of programming bug.

About once a week I email my guide asking in different ways if they can just build my order instead of adding SO MANY trucks to the Shop? Havent gotten any good answers. I am especially confused because the guide keeps saying there are no shortages. If there are no shortages, then just build our trucks like we want them!

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

I have no clue why I can see so many options. I truly believe these are factory builds. When I have swung by the service center, there were trucks there, but no more than 10-12. My one guess is some sort of programming bug.

About once a week I email my guide asking in different ways if they can just build my order instead of adding SO MANY trucks to the Shop? Havent gotten any good answers. I am especially confused because the guide keeps saying there are no shortages. If there are no shortages, then just build our trucks like we want them!

That is strange but I think there has to be something regionally connected to shop inventory given how different yours is from people in other areas. It could also be based on % of orders in a geographic area that have been delivered and the SE is lagging behind other parts of the country (no surprise there) so it is getting a larger shop allocation.

 

[Atlrivian]

That is strange but I think there has to be something regionally connected to shop inventory given how different yours is from people in other areas. It could also be based on % of orders in a geographic area that have been delivered and the SE is lagging behind other parts of the country (no surprise there) so it is getting a larger shop allocation.

Could 100% believe this. Of note, someone in the PNW had identical inventory to mine all last week.

I'm going to be very happy when the Shop nonsense is over and they can just build cars to spec per their previously described plan.

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

Could 100% believe this. Of note, someone in the PNW had identical inventory to mine all last week.

I'm going to be very happy when the Shop nonsense is over and they can just build cars to spec per their previously described plan.

I agree with that. I wish they weren't so evasive about how to improve your delivery timeline and the criteria for who is getting allocation. I get to some extent why they are doing it, but it's very annoying. In my current situation I bounce back and forth between several locations and would happily take delivery at whichever will get me a truck the most quickly, but there's no way of knowing with any certainty which location would ensure that.

 

[Gavinmcc]

I think Rivian wants a lot of their vehicles running around Georgia before the plant opens. To get eyes on and also to get local support

 

[sickhews]

Could 100% believe this. Of note, someone in the PNW had identical inventory to mine all last week.

I'm going to be very happy when the Shop nonsense is over and they can just build cars to spec per their previously described plan.

You and me both. I wonder when that inflection point will be. I really hope they can get more SCs up and running in this region, that’s going to be a huge hurdle here.

[…] would happily take delivery at whichever will get me a truck the most quickly, but there's no way of knowing with any certainty which location would ensure that.

I’m not certain they account for location to that degree, or at least that’s the impression my guide gave me. I’ve communicated several times that I’d happily drive to pick up my truck at a service center and it hasn’t made a huge difference.

 

[Atlrivian]

I think Rivian wants a lot of their vehicles running around Georgia before the plant opens. To get eyes on and also to get local support

Rivian can feel free to bump me to the front of the "build the truck you ordered" list. I would happily be an evangelist for them around Atlanta. Not that they have really ever gone out of their way to court me as a customer.

I've been on Rivian mailing lists since end of 2019, put in 2 preorders (8/20 and 4/21), live close-ish to where they are going to be theoretically building a plant, but somehow I never made the cut for any invites to anything. I had to stop by the SC myself and ask for a First Mile drive, which I only just got less than a month ago. I even work less than 1/2 mile from the capital where they have come several times to lobby Georgia for direct sales. Hell, one of GA's congressmen is a longtime family friend and I know 2 state senators. I would have HAPPILY swung by and advocated for Rivian.

Anyway, for me personally I have seen very little interest in retaining me as a customer with the notable exception of getting access to the Shop. This move definitely broke MO for them. Rivian definitely knows they have a boatload of orders and don't need to work on customer retention.

Best option: Tell us where we stand in line! I cant stand seeing people who ordered a year after me getting VINs and having no idea when my turn is coming. Next best would be a quick check-in every so often from my guide (or whoever) saying "Hey, we haven't forgotten about you. While I can't tell you exactly where you stand in line, I know trucks with your build are rolling off the line. So it hopefully won't be too much longer. Hang in there!"

 

[kurtlikevonnegut]

I’m not certain they account for location to that degree, or at least that’s the impression my guide gave me. I’ve communicated several times that I’d happily drive to pick up my truck at a service center and it hasn’t made a huge difference.

I think location does have an impact in a few areas. I think delivery capacity is obviously an issue, but also service capacity. I think Rivian is limiting the number of deliveries that are more than xx miles from a service center to avoid devoting resources to long distance towing for maintenance issues. The problem as I see it is that nobody really knows what "xx" is outside of Rivian. I personally think that in the VIN matching logic there is a filter for "is within xx of service center" as well as a specific filter for nearest service center that affects who gets that VIN assigned.

 

[Gavinmcc]

I am not sure Rivian really knows what that range from the Service Centers really is either. Hence the lack of more emails nailing down delivery windows.

I am hoping that those emails come soon, just for some small amount of peace of mind. I do know I am far from a service center So I am hoping they become more comfortable delivery cars outside of SC areas.

Or I could use my daughters address in Austin. But I prefer to keep my dealings with Rivian on the up and up...

 

[dleepnw]

A: Rivian's stated method of production is to build trucks to customer specs. Ie every truck has a destination before it hits the line.

B: There are many builds in the Shop that few if any Shop invitees want.

C: The Guides party line I've been given multiple times that "there are no shortages"

A + B + C = I call bullshit

If there were truly no parts shortages, why on earth would they build so many trucks without a customer in mind? Rivian would just continue to Build to Order. Makes zero logical sense.

They are pushing 21s and don't have enough underbody shields to go around.

totally agree.

especially the part about there being no shortages. first of all, that goes against everything the company has said publicly up till now and on earnings calls. supply chain constraints are the main reason they can't ramp production is what we;ve been told over and over again. its one thing for CS to say that but a Guide saying that also is pretty baffling. they really have little info and obviously don't pay attention to what customers are saying/seeing on SM.

 

[sickhews]

I think location does have an impact in a few areas. I think delivery capacity is obviously an issue, but also service capacity. I think Rivian is limiting the number of deliveries that are more than xx miles from a service center to avoid devoting resources to long distance towing for maintenance issues. The problem as I see it is that nobody really knows what "xx" is outside of Rivian. I personally think that in the VIN matching logic there is a filter for "is within xx of service center" as well as a specific filter for nearest service center that affects who gets that VIN assigned.

Actually I take it back, I think you’re exactly right about this. I really can’t wait to see how Rivian continues to play this out, especially in places like the south east where they have a huge gap in service center coverage.

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