Rivian R1T Frustration

[Rinzler017]

Long story short - Posting this just for awareness... to all who hopefully don't have the unfortunate experience I've had so far.
I picked up my White R1T from Maryland and noted a delivery some door misalignments and two areas (Tailgate and Rear Drivers Corner) where my paint was bubbling up. Upon further inspection that night I discovered more areas with bubbling including the top sides of my roof in the rear, separated silver trim piece under the front bumper as well as a missing plastic screw.

Reached out to Rivian and was contacted by a Regional Manager was polite and gave me two options, replace the vehicle or have Rivian attempt to fix all of the issues. I initially considered having them repair everything but asked for a replacement. Fast forward several days and after a few conversations with my guide I'm granted shop access. I don't see much inventory the first day but wound up selecting an EL-Cap. So far so good. Pricing shown on the vehicle reflects my same pre-march increase price.

Next morning, I receive the steps email and second one stating that my vehicle is ready for delivery. I come to learn later that its already in Capitol Heights Maryland. I begin working on the steps and immediately notice that my pricing has increased to the price hike up amount... what the heck?

I reach out to my guide and the regional manager who after two days of "seeing what they could do" tells me that if I want another Rivian I won't be able to keep the preMarch pricing that I had for my current White R1T. I write to my guide saying others who have returned a vehicle before 7 days and 1k miles have been able to keep their price. She ignores my message and offers to have me return the vehicle or just have it repaired. Regional manager also apologies and tells me I can return the car, pay the now normal prices or have it repaired which now he mentions will probably take a long time. The next day Rivian sends a mobile tech with the manager of the service center who offers me rivian center cap pieces for my 20 road tires as consolation for my experience. However, he again reiterates that it will probably take a while for the body shop to address the pain issues on my car(waiting to hear that they will need to repaint the whole car). Once thats complete then he says they will address my panel issues/alignment/tailgate stamping issue. Wouldn't they fix the panel stuff first before sending it to a body shop in case they have to repaint sections?


Really getting the impression that Rivian wants me to go away, and they know I don't want to pay the higher price to get another Truck..
Overall, so far this has been a poor experience. Anyone else with pre-march pricing return their truck and get a new one at the same price structure?
Attaching few photos of this gem

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[CheezyNachos]

Inexcusable.

This situation is not your fault and the condition of that vehicle is unacceptable. They should honor a replacement with the pre-increase pricing.

It sucks, but if it was me and they wouldn't budge I would return the vehicle, get my money back, and cease to consider Rivian as an option going forward.

 

[Thedude]

The paperwork doesn’t say return and be given a new truck, it says return and receive a refund. Rivian doesn’t need to offer you access to a new truck at full price and a jump of the wait list. Any other automaker has similar policies if you decline delivery or exercise the return option if there is one. They either fix the vehicle or let you buy a new one.

I would still try hard to be given a a new truck at original pricing given that this truck should not have made it past pre-delivery inspections in the first place.

 

[Rinzler017]

Inexcusable.

This situation is your fault and the condition of that vehicle is unacceptable. They should honor a replacement with the pre-increase pricing.

It sucks, but if it was me and they wouldn't budge I would return the vehicle, get my money back, and cease to consider Rivian as an option going forward.

Agreed I should have spent more time at the delivery center and rejected it…

 

[CheezyNachos]

The paperwork doesn’t say return and be given a new truck, it says return and receive a refund. Rivian doesn’t need to offer you access to a new truck at full price and a jump of the wait list.

There is doing what you are obligated to do and then there is doing the right thing.

This situation is not the fault of the customer. It is unreasonable to expect someone to accept a substandard product or pay an extra $15-20k for the same vehicle.

 

[Guy]

The paperwork doesn’t say return and be given a new truck, it says return and receive a refund. Rivian doesn’t need to offer you access to a new truck at full price and a jump of the wait list. Any other automaker has similar policies if you decline delivery or exercise the return option if there is one. They either fix the vehicle or let you buy a new one.

I would still try hard to be given a a new truck at original pricing given that this truck should not have made it past pre-delivery inspections in the first place.

Most manufacturers don’t have a $15-18k price increase either in one go so that makes this more sensitive.

 

[computertom]

Do not accept the truck that needs to be repaired. Hard pass. Return. If they won’t let you back in to get another from the shop, walk. It’s just a truck, and frankly, that they would let that leave the factory is further proof they have some real work yet to do.

 

[COdogman]

Most manufacturers don’t have a $15-18k price increase either in one go so that makes this more sensitive.

That is not true. The Lightning price has gone up like 4 times in the last year alone. Prices for all vehicles are up 12-18%. Add even more for EVs.

Car price trends
At the beginning of the past decade, average new car prices increased less than 3% annually until the COVID-19 pandemic began. Between 2019 and 2020, prices rose 5%. Then, average new car prices spiked — by 17.2% — between 2020 and 2021. Similarly, the average car payment for new vehicles rose 11.8% to $644 in 2021.

Used cars are following similar trends as new vehicles. Average monthly car payments on used vehicles rose 18.2% over the same period to $488.

https://www.thezebra.com/resources/driving/average-car-price/

 

[Guy]

That is not true. The Lightning price has gone up like 4 times in the last year alone. Prices for all vehicles are up 12-18%. Add even more for EVs.

Agreed with the Lightening. What I meant was for ICE vehicles. They have not gone up that much in just a year.

 

[CrazyOne]

I wouldn't accept it. It should stay as loaner. Escalate as far high as you can. Or take your money elsewhere.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Inexcusable.

This situation is your fault and the condition of that vehicle is unacceptable.

Did you intend to write, “This situation is NOT your fault…” or are you really blaming @Rinzler017 for this?

 

[Redline]

Out of curiosity, if you reject that at delivery, do you just get bumped back in the waiting line? I understand its gotta be hard to say no day of.

 

[computertom]

Most manufacturers don't have increases this big, but fancy special trucks definitely do. We paid $79,680 for the Bronco Raptor in my profile pic The same truck today, one model year and not even 10 months after I took delivery, MSRP's for $98,570. Prices are bonkers. That's a 23.7% increase. Bonkers.

I spend a lot of time in contracts for work and frankly I can see Rivian's side of this, but that truck they sold him is just not up to snuff. Get a lifelong customer or don't. At what cost? It's not like R1T's are flying off the shelf anymore. How they would not give him access to the shop at pre-price hike prices is beyond me.

 

[Riptide]

Long story short - Posting this just for awareness... to all who hopefully don't have the unfortunate experience I've had so far.
I picked up my White R1T from Maryland and noted a delivery some door misalignments and two areas (Tailgate and Rear Drivers Corner) where my paint was bubbling up. Upon further inspection that night I discovered more areas with bubbling including the top sides of my roof in the rear, separated silver trim piece under the front bumper as well as a missing plastic screw.

Reached out to Rivian and was contacted by a Regional Manager was polite and gave me two options, replace the vehicle or have Rivian attempt to fix all of the issues. I initially considered having them repair everything but asked for a replacement. Fast forward several days and after a few conversations with my guide I'm granted shop access. I don't see much inventory the first day but wound up selecting an EL-Cap. So far so good. Pricing shown on the vehicle reflects my same pre-march increase price.

Next morning, I receive the steps email and second one stating that my vehicle is ready for delivery. I come to learn later that its already in Capitol Heights Maryland. I begin working on the steps and immediately notice that my pricing has increased to the price hike up amount... what the heck?

I reach out to my guide and the regional manager who after two days of "seeing what they could do" tells me that if I want another Rivian I won't be able to keep the preMarch pricing that I had for my current White R1T. I write to my guide saying others who have returned a vehicle before 7 days and 1k miles have been able to keep their price. She ignores my message and offers to have me return the vehicle or just have it repaired. Regional manager also apologies and tells me I can return the car, pay the now normal prices or have it repaired which now he mentions will probably take a long time. The next day Rivian sends a mobile tech with the manager of the service center who offers me rivian center cap pieces for my 20 road tires as consolation for my experience. However, he again reiterates that it will probably take a while for the body shop to address the pain issues on my car(waiting to hear that they will need to repaint the whole car). Once thats complete then he says they will address my panel issues/alignment/tailgate stamping issue. Wouldn't they fix the panel stuff first before sending it to a body shop in case they have to repaint sections?


Really getting the impression that Rivian wants me to go away, and they know I don't want to pay the higher price to get another Truck..
Overall, so far this has been a poor experience. Anyone else with pre-march pricing return their truck and get a new one at the same price structure?
Attaching few photos of this gem

It would be really unfortunate if Rivian is trying to dump returned or questionable units onto Pre-Price Hike customers. Take it or leave it(and pay!) ?

 

[Rinzler017]

It would be really unfortunate if Rivian is trying to dump returned or questionable units onto Pre-Price Hike customers. Take it or leave it(and pay!) ?

That is what I’m starting to wonder..

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