Today is the day!?!?!?

[Dbeglor]

In what world is a "we'll surprise you with an $80,000 bill and a new truck of unknown specifications at an arbitrary time of our choosing" way of handling things just against a "personal belief/expectation of what should happen"? Does anyone think that that's how this should be handled?

There are now multiple people that were told they won't know when their truck would arrive until practically the date of delivery. There are multiple people that weren't given key vehicle information that was required in order to confirm purchase, like that guy that they wouldn't tell the payload to when whether or not the truck could haul his trailer is critical information for whether or not he even wanted to the truck. And in the end, the truck could not support his trailer and he wasted his time with the R1T and Rivian's processes.

This isn't like our normal complaints (arguably justified) about Rivian not providing a timeline for production or information about upcoming features and services (e.g. music apps, subscription details, etc.). These are complaints about people being assigned a person whose specific job is to finalize their order and provide all necessary information needed to know whether they want to finalize said order, as well as the information needed to plan your life (e.g. selling your car, securing financing, etc.). They've done neither of those things. What are they for?

I just can't fathom it being at all acceptable for Rivian to withhold information from people that they themselves have voluntarily committed to providing a major, life-effecting product to within days/weeks. Rivian calls you up to say that they have a truck for you and then when you ask when:

I don't believe that anybody has been asked to finalize an order without needed information (I don't see evidence that anybody has been asked to finalize an order period, other than employees). Plenty have surely been asking for more information from Guides without answers, but none are being asked to make a purchase by said Guide. And if they were, or are in the future, it's easy enough to just say sorry I'm not ready.

Clearly the Guides are still the blind leading the blind at this juncture though, I'll give you that.

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[PastyPilgrim]

I don't believe that anybody has been asked to finalize an order without needed information (I don't see evidence that anybody has been asked to finalize an order period, other than employees). Plenty have surely been asking for more information from Guides without answers, but none are being asked to make a purchase by said Guide. And if they were, or are in the future, it's easy enough to just say sorry I'm not ready.

Clearly the Guides are still the blind leading the blind at this juncture though, I'll give you that.

I think Rivian saying that they're going to send you a truck in mid October as was done for these two non-employees (and more) counts as "finalizing" an order. Well, according to godfodder Rivian isn't providing for a "finalization" stage, which is part of the problem.

As for the blind leading the blind, I'm not sure which is worse: that Rivian is purposefully keeping the guides in the dark so that they can't provide information to people in the final stages of a transaction, or that guides are willfully withholding information at Rivian's direction or otherwise. The latter seems more likely to me given that they werent providing a basic stat that is glued to the side of the vehicle and has likely been finalized for months or years.

He mentioned that he wouldn't even know when my truck would be ready until it was already built and ready to finish the final paperwork. Seems like I don't really even get a chance to finalize my build?

I also had a delivery estimate from my guide of middle of October, then end of October, then 'nothing to share' Just a week ago. That last email was quite frustrating, and I was surprised that they can have such uncertainty about delivery just a month before the estimated time and were even unable to say that they wouldn't make the end of October time line.

 

[stevenjl]

I think Rivian saying that they're going to send you a truck in mid October as was done for these two non-employees (and more) counts as "finalizing" an order. Well, according to godfodder Rivian isn't providing for a "finalization" stage, which is part of the problem.

As for the blind leading the blind, I'm not sure which is worse: that Rivian is purposefully keeping the guides in the dark so that they can't provide information to people in the final stages of a transaction, or that guides are willfully withholding information at Rivian's direction or otherwise. The latter seems more likely to me given that they werent providing a basic stat that is glued to the side of the vehicle and has likely been finalized for months or years.

My guide did tell me some time ago to work with him to make any changes to my configuration ASAP, and that changes later could cause delays. I've not paid yet, so I don't consider it 'finalized'. I would imagine they come off the line with similar configuration options, not personally assigned, so 'finalizing' would mean committing to purchase the configuration that you've said you wanted once it is ready. You're under no obligation to do that. There will be someone else to take it if you suddenly change your mind at that point and you'll be moved in the queue presumably.

Personally, I went in knowing reserving a pre-production truck would likely be like this. My guess is that they've found some issues and would rather delay than send out vehicles with QC issues as some other manufacturers have been accused of doing for early units.

(edit: and I was never told I would have a truck by any date, only that they estimated it would be by a date. There is a big difference.)

 

[St Bernard]

My guide did tell me some time ago to work with him to make any changes to my configuration ASAP, and that changes later could cause delays. I've not paid yet, so I don't consider it 'finalized'. I would imagine they come off the line with similar configuration options, not personally assigned, so 'finalizing' would mean committing to purchase the configuration that you've said you wanted once it is ready. You're under no obligation to do that. There will be someone else to take it if you suddenly change your mind at that point and you'll be moved in the queue presumably.

Personally, I went in knowing reserving a pre-production truck would likely be like this. My guess is that they've found some issues and would rather delay than send out vehicles with QC issues as some other manufacturers have been accused of doing for early units.

(edit: and I was never told I would have a truck by any date, only that they estimated it would be by a date. There is a big difference.)

If they have found some new issues why not communicate that info to their customers. Couldn’t they just say the RIS will begin delivering by May 2022 or Sept 2022. They must have some idea within a 3-9 month window. But instead they just keep saying deliveries have already started last Sept.

 

[Dbeglor]

I think Rivian saying that they're going to send you a truck in mid October as was done for these two non-employees (and more) counts as "finalizing" an order. Well, according to godfodder Rivian isn't providing for a "finalization" stage, which is part of the problem.

Come on, you don't truly believe that. A vague delivery estimation and subject to change several months in advance is not finalizing an order. You literally cannot finalize an order until you accept payment. That's how transactions work. Has anyone been asked to make payment on the vehicle (beyond the refundable deposit)?

 

[eggpaul]

I keep thinking the same thing. There is literally NOTHING that I have learned from my Guide that I didn't already know (including delays). I email him every single week with questions, and he has yet to answer a single one with any level of certainty. For having gone through extensive training before taking on the role of Guide, there sure is a frightening lack of knowledge on the 1-ish product they sell...

Oh forgot to say. How dare you have any issues with Rivian. You should cancel your order asap.

 

[Dbeglor]

(edit: and I was never told I would have a truck by any date, only that they estimated it would be by a date. There is a big difference.)

^^This is the important detail that many are hurriedly overlooking.

 

[eggpaul]

Come on, you don't truly believe that. A vague delivery estimation and subject to change several months in advance is not finalizing an order. You literally cannot finalize an order until you accept payment. That's how transactions work. Has anyone been asked to make payment on the vehicle (beyond the refundable deposit)?

maybe you missed it, but in this thread @godfodder0901 was told by his guide "I won't know when you will receive your truck until it's built and then we can finalize your order".

 

[Canthoney]

That's still quite a leap. If you remain rational and unemotional, there is no reason to believe yet that they aren't on schedule with their formally announced plans. At a macro level, they have communicated two things regarding production and deliveries - that they would start in Sept/Oct and that they would finish LE by end of Spring. They achieved the first and there is no evidence yet to believe they won't achieve the latter. An extremely small number of individuals received estimated delivery dates that will not happen, but that is just noise in the grand scheme.

Pretty much every gripe and complaint is related to things not happening according to people's personal beliefs and expectations of how they would/should happen. Calls for better communication are coming from those that want Rivian to specifically address the failure to meet expectations of individuals that they were never aware of. It's really fascinating to witness the madness. It's a frenzy and environment of our own making, as if it were not for the forum, all would be blissfully unaware of scores of novice forecasts, predictions and criticisms.

I'd liken this whole scene to that of onlookers watching a performer try to balance several spinning plates while juggling and riding a unicylce. There are those that watch patiently and appreciate the difficulty, planning and preparation involved, along with the courage to get up there and attempt it in front of the world. If something were dropped, they would still applaud the attempt and be rooting for success. Then there are those who point and snicker at every wobble, delighting in every glimpse of possible failure because they never had the competency and/or cajones to do anything meaningful with their own lives and they just generally love to see the negative in everything in this world.

I’m not standing off to the sidelines hoping that they fail and reveling in somebody’s failure. I want them to improve. Their communication throughout this entire process has been one of the only weak parts I have seen, everything else has been great. I’m still excited to receive my truck, but this needs to improve. I hope that they grow and become a huge competitor in the industry. And wish them nothing but the best

 

[Dbeglor]

maybe you missed it, but in this thread @godfodder0901 was told by his guide "I won't know when you will receive your truck until it's built and then we can finalize your order".

Right...and? Like I said no one has finalized their order.

 

[Ladiver]

^^This is the important detail that many are hurriedly overlooking.

I did not overlook that. What I have an issue with is that up to a week ago, @stevenjl was told an estimate of the end of October. How a company consistently misses its deadlines is not the problem. The problem is stringing along customers while knowing you missed the target. I am sure Rivian knew 2-3 weeks (or more) ago that their production wasn't ramping as fast as planned and they were not going to meet the estimated deliveries.

Rivian could have easily used the fire at the plant as smoke and mirrors to hide the fact that they are struggling. A simple press release stating that the fire was under investigation and they will be delaying deliveries until they have further information. This would have bought them a month or two before we started questioning the results of the investigation as well as resuming deliveries. In that time, they should have another 30-60 employee vehicles delivered and getting a little closer to other deliveries.

 

[godfodder0901]

^^This is the important detail that many are hurriedly overlooking.

You are right that we weren't given specific delivery dates, but I was absolutely told I would receive delivery 'by the end of October'. Not a specific date, but definitely a hard deadline that they set, they broke, but they did not communicate or even confirm the miss. Even when I called them out on it, they still wouldn't confirm. I'll talk to my guide again tomorrow but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he still doesn't acknowledge a delay.

As others have said many times, I don't mind a delay as long as it means a more suited vehicle. The only issue I have ever had with the company or the process is the inability to properly communicate. This is manifested not only in a void of meaningful production updates, but also a complete inability to confirm or acknowledge information that is painfully obvious to everyone.

I'm still fully on-board team Rivian, but this communication strategy is getting old. As is answering the question "where is your Rivian?!?!?" every 5 damn minutes....

 

[Ladiver]

@godfodder0901 Did you get your truck today?

Sorry, not funny

 

[godfodder0901]

@godfodder0901 Did you get your truck today?

Sorry, not funny

It would be a lot funnier if it were the first time I heard it today!!!

 

[Shzeph]

I'll talk to my guide again tomorrow but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he still doesn't acknowledge a delay.

I mean, there’s bad communication, and then there’s saying “No no, you’re still scheduled for the end of October” in November.

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