Open Letter to RJ

[Resolute]

Dear RJ

Many of us are conflicted with what to do next. We have convinced ourselves and our loved ones to commit to a vehicle from a new company sight unseen. We have evangelized to our friends and families as to who and what Rivian is. In my case, I continuously rationalize what will be the second largest purchase of my life – of a depreciating asset from a start-up that has repeatedly missed self-imposed schedule milestones.

But we have bought in. Not to a concept car, but to the idea of keeping the world adventurous forever.

I don’t pretend to understand the difficulty of building a new company and designing a new car. We Riviots understand that those challenges are exasperated by a global pandemic, supply chain issues, and inflationary pressures. I want Rivian to succeed. And to succeed, Rivian needs to make money. And if you need to raise prices to do it, I begrudgingly understand.

However, there are things within Rivian’s control that Rivian needs to do better. Communication being numbers one, two, and three.

I understand and agree that you do not owe us early adopters anything from a business transaction standpoint outside of what is in the fine print. But you do need us (and we need you) if we are going to meet your company’s mission.

Sincerely

August 2019 Reservation Holder

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[kyunam]

Very well said!, especially,

"But we have bought in. Not to a concept car, but to the idea of keeping the world adventurous forever."

Rivian, if you can't communicate, what good is it that you all do?

Dear RJ

Many of us are conflicted with what to do next. We have convinced ourselves and our loved ones to commit to a vehicle from a new company sight unseen. We have evangelized to our friends and families as to who and what Rivian is. In my case, I continuously rationalize what will be the second largest purchase of my life – of a depreciating asset from a start-up that has repeatedly missed self-imposed schedule milestones.

But we have bought in. Not to a concept car, but to the idea of keeping the world adventurous forever.

I don’t pretend to understand the difficulty of building a new company and designing a new car. We Riviots understand that those challenges are exasperated by a global pandemic, supply chain issues, and inflationary pressures. I want Rivian to succeed. And to succeed, Rivian needs to make money. And if you need to raise prices to do it, I begrudgingly understand.

However, there are things within Rivian’s control that Rivian needs to do better. Communication being numbers one, two, and three.

I understand and agree that you do not owe us early adopters anything from a business transaction standpoint outside of what is in the fine print. But you do need us (and we need you) if we are going to meet your company’s mission.

Sincerely

August 2019 Reservation Holder

 

[moosehead]

Me thinks that would be the nicest correspondence that RJ sees this week.

It’s more of a love letter than a counter to the Donkey Punch that Rivian delivered to its early depositors.

 

[E.S.]

Me thinks that would be the nicest correspondence that RJ sees this week.

Yet RJ will never see it because it was posted here instead of directly to him. Right idea, wrong location.

 

[SeaGeo]

Dear RJ

Many of us are conflicted with what to do next. We have convinced ourselves and our loved ones to commit to a vehicle from a new company sight unseen. We have evangelized to our friends and families as to who and what Rivian is. In my case, I continuously rationalize what will be the second largest purchase of my life – of a depreciating asset from a start-up that has repeatedly missed self-imposed schedule milestones.

But we have bought in. Not to a concept car, but to the idea of keeping the world adventurous forever.

I don’t pretend to understand the difficulty of building a new company and designing a new car. We Riviots understand that those challenges are exasperated by a global pandemic, supply chain issues, and inflationary pressures. I want Rivian to succeed. And to succeed, Rivian needs to make money. And if you need to raise prices to do it, I begrudgingly understand.

However, there are things within Rivian’s control that Rivian needs to do better. Communication being numbers one, two, and three.

I understand and agree that you do not owe us early adopters anything from a business transaction standpoint outside of what is in the fine print. But you do need us (and we need you) if we are going to meet your company’s mission.

Sincerely

August 2019 Reservation Holder

Send that over to customer service. and maybe @RJ and Rivian on twitter.

 

[E.S.]

Send that over to customer service. and maybe @RJ and Rivian on twitter.

^^^ THIS. For the love of whatever any of you believe in. DO THIS!! ^^^

 

[SeaGeo]

^^^ THIS. For the love of whatever any of you believe in. THIS!! ^^^

I appreciate seeing it, but give them feedback directly too. And please people, don't take it out on customer service. They're innocent bystanders.

 

[kanundrum]

 

[_evtrk]

Dear RJ

Many of us are conflicted with what to do next. We have convinced ourselves and our loved ones to commit to a vehicle from a new company sight unseen. We have evangelized to our friends and families as to who and what Rivian is. In my case, I continuously rationalize what will be the second largest purchase of my life – of a depreciating asset from a start-up that has repeatedly missed self-imposed schedule milestones.

But we have bought in. Not to a concept car, but to the idea of keeping the world adventurous forever.

I don’t pretend to understand the difficulty of building a new company and designing a new car. We Riviots understand that those challenges are exasperated by a global pandemic, supply chain issues, and inflationary pressures. I want Rivian to succeed. And to succeed, Rivian needs to make money. And if you need to raise prices to do it, I begrudgingly understand.

However, there are things within Rivian’s control that Rivian needs to do better. Communication being numbers one, two, and three.

I understand and agree that you do not owe us early adopters anything from a business transaction standpoint outside of what is in the fine print. But you do need us (and we need you) if we are going to meet your company’s mission.

Sincerely

August 2019 Reservation Holder

very well said except that i think they do owe us something. we have given them money to hold onto and make profits off of interest for 3 years, while we wait and wait and wait as deadlines pass one by one, instead of working hard to get us early reservation holders our vehicles, they have been distracted with IPO's and trying to open a second factory and working on possibly a third overseas, we are part of the reason whey they have made billions with the IPO and after, we have been the free advertisement that has helped push the brand and vehicles out to the publics eyes through forums and youtube and facebook, and instagram, through the word of mouth to our friends and families, we pre-order holders deserve not only an explanation, but also an apology, this kind of price increase just as large amount of deliveries are about to start is an insult. especially when they have been saying interview after interview how the majority of launch edition parts have already been ordered and they are stocked up and only just a few components are really what are holding back ramp up. I hope this hasn't been planned since before the IPO because they can have some serious SEC and legal consequences.

 

[Davethadog]

Some people are great at rearing cows to pasture, others are better at bringing them to slaughter. Now that they've got a product and a roadmap, maybe it is time for RJ to step down and to bring in someone who can execute on the vision.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

Just like most, I sent Rivian an email recently which will likely fall short of any sort of meaningful attention. I did my best to convey that this was a huge misstep and they have days to a week to keep the vast majority of us sitting on the fence right now.

Honesty, the majority of the excitement I managed to retain for the product over the years has been so eroded I don't know they'll ever recover it.

 

[LoneStar]

Rivian - hire the OP here for V.P. of Communications and principal RJ confidant

 

[Bobthebuilder352]

I appreciate seeing it, but give them feedback directly too. And please people, don't take it out on customer service. They're innocent bystanders.

Rivian directly reads these forums. Proof is in an employee car getting a less than perfect review and a takedown notice comes.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

@kanundrum i may have used your photo from another reputable forum in this email to Rivian. Also, forgive the fragmentation etc as I was working periodically during its creation.

My email to rivian

"Evening,

Having had a day to sit on the information I was confronted with yesterday and to say the least it was unacceptable.

I was always aware a price increase was an option under the terms of the the preorder agreement, but perhaps naively, didn't think it would be used. I understand inflating costs from suppliers etc, but the way this whole thing was handled, especially as it pertained to early supporters, myself among them, was a perfect example of how not to build a brand and for lack of a better example, a Fuck You screamed at us from California/Normal because "We don't really care".

WE have been with you guys through the roller-coaster ride of getting to production, covid, and the delays as a consequence. Add to that the kick to what amounts to the back of the line with an uncertain '23 timeline for my configuration (still no confirmation of if I'm in the first or second half of that year) all still giving it the "it's okay, they are doing what they can to get through this and make things right for all of us" rebuttal to people on forums etc considering cancellations. To then feel like all of that amounted to nothing with regards to your early supporters with this recent move.

Our group have been some of the most energetic, Rivian fan-boys(and gals), going around to whomever would listen about the product, the ethos etc. That's something you can't buy, especially when the vast majority of us have yet to either see or drive the product. I know my wife is just wanting the thing in our driveway so I stop watching videos about it.

And.... here we are. A product and company that we all believed in and stood by for years, despite the inconsistent communications, given what amounts to a shit sandwich and being told it tastes good.

An amendment, or perhaps better approach should have been a sliding scale of price increase, where early preorder holders regardless of configuration were shielded, or at least paid a lesser increase that varied according to the date of their initial preorder, ramping up to full increase for anyone that placed an order as of the email.

I know of a great deal of others, like myself that are waiting for some sort of retraction, or fix to this disaster over the next few days/week. If no retraction or mends is made to those of us long term supporters (a mug won't cut it) then you're looking at another wave of cancellations and the loyalty blow back from not only them, but every person they interact with.

This video sums up the feeling most of us have right now.

If you take my email rant with a grain of salt, so be it. But if something isn't done, the damage becomes permanent and you lose people for good. Lots of this on forums right now btw.

Please make it right."

 

[kanundrum]

@kanundrum i may have used your photo from another reputable forum in this email to Rivian. Also, forgive the fragmentation etc as I was working periodically during its creation.

My email to rivian

"Evening,

Having had a day to sit on the information I was confronted with yesterday and to say the least it was unacceptable.

I was always aware a price increase was an option under the terms of the the preorder agreement, but perhaps naively, didn't think it would be used. I understand inflating costs from suppliers etc, but the way this whole thing was handled, especially as it pertained to early supporters, myself among them, was a perfect example of how not to build a brand and for lack of a better example, a Fuck You screamed at us from California/Normal because "We don't really care".

WE have been with you guys through the roller-coaster ride of getting to production, covid, and the delays as a consequence. Add to that the kick to what amounts to the back of the line with an uncertain '23 timeline for my configuration (still no confirmation of if I'm in the first or second half of that year) all still giving it the "it's okay, they are doing what they can to get through this and make things right for all of us" rebuttal to people on forums etc considering cancellations. To then feel like all of that amounted to nothing with regards to your early supporters with this recent move.

Our group have been some of the most energetic, Rivian fan-boys(and gals), going around to whomever would listen about the product, the ethos etc. That's something you can't buy, especially when the vast majority of us have yet to either see or drive the product. I know my wife is just wanting the thing in our driveway so I stop watching videos about it.

And.... here we are. A product and company that we all believed in and stood by for years, despite the inconsistent communications, given what amounts to a shit sandwich and being told it tastes good.

An amendment, or perhaps better approach should have been a sliding scale of price increase, where early preorder holders regardless of configuration were shielded, or at least paid a lesser increase that varied according to the date of their initial preorder, ramping up to full increase for anyone that placed an order as of the email.

I know of a great deal of others, like myself that are waiting for some sort of retraction, or fix to this disaster over the next few days/week. If no retraction or mends is made to those of us long term supporters (a mug won't cut it) then you're looking at another wave of cancellations and the loyalty blow back from not only them, but every person they interact with.

This video sums up the feeling most of us have right now.

If you take my email rant with a grain of salt, so be it. But if something isn't done, the damage becomes permanent and you lose people for good. Lots of this on forums right now btw.

Please make it right."

Man way to go hahahaha

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