Here is the simple point where we are not in agreement. You believe that Tesla is doing something wrong by having current customers becoming product advocates. Any good marketing person will tell you that the best source of new customers is existing customer referrals. Now dealerships routinely give a gift card of $50 or something like that for any referral. Tesla may have done things wrong, but today if a Tesla customer recommends their car, it is based an genuine appreciation for the product, not based on a $50 gift card.
I had a friend who bought a Ford SUV recently. When I asked him about it, he told me why he preferred that car but made it clear that it was based on his particular needs and. It was not love at first sight, it was very matter of fact. On the other hands, we joke that when we have a Tesla owner in say social event, we should not get them started as they do not stop. These owners show enthusiasm, an emotional connection, a feeling that they are a part of something bigger. You have to experience it to understand it. And let us be very clear, these people do not expect me to use their name for referrals, they know I already have a reservation and that I know to do it on my own. They just seem to want to encourage me to take the plunge.
Let me tell you that I joined this discussion board being a Tesla skeptic. I wanted a good reason why I should buy a non Tesla BEV. I went and test drove these cars. I dealt with these sales people. And I came back frustrated as these sales people were only interested in getting me to sign on the dotted line. They either had poor product knowledge or they felt that they could use FUD tactics to scare me into avoiding Tesla. Even as much as 2 weeks back I was told that I could order a Tesla Model 3 and wait for months even for the LR model. One person told me that Tesla owners were complaining that doors were falling off hours after taking delivery. I asked him for some confirmation and he lost interest in me.
I do not own a Tesla, but more research I do, the more I like the product and strategy. I do not appreciate everything Elon says and does. He may not be person I want to have a beer with. I also think he needs to give up some of this operational responsibilities. But to give the devil his due, he has done something I can appreciate it. There is an intense loyalty to Tesla from their customers. No other brand has that. Say what you want, it is a cult, it is based on lies, it smoke and mirrors... That still does not change the fact.
Both are true.
. As you may have understood by now, grammar is not my strong suite, so is there a technical term for this? Would this fall under the definition of a pun or is there some other term to describe it?
