Deposits down on the new RAMCharger?

[Sobiloff]

I agree it's kind of frustrating not to have more news, but I understand Ram's priorities, and I can probably agree with them too. At least I could before the whole Middle East war broke out. Oil prices are going through the roof, and there is no rapid end in sight. I think the EREV is going to be a lot more popular than the Hemi if they can get it priced right. (I sold my Raptor for an EV!)

I've heard way less about Ford's EREV, so I don't know hardly anything about it. I haven't heard what engine it might use for a generator, or even really concrete timelines for delivery, so it seems like Ram is out in front there.

 

[jasaero91]

I agree it's kind of frustrating not to have more news, but I understand Ram's priorities, and I can probably agree with them too. At least I could before the whole Middle East war broke out. Oil prices are going through the roof, and there is no rapid end in sight. I think the EREV is going to be a lot more popular than the Hemi if they can get it priced right. (I sold my Raptor for an EV!)

I've heard way less about Ford's EREV, so I don't know hardly anything about it. I haven't heard what engine it might use for a generator, or even really concrete timelines for delivery, so it seems like Ram is out in front there.

I sorta get the priorities...but even if it's not a priority they could include the folks that paid the deposit to be part of this insider marketing effort into some sorta events and info when they are releasing information on the vehicle. Even if it was just optional stuff dealers were given minimal cash and some sorta information packages with a few getting to host prototypes or something small. Could even use the deposit money levels as some threshold on what to spend on such things. The problem has been basically acting like the marketing "insider+" program got shutdown with the EV. Some of us are excited and would have attended events and such.

The Ford EREV is basically a reaction to the BEV market going south with incentives ending and isn't even defined yet so much as it's decided they'll go that direction in next gen and kill the Lightening. Probably more is already on paper and defined with the HD for EREV as I think that was at least part of the plan all along. But both are still a WAYS off. Wouldn't be surprised if the standard half ton one just gets handed down to the half ton with maybe a smaller generator/engine paired to it sized more for it's towing capacity. These seem to get sized by what is needed to keep things going on emptyish battery towing up mountain passes without worring about slow down from lack of power.

 

[van the man]

I've had my REV deposit down for 3 years and 4 months. Today I had to finally break down and buy a used 1500 to replace my old 08 2500. That means they'll release the REV tomorrow. Ya'll are welcome Keeping my deposit down and hopefully using this truck as a bridge till the REV comes out.

 

[El Chorizo]

I've had my REV deposit down for 3 years and 4 months. Today I had to finally break down and buy a used 1500 to replace my old 08 2500. That means they'll release the REV tomorrow. Ya'll are welcome Keeping my deposit down and hopefully using this truck as a bridge till the REV comes out.

Man that's a long time. Reminds me of a Big Lebowski pinball machine I ordered. It took about 6 years but I finally got it. #53 in the world I think.... You were very patient, no one can blame you!

 

[cgseller]

I never thought of the Insider as a "deposit" but rather a slot in line for purchase and may offer some kind of first group badge, certificate, swag, etc. I suppose that is kind of what a deposit is but since it was not a shipping vehicle yet I suppose I didn't think of it that way.



Either way - it was a complete consumer relationship blunder. Could have really been a brand builder, consumer interest generator, but it was not invested in and left to rot. Now it is more of a liability than a value builder. Meanwhile, leadership changes have left it languishing.

I realize mistakes are made all the time - by all of us - own them and move forward instead of letting the salt slowly rust the integrity...

 

[El Chorizo]

I never thought of the Insider as a "deposit" but rather a slot in line for purchase and may offer some kind of first group badge, certificate, swag, etc. I suppose that is kind of what a deposit is but since it was not a shipping vehicle yet I suppose I didn't think of it that way.



Either way - it was a complete consumer relationship blunder. Could have really been a brand builder, consumer interest generator, but it was not invested in and left to rot. Now it is more of a liability than a value builder. Meanwhile, leadership changes have left it languishing.

I realize mistakes are made all the time - but all of us - own them and move forward instead of letting the salt slowly rust the integrity...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[jasaero91]

I never thought of the Insider as a "deposit" but rather a slot in line for purchase and may offer some kind of first group badge, certificate, swag, etc. I suppose that is kind of what a deposit is but since it was not a shipping vehicle yet I suppose I didn't think of it that way.



Either way - it was a complete consumer relationship blunder. Could have really been a brand builder, consumer interest generator, but it was not invested in and left to rot. Now it is more of a liability than a value builder. Meanwhile, leadership changes have left it languishing.

I realize mistakes are made all the time - by all of us - own them and move forward instead of letting the salt slowly rust the integrity...

Totally agree. It does seem we are close to release now...so I am quite curious what they do with us in the end here? It's obviously been way less than we were promised since we probably should have got to ride and drive and who knows what all else already based on the original intentions...but would be nice if they at least tinkered with deal allocation type stuff a bit as they let us put our orders in where we want so we don't have to hunt down dealers with early allocations to get early deliveries. Would at least be a small bone thrown at us even if there never was a ride and drive or anything.

 

[cgseller]

@jasaero you are so right. I can think of an array of things that could build advocates while still keeping the company safe. Your idea of Ride and Drive events is perfect. Being able to custom order your vehicle on day one instead of getting stuck behind dealer stock orders -or- being able to jump the line in the product scheduling to some degree. Being able to "drive"for a week from the dealer lot as an insider from an EV dealer if you bring your existing vehicle in for service. (i.e. gotta give something to the dealer too). Special "insider" icon on the vehicle at no charge ($100 time value of money is worth maybe $107 now and can cover some of that).

 

[jasaero91]

@jasaero you are so right. I can think of an array of things that could build advocates while still keeping the company safe. Your idea of Ride and Drive events is perfect. Being able to custom order your vehicle on day one instead of getting stuck behind dealer stock orders -or- being able to jump the line in the product scheduling to some degree. Being able to "drive"for a week from the dealer lot as an insider from an EV dealer if you bring your existing vehicle in for service. (i.e. gotta give something to the dealer too). Special "insider" icon on the vehicle at no charge ($100 time value of money is worth maybe $107 now and can cover some of that).

Yeah...at this point I am not asking for a refund because I get the impression they want all of us to just ask for refunds so they don't have to follow through on something that seems something like what was promised...haha. Basically letting them keep my money to hold their feet to the fire on some level since they dreamed up the program to get the $100 from us. I want to force them to execute it or just make them give me my money back without me even asking if they decide to do nothing with the program similar to the promises.

But for sure something to work around my most convenient dealers allocations and just get me an order and delivery based on my Insider+ priority would be worth $100 to me so I don't have to invest time figuring out which dealers will maybe have allocations first when I have already paid to get to the front of the line as the ONE thing left that was promised.