Lotus 3rd Phone Call

[Dommo]

Received my third call yesterday for September delivery. (11th July deposit) Changed my mind to Magma from Nimbus (both with black pack) at the very last minute after switching back-and-forth a gazillion times on the configrator before confirming with Lotus by end of day, to secure my slot. Now just gonna sit back, relax and wait for the reviews.

Congrats!

What time on the 11th was your first deposit done?

 

[eclat2emira]

DVLA certificate for my reg just arrived...

EMI3RA (EMIERA) reads phonetically the same as EMIRA, V for V6 of course!

 

[TomE]

Nice! That's very close to one of the plates I bought. I've got two on retention certificates and will make a final decision in May.

 

[eclat2emira]

Nice! That's very close to one of the plates I bought. I've got two on retention certificates and will make a final decision in May.

I bet you've picked a nice one (or two!) Tom, I was too slow off the mark to get an "11" number but happy enough with how 13 works.

 

[Justcallmemac]

Congrats!

What time on the 11th was your first deposit done?

06:47am Dog wondered what the hell was going on.

 

[Dommo]

06:47am Dog wondered what the hell was going on.

. Nicely done! I was hoping you were going to say around 2 pm so I’d know I must be getting my call next

 

[bbpxbbpx]

My first deposit was made on 27-Jul. Will be a long and anxious wait.

 

[andrew6382]

I just had a very exciting phone call with Lotus to say that my original 2nd deposit configuration has just become available for June delivery and would I like to accept my original configuration in order to receive the car in June. I had emailed previously to change from black to silver wheels. Given I placed my first deposit on 17th July I wasn’t expecting delivery until early part of next year. Iv decided to go with the black wheels in order to get the car in June! Happy days! For reference my config is Nimbus with black pack so I think the black wheels will still look awesome. Also I did ask the question regarding keeping the silver wheels but Lotus explained that all the materials for the first batch of orders have already been set so it was a take it or leave it type of scenario.

Am so pleased for you.... its wonderful.... But erm..... and dont shout me down..... well perhaps a little.... But what about all those that posted deposits before that date..... maybe they should of been given the option to change to that config that has become availble ? it might of been some ones second config ? sorry..... Eddie.... dont worry I would of said yes....am not in any way down on you....
Clearly this is not the only time the issue is going to come up..... perhaps email all those with deposits placed around the same date, matching config or not let them have a chance ? just think its a more amicable way
Shout me down if you like..... not the first time

 

[Yachtie]

Looks like delivery is about one month later per day of Goodwood. My guess is this will ease as deposits per day must have dropped a lot post Goodwood.

 

[TomE]

Am so pleased for you.... its wonderful.... But erm..... and dont shout me down..... well perhaps a little.... But what about all those that posted deposits before that date..... maybe they should of been given the option to change to that config that has become availble ? it might of been some ones second config ? sorry..... Eddie.... dont worry I would of said yes....am not in any way down on you....
Clearly this is not the only time the issue is going to come up..... perhaps email all those with deposits placed around the same date, matching config or not let them have a chance ? just think its a more amicable way
Shout me down if you like..... not the first time

I think Lotus have taken a reasonable approach. People earlier in the queue had already submitted config which they knew was final/locked. So for Lotus to work down the queue until they found someone with the identical spec and then shuffle them up into the empty cancellation makes sense.

I appreciate (and said earlier) that some people might see this as queue jumping. If Lotus had tried to re-stack production to move everyone up one place they'd have to update all the June (and probably July) inventories and all the supplier schedules too. This is why they're working through the deposits to get the specs for July-Sept deliveries firmed up and component volumes and delivery timings nailed down. They can't stockpile parts for many months of production - 100 cars a week is a lot of parts.

 

[andrew6382]

I think Lotus have taken a reasonable approach. People earlier in the queue had already submitted config which they knew was final/locked. So for Lotus to work down the queue until they found someone with the identical spec and then shuffle them up into the empty cancellation makes sense.

I appreciate (and said earlier) that some people might see this as queue jumping. If Lotus had tried to re-stack production to move everyone up one place they'd have to update all the June (and probably July) inventories and all the supplier schedules too. This is why they're working through the deposits to get the specs for July-Sept deliveries firmed up and component volumes and delivery timings nailed down. They can't stockpile parts for many months of production - 100 cars a week is a lot of parts.

There are some with 11th july deposit date, still not been called to lock in because the still dont have a delivery date. think they should of been given the option. and exept a change config to get the car early. did not mention they need to regig..... just offer the car as its config is..... to those around 11th deposit date, that have not been contact/given delivery date or lock in config..... which there still are

Oh so are the list deposit date..... or delivery by batch and how you spec your car

 

[Lankan]

Oh dear... You were 11th July and already into spetember. . I was November deposit...that means quite a wait for me.

Likewise, another November deposit - looks like 2023 at the earliest. To be fair, my expectations were already set. Now it is a case of do I wait until spring, and avoid winter. Decisions, decisions...how hard can this be...

 

[First Lotus]

When I spoke to Lotus last year (during second deposit chat) I asked if I was in line for an FE. When they said yes, I thought I must've been bumped up considerably due to changes of heart and also people holding on for i4. Turns out it was just that they were making lots more FE's.
There is a upside of being able to see some cars to be 100% happy on colour choice.

 

[scoates]

There are some with 11th july deposit date, still not been called to lock in because the still dont have a delivery date. think they should of been given the option. and exept a change config to get the car early. did not mention they need to regig..... just offer the car as its config is..... to those around 11th deposit date, that have not been contact/given delivery date or lock in config..... which there still are

Oh so are the list deposit date..... or delivery by batch and how you spec your car

This would probably be a fair way to do it, but would be a nightmare to organise for Lotus. They would have to perhaps phone hundreds of people to get someone to agree, and to be completely fair they would need to phone them and if didn't answer then leave a message or email, then wait for a reply of a yes or no, and then move to the next one otherwise the first person might phone back later and be raging they missed out.

If there is someone further down the queue with the same spec it becomes a much quicker and easier conversation. I'd assume they would phone the exact configurations, then maybe a slight change from spec e.g. different caliper colour, and continue down until someone agrees.

 

[andrew6382]

This would probably be a fair way to do it, but would be a nightmare to organise for Lotus. They would have to perhaps phone hundreds of people to get someone to agree, and to be completely fair they would need to phone them and if didn't answer then leave a message or email, then wait for a reply of a yes or no, and then move to the next one otherwise the first person might phone back later and be raging they missed out.

If there is someone further down the queue with the same spec it becomes a much quicker and easier conversation. I'd assume they would phone the exact configurations, then maybe a slight change from spec e.g. different caliper colour, and continue down until someone agrees.

Why would they phone someone..... if they dont have a data base of orders that dont let them do a field filter search... that lets them target people..... some thing is wrong
An Email : there has been a cancellation in xxxxxxx config..... if you like to take this config over and get the car earlier, reply asap... first come

Just because it the easier thing to do, does not make it the right thing to do. Lotus have said all cars will be allocated by deposit date..... clearly this is not true now..... and as I have said " clearly this is not the only time this will happen"

 

[TomE]

They didn't say they'll all be allocated in strict deposit date order. They've said that's their overall intention but they need to adjust to suit manufacturing schedules and other factors. It's in the deposit T&Cs. They need to have some flexibility.

 

[Tonyshepp]

06:47am Dog wondered what the hell was going on.

I hope at 6.48 you had his collar and lead out!

 

[scoates]

Why would they phone someone..... if they dont have a data base of orders that dont let them do a field filter search... that lets them target people..... some thing is wrong

They've been phoning people for all stages of the order process so far, and if the call is missed then following up with an email. I'd assume they would keep things going the same way.

And with what you said, it seems they are doing exactly that right now. Searching out people with the same, or extremely similar configuration, and contacting them in (I'm assuming) deposit order.

 

[andrew6382]

They've been phoning people for all stages of the order process so far, and if the call is missed then following up with an email. I'd assume they would keep things going the same way.

And with what you said, it seems they are doing exactly that right now. Searching out people with the same, or extremely similar configuration, and contacting them in (I'm assuming) deposit order.

Yes.... you are missing the point..... people that DON'T have that config should be offered it.... and the option of changing to get an earlier car people that placed the deposit in date order

 

[Tonyshepp]

Yes.... you are missing the point..... people that DON'T have that config should be offered it.... and the option of changing to get an earlier car people that placed the deposit in date order

That would be a logistical headache as they could be ringing round umpteen depositors, would sir/lady be interested in this config no ,ok move onto next person. Oh caller 43 didn’t answer phone so best wait to call them again before moving onto caller 44.

It does seem unfair but we live in an unfair world.