UK deposit to order checkout to delivery process

[JohnHoward]

I'm not sure that "they don't care", but it would appear that they've tried to change too many things at once.

You are right, thank you for calling me out on that. Please let me explain.

When I wrote that Lotus don't care, I was thinking about their corporate strategy. I am sure that many employees at Lotus, no matter what role they work in, are passionate about what they do and derive great enjoyment from their work. They are likely and rightly proud to tell friends and family that they work for a company with great heritage and products that are known worldwide, which is unusual for a company the size of Lotus. It would be grossly unfair and wrong to label those people as not caring and that was not my intention.

There is nothing wrong with having an ambitous vision, but they simply do not have the processes and people in place to achieve the vision they have set out. This ultimately is down to leadership and having enough skill and resource across many corporate level disciplines. It is likely that even the senior managers are passionate about what they do, but lack the direction and leadership to achieve what has been set out for them.

 

[Magicman]

Missed the call to arrange collection, been on hold nearly 20min now

 

[action_turtle]

Missed the call to arrange collection, been on hold nearly 20min now

too late. they have given it to someone else. back of the line mr magic lol

 

[Magicman]

too late. they have given it to someone else. back of the line mr magic lol

Got a call back and fetching it Monday! less than 2wks since checkout!

 

[dzernski]

So I've now had the "additional communication" and it's an invitation to the configurator....but I've already configured the car, when I put down the second deposit (albeit I made some changes afterwards). That and you're telling me that after 18 months of doing seemingly nothing aside from increase the price of the car despite promises to the contrary, I have 7 days to confirm my order or it's gone.
Amateurs.

 

[action_turtle]

So I've now had the "additional communication" and it's an invitation to the configurator....but I've already configured the car, when I put down the second deposit (albeit I made some changes afterwards). That and you're telling me that after 18 months of doing seemingly nothing aside from increase the price of the car despite promises to the contrary, I have 7 days to confirm my order or it's gone.
Amateurs.

I just had it too. Reading the mail a few times, i still think its a bit backwards, compared to other new cars i have ordered. I confirmed it anyways.

It's basically the point of no return. The original config was just to give them an idea on parts and paint to get in stock. I assume it's all JIT their side. Now you are actually placing an order for the car, you get an order number and a login to view progress. if you change it after this point you will go to the back of the line. This all make sense, but only after I have paid the deposit and signed the finance. Doing it before the money part seems a bit pointless as the customer could just walk away, leaving Lotus with a spare car for which they have to find an owner. I know they do not have many combinations, but still more hassle they do not need trying to find it a new home.

 

[JasonR]

So got the email 2 weeks ago saying I’d get my checkout email in 2 weeks but heard nothing. Anyone else heard anything?

 

[GAVLA]

So got the email 2 weeks ago saying I’d get my checkout email in 2 weeks but heard nothing. Anyone else heard anything?

No nothing yet. I received the email on the 15th Feb. Then the Protect and Enhance email on the 17th Feb.

 

[sam041]

No nothing yet. I received the email on the 15th Feb. Then the Protect and Enhance email on the 17th Feb.

Same. Completed checkout 10th, update email 15th saying expect order update within 2 weeks - so hopefully very soon!

 

[Porter]

I just had it too. Reading the mail a few times, i still think its a bit backwards, compared to other new cars i have ordered. I confirmed it anyways.

It's basically the point of no return. The original config was just to give them an idea on parts and paint to get in stock. I assume it's all JIT their side. Now you are actually placing an order for the car, you get an order number and a login to view progress. if you change it after this point you will go to the back of the line. This all make sense, but only after I have paid the deposit and signed the finance. Doing it before the money part seems a bit pointless as the customer could just walk away, leaving Lotus with a spare car for which they have to find an owner. I know they do not have many combinations, but still more hassle they do not need trying to find it a new home.

This is sort of wild to me, as a buyer from the US. I had to place a hard order (dealer submitted) into production in April of 2022. The car won't be built until May of 2023.

In the UK, you're placing final orders with the ability to change config up to a few weeks before delivery? I mean that's great for you and all, but it really makes clear the reasons why they're honoring US FE order pricing and not the UK. There's no hard order in the UK at all until what seems to be the last possible moment.

 

[Mistral]

This is sort of wild to me, as a buyer from the US. I had to place a hard order (dealer submitted) into production in April of 2022. The car won't be built until May of 2023.

In the UK, you're placing final orders with the ability to change config up to a few weeks before delivery? I mean that's great for you and all, but it really makes clear the reasons why they're honoring US FE order pricing and not the UK. There's no hard order in the UK at all until what seems to be the last possible moment.

For the majority in the UK it hasn't been that way. Most of us have had to lock in our specs in October 2021, when the second deposit was paid. Virtually no changes were allowed after that.

 

[action_turtle]

This is sort of wild to me, as a buyer from the US. I had to place a hard order (dealer submitted) into production in April of 2022. The car won't be built until May of 2023.

In the UK, you're placing final orders with the ability to change config up to a few weeks before delivery? I mean that's great for you and all, but it really makes clear the reasons why they're honoring US FE order pricing and not the UK. There's no hard order in the UK at all until what seems to be the last possible moment.

Honestly feels completely backwards to me too. I could order a bright yellow car with red seats, lower black, silver wheels and black calipars (no offence if people ordered that combo btw, you do you) and then cancel it for a deposit refund... then Lotus has to try and find someone else who wants that spec?!? As they dont have that many combos, they will probably be okay just sending them to dealers, but still, stupid when they are already struggling to make cars and a decent rate, why waste even more time making cars for nobody when you have a large order list already?!?

 

[nelly111s]

I think I can explain…..

After all the delays many of the cars got kicked off the fixed production schedule, I also got this email a few weeks back so called CS as I too was confused. They explained that no further deposit was required as I like you had paid the 2k and the 3k deposit. They also explained that now the new portal system is set up that all I had to do was access the link and re confirm or re configure my Emira again, once this is complete you are then locked in for production again and can access your portal for updates when ever you want.

This email now gets sent out 3 months before your car is ready to go into production and the next email should be the enhance and protect email 2 months before and then the check out a month before delivery.

Lotus CC said this process has been set up for all deliveries for April and beyond. Good news really as is seems Lotus are beginning to get their shit sorted

As @DJS says, it's now the "My Lotus" portal. YEsterday's email said confirm by 6th March. Today it's 8th March. I suspect that's so I get a June build slot and have to pay the extra ?

 

[Porter]

For the majority in the UK it hasn't been that way. Most of us have had to lock in our specs in October 2021, when the second deposit was paid. Virtually no changes were allowed after that.

Spec lock and hard order aren't the same though.

 

[DJS]

Don’t hold me to this but I think if you check out from June onwards you get hit with the price increase.

 

[action_turtle]

Don’t hold me to this but I think if you check out from June onwards you get hit with the price increase.

That's correct, from what I was told on the phone. The cynic in me says they will store a lot of cars and then deliver them a few weeks into June so people fall into the higher payment window. I find it hard to believe they can have "many cancellations", as they tell me on the phone and at the dealer, yet we are not hearing of lots of people being moved up the line so they fall out of price increase date.

 

[vision]

Hi can I ask from previous new owners, how long does it takes from check out email, been through ID check, finance and number plate verification etc 3 weeks ago now waiting for delivery details.

 

[Yachtie]

I did identity 14th February and I’m collecting the car this Friday (17th)

 

[New to Lotus]

When was your first deposit?

 

[Yachtie]

When was your first deposit?

Thursday 8th July at Goodwood 2021