Preorder Starts June 24 (email)! - How to Preorder Your Slate

[cadblu]

I think I lost my tesla deposit (1K) I guess it became a donation to tesla even if it was supposed to be refunded.

I'm putting in my nonrefundable deposit. Even if I don't end up getting one because they suck or something, 300 to reserve a spot for mid next year, I'm fine with that.

OK, let's talk about "lost deposits"...

In case anyone hasn't looked or can't remember, Slate's reservation system was governed by its Reservation Agreement along with its Website Terms and Conditions, which was described on the checkout page. It did not officially spell out what happens if production slips, becomes halted, or specifications change. Nobody paid much attention to this. After all, it was "fully refundable."

Now this completely changes with a pre-order. Why should we be concerned?

If for any reason Slate fails to deliver in the specified window, and announces a 3-month delay (for example) should we then be entitled to a refund? This in not totally outside the realm of possibility. In effect, doesn't this become a legal commitment? If one party fails to deliver in the specified timeframe, doesn't that breach the contract? I recall a phrase from my many years in production engineering: "we don't yet know what we don't know." It's still kind of relevant today.

That said, I think we need to pay attention to the NEW Ts and Cs when we plunk down the balance of our $300 deposits. I'm going to read the "fine print" upon checkout on June 24 before clicking "PAY NOW." I suspect that the delivery window is going to be a lot wider than many of us expected. I also predict that Slate is going to have us check the box that we accept production delays "beyond their control" when it comes time to pre-order.

 

[danielt1263]

I suspect that the delivery window is going to be a lot wider than many of us expected. I also predict that Slate is going to have us check the box that we accept production delays "beyond their control" when it comes time to pre-order.

I'm expecting a 3-month delivery window...

 

[Kopsis]

I also predict that Slate is going to have us check the box that we accept production delays "beyond their control" when it comes time to pre-order.

I think that's the whole reason they're calling it a "pre-order" and not just an "order". There is no way they're going to contractually commit to a delivery deadline until production reaches certain milestones. It's surprising to me that people might assume otherwise, but I've seen a lot of unrealistic expectations when it comes to early adoption.

 

[sodamo]

The amount of misinformation and assumptions made by people is actually mind blowing. Slate has been pretty clear yet there still seems to be mass confusion.

Imagine if they started their own forum. What a feeding frenzy that would be.

 

[sodamo]

Being naive but hopeful, just gonna pluck my $250 down, Hit send, and 🤞for the best.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Imagine if they started their own forum. What a feeding frenzy that would be.

Didn't Slate allude to just such an idea?

 

[tubes]

I think that's the whole reason they're calling it a "pre-order" and not just an "order". There is no way they're going to contractually commit to a delivery deadline until production reaches certain milestones. It's surprising to me that people might assume otherwise, but I've seen a lot of unrealistic expectations when it comes to early adoption.

I'm retired now, but used to work engineering design on widgets that got manufactured. The bad things that can happen are manifold. We always had surprises. Slow ramp up was essential. And, as others mention, prototypes can be surprisingly different than final product.

 

[GaRailroader]

OK, let's talk about "lost deposits"...

In case anyone hasn't looked or can't remember, Slate's reservation system was governed by its Reservation Agreement along with its Website Terms and Conditions, which was described on the checkout page. It did not officially spell out what happens if production slips, becomes halted, or specifications change. Nobody paid much attention to this. After all, it was "fully refundable."

Now this completely changes with a pre-order. Why should we be concerned?

If for any reason Slate fails to deliver in the specified window, and announces a 3-month delay (for example) should we then be entitled to a refund? This in not totally outside the realm of possibility. In effect, doesn't this become a legal commitment? If one party fails to deliver in the specified timeframe, doesn't that breach the contract? I recall a phrase from my many years in production engineering: "we don't yet know what we don't know." It's still kind of relevant today.

That said, I think we need to pay attention to the NEW Ts and Cs when we plunk down the balance of our $300 deposits. I'm going to read the "fine print" upon checkout on June 24 before clicking "PAY NOW." I suspect that the delivery window is going to be a lot wider than many of us expected. I also predict that Slate is going to have us check the box that we accept production delays "beyond their control" when it comes time to pre-order.

Let us know what it says so we don’t have to read the new T&C. 😂

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Imagine if they started their own forum.

This might be what I had in mind:

Slate Will Teach EV Owners How to Make Their Truck an SUV on YouTube

Slate University is a multi-platform initiative by the company to teach, inform and inspire those who are thinking of purchasing or have bought one of their vehicles. Additionally, it will allow service providers to get continued and updated training in the field and have a mobile point of reference while on the go.
...
"So we plan to be very DIY-focused," Slate CEO Chris Barman told Newsweek. "We want to have our own channel [so that we can] keep that relationship with the consumer and that we can coach them directly on things they may want to do to update or modify their vehicle. But, if they don't feel comfortable, they can also take it to a partner."

Slate University will allow watchers to be better educated when the time of their service appointment arrives. "They can feel informed before they take it to the partner on what to expect around the service that they should receive," Barman said.

Slate will host the videos on its website, YouTube and mobile app.

Slate University will serve as a guidepost for those who want to try their hand at making do-it-yourself (DIY) improvements to their new vehicle. Barman is passionate about removing friction in the DIY process. Some of the key moments in Slate's journey toward the marketplace "revolve around the DIY and what we can do to make things easier for the consumer," she said.

Slate University videos on the mobile app! I wonder it it'll interface with the truck... 🤔

 

[kvermeer]

Realistic and Optimistic. Pricing numbers are guesses...
Reservation fee/Tax incentive: $7800

You must be very optimistic; I wish you the best of luck and hope all your dreams come true!

 

[E90400K]

You must be very optimistic; I wish you the best of luck and hope all your dreams come true!

It's not a dream, rather just optimism. There is some logic behind my optimism.

 

[KevinRS]

I have to figure, that if EV incentives come back, they may be smaller, and have different terms. They will also not likely happen until at least some time in 2029. The only way it happens earlier is the current administration decides it's his idea, or the other side gets a majority big enough to pass what they want without worrying about a veto.
The original incentive was signed in by Bush, but everything has become so politicized now that the red side at least at the top is actively anti-EV and killing renewable power projects that were already paid for.

 

[metroshot]

Interesting. I'll be a bit disappointed if my day one reservation was a waste, because I'm not putting down $300 before I see and drive one. Slate has 8 weeks left to produce production intent trucks and get them in front of people so they can make final decisions.

Same here - without a test drive I'd be concerned about a non refundable deposit.

Does not sound right to take money and not allow a customer to test drive it.

I am torn between the Slate and Ford's UEV....

 

[EV Trek]

The problem with Ford’s UEV is the first part “Ford”.

“
Ford Motor Company has issued the most recalls of any car company in 2026. With more than 50 separate recall campaigns filed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford's total is nearly triple that of the next highest manufacturers (Stellantis, General Motors, and Toyota).
Ford's recall volume is heavily driven by modern software and communication system glitches. “

 

[Kopsis]

Does not sound right to take money and not allow a customer to test drive it.

No one is holding a gun to the customer's head. A customer voluntarily placing a pre-order deposit is accepting a significant level of risk in exchange for an "early" spot in the delivery queue. Slate is undoubtedly going to use pre-orders to plan early production and deliveries so there has to be a higher level of commitment than there was with the Reservations. Pre-orders would be useless to Slate if all 160k Reservation holders converted and then a significant percentage of them backed out 4 - 6 months from now.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to go hands on before placing a non-refundable deposit, and you can absolutely still do that. It just means you'll take delivery after the people who are willing to take a bigger risk. A perhaps beneficial side-effect is this also ensures that the earliest production goes to the customers with the most flexible needs/expectations. There is a pretty high chance there will be one or more service campaigns affecting the earliest production vehicles and getting those resolved before the Slate ecosystem is fully "built-out" could be a bit painful. It's best for Slate if the customers plagued by those issues are the ones with flexible expectations and a higher appetite for risk.