Slate Ambassadors

[Orley]

Anybody asks to look at my truck I'm going to say F/N.

 

[sodamo]

OP said "earliest possible date after vehicle is in production. Sep/Oct?" so I assumed we were talking about the early production vehicles. Vehicles that I think Slate will keep for internal use.

If we are just talking about the earliest actual customer deliveries, which will be in January or mayyyybe December, then that makes more sense. Maybe instead of giving away a free truck, they should compensate ambassadors with store credit for accessories, or free charging and maintenance. I think that's more than enough compensation to get lots of eager Slaters on board.

i don’t mean to discourage your feedback.
We don’t know schedule, I don’t know schedule, You don’t know schedule.
i’m suggesting production vehicle, not a test vehicle, evaluation vehicle, anything other than a true consumer vehicle. Sorry if you inferred anything else. The Sep/Oct time frame has many mentions, not my creation, again I can’t define it, but guessing would not be popular.
As for compensation, who knows. Very possible someone with a blank Slate has little to no interest in accessories, maybe even ordered all they want initially, hence little to no long term motivation. Charging credit? I live off grid, seriously my hope to never pay to charge unless emergency. Of course if in Ambassador role I spent the day on the otherside of the island I would need to charge, but I would expect that to be reimbursed. Other solar capable people that don’t have the mileage factor also less likely to need credits. I want an Ambassador to want to earn that truck, not just be an enthusiast the first week.
there is a cost associated with the current show and tell program. We don’t know extent, but likely significant. I’m guess more significant than my suggestion.

 

[sodamo]

Additional thoughts.
Slate does not have Showrooms. I would think that would be cost prohibitive. We also don’t know costs associated with the current Show & Tell, but apparently they are enough to be discouraging of meaningful expansion. No matter the actual hours of exposure, there is significant pre and post requirements.

So in addition to my earlier Ambassador suggestion, let’s expand it.
Slate maintains list of Ambassadors and events on their website, to include location of Ambassador events. Info regarding Ambassadors limited to actual vehicle configuration and basic geographical location, nothing to violate privacy.

A person develops an interest in Slate, maybe via AZFox program, doesn’t matter how. They contact Slate re interest and certain Ambassador location. Slate puts them in touch to arrange meet up/test drive. Interested party agrees to provide a survey immediately upon completion. Ambassador completes according to their schedule and returns survey possibly including a client section.
Win for client re hands on Slate experience.
Win for Ambassador re compensation and personal satisfaction.
Win-Win for Slate, max meaningful exposure and minimal cost and feedback.

 

[AZFox]

I really didn’t think you did, but [...]

You're proposing an Ambassador Program where certain preorder customers would receive early delivery of a Slate FN in exchange for a contractual commitment to perform weekly public exhibitions. Instead of wages, ambassadors would be compensated with the vehicle itself or a discount thereon.

It's not hard to understand.

 

[sodamo]

You're proposing an Ambassador Program where certain preorder customers would receive early delivery of a Slate FN in exchange for a contractual commitment to perform weekly public exhibitions. Instead of wages, ambassadors would be compensated with the vehicle itself or a discount thereon.

It's not hard to understand.

You got it, but the weekly commitment is just an initial suggestion. Could prove inappropriate all locations. Many so well attended to be exhausting or not well attended and waste of time, so some accommodation/adjustment.

 

[sodamo]

Slate is not planning dealerships. But there has also been the suggestion of perhaps Slate Showrooms, like Tesla.

Let’s compare Ambassadors vs Showroom.

Showrooms will require a physical presence, rent, utilizes, etc, not 1 time, but ongoing. Building not likely to be in low rent district.
Showrooms will have to be staffed, how many? salary and benefits, Fed/state/local rules and regulations, insurances.
Showrooms will require vehicles, Blank, Square SUV, Fastback, Cargo, then a good display of accessories. Visitors will likely expect purchases will be facilitated. Yes, Slate could limit to single Blank Slate, but that would not be popular, people would want to see the major variants, after all, it’s a showroom.

Ambassadors will require the 1 Slate of choice that they acquire and maintain. Clients would discuss variants but not expect to see them as this is just an individual sharing his vehicle. Ambassadors hand out Slate material and links

So maybe Slate outfits 10 Ambassadors spread around the nation, maybe $250k total for vehicles and misc support.

Slate establishes 10 showrooms same geographic areas, vehicles for each $1m, $10m total. physical costs of showroom, employees, etc. Easily plus $1m each.

Slate can expand Ambassadors program another $25k each vs $1m for Showroom.
Slate can easily change even discontinue Ambassador program with minimal impact, not so a single or multiple showrooms.

just more to think about.

 

[adele]

i don’t mean to discourage your feedback.
We don’t know schedule, I don’t know schedule, You don’t know schedule.
i’m suggesting production vehicle, not a test vehicle, evaluation vehicle, anything other than a true consumer vehicle. Sorry if you inferred anything else. The Sep/Oct time frame has many mentions, not my creation, again I can’t define it, but guessing would not be popular.
As for compensation, who knows. Very possible someone with a blank Slate has little to no interest in accessories, maybe even ordered all they want initially, hence little to no long term motivation. Charging credit? I live off grid, seriously my hope to never pay to charge unless emergency. Of course if in Ambassador role I spent the day on the otherside of the island I would need to charge, but I would expect that to be reimbursed. Other solar capable people that don’t have the mileage factor also less likely to need credits. I want an Ambassador to want to earn that truck, not just be an enthusiast the first week.
there is a cost associated with the current show and tell program. We don’t know extent, but likely significant. I’m guess more significant than my suggestion.

I've heard them say that they could be in production by Sep/Oct, but not that they'll be delivering to customers by Sep/Oct. They certainly won't be delivering to customers any earlier than December. If they do make it to full production by Sep/Oct, that first batch of production vehicles will be valuable for Slate. They shouldn't deliver to ambassadors before they're ready to deliver to customers.

When they do start up deliveries in December or January, an ambassador program could definitely be a good idea. I just think you are slightly overestimating the monetary value of ambassadors. The compensation should not be more than the actual value they produce for Slate. One volunteer doing one local event a week is not likely to produce $25k more value than one satisfied owner.

 

[whippet]

My plan is to wrap my slate in banana yellow, orange juice orange, or green/pink aka juicy watermelon, and take it out every weekend, posting my camping exploits on Instagram.

It's going to be a good time. Hopefully.

 

[slate808]

100% THIS 🩶

YES



*ahem* we’re going to need multiple out hea b/c Hawaiian Islands is plural 😁 🏝🏝🏝🏝 At least 4… unless we have any Lanai or Molokai peeps in the chat too in which case we’ll need more! 😎

For the Slate company spies in the chat… HI is the perfect market. E komo mai 🤗

In my conversations with Slate Auto, I have told them that the islands here are fertile ground for the Slate. The reasons are numerous and I don’t want to bore anyone with the long list. Suffice it to say those of us who live here and those of you who have been here (visitors, military, government, contractors, etc) you know what I’m talking about. One of the Slate agents I spoke with acknowledged that Hawai’i is obviously a winner for Slate in any of the vehicle configurations.
Personally, when I get my Slate I know I will be approached every single day for months about it. Where, how, price, drive, parking, insurance, everything about it. Hell, even now I get approached at least once a week about my 2 door, single cab Tacoma and my truck is 23 years old. The used car market here is exploding with Kei vehicles (cars, trucks, vans) and almost all of those are minimum 25+ years old. For us to have a brand new compact (sub compact) truck / open air suv at this price point is pretty awesome. As I wrote in another thread, I have been waiting for a truck like the Blank Slate for longer than I care to admit. So if you’re listening out there Slate Auto, the islands are calling….

 

[Luxrage]

I'll volunteer my Slate to anyone who wants to review it in the D/FW metroplex. There a slight chance I'll get mine in December. I'd also love to volunteer at any events they expect in the area.

If financial forces push my date back, I may very well take you up on that offer!

 

[tubes]

Very true, but missing my main point - actually having vehicles in the wild.

When I owned my very early Saturn, I was a voluntary ambassador. People would come up and ask all the time. I was glad to do it, no need to pay or compensate me.

Slate's not going to have enough lead time from production start to pushing them to customers. Creating a program and trying to corral ambassadors would be a huge effort and distraction. The best way to create an ambassador program is to ship out quality products day one. Those First Shift/First day reservation friends of ours will be ambassadors as they start getting their vehicles in January. And judging by what they write here, they'll be happy to do it.

And reminder to Slate: Quality on day one. You have ONE CHANCE. Don't blow it.

 

[SparkYellow]

OP said "earliest possible date after vehicle is in production. Sep/Oct?" so I assumed we were talking about the early production vehicles. Vehicles that I think Slate will keep for internal use.

If we are just talking about the earliest actual customer deliveries, which will be in January or mayyyybe December, then that makes more sense. Maybe instead of giving away a free truck, they should compensate ambassadors with store credit for accessories, or free charging and maintenance. I think that's more than enough compensation to get lots of eager Slaters on board.

Many of us very eager and optimistic about production. 😅

 

[Luxrage]

Chrysler had luck with the turbine cars doing a similar ambassador program. They gave out a handful of turbine cars to families. I think there were six of them? From what I read they were perfectly normal cars to drive and the owners at the time had a blast showing them off to random people in town that would ask about them. I think Slate could possibly do the same thing and give out a handful of Slates to selected owners for a combo road test / PR thing. Make it like a reverse lease where you have to put one a certain number of miles and you get the thing subsidized. I'd gladly tool around downtown Dallas or attempt an Oklahoma City roadtrip in the Slate if that was the case!

 

[SailorDan]

And I was going to move to Maui just for the Hawaiian Ambassador gig.
Now I'll have to move back to Atlanta for that hook-up. I'm pretty sure Slate doesn't care about Southeast Georgia. (Nobody does, including the rest of Georgia.)

Nah. I'll just be the only one riding around beach town in a surfer dan pickup, hanging with the dune buggies and microbus dudes.

 

[Larryskydives]

As we know, there are an over abundance of posts, lauding, complaining, downright bitching about the Slate Events. Of course, much is due to lack of production vehicles.

My Proposal - A countrywide Slate Ambassador Program.
Institute earliest possible date after vehicle is in production. Sep/Oct?
Dedicate a limited number of vehicles for proper nationwide coverage, 6, 10, 15, whatever, ensuring good dispersion.
Enlist volunteer preorder customers to become ambassadors, not employees, but whatever it takes to satisfy the Slate lawyers. Compensation is their Slate or accessories.
Those ambassadors get earliest delivery. In exchange they contract to exhibit/show there assigned Slate for a certain period, maybe 6 months, once a week, select locations. Slate provides all promotional material, which ambassador agrees to limit answers to info provided( not implying false info). Whether or not test drives permitted and defined. This guarantees Slate has a diverse number of showings every week for certain timeframe. These times and locations published on their website.
At end of contract, Slate transfers ownership/title to ambassador, either free or previously agreed reduced price.

so, I invite you to examine and make suggestions, point out flaws etc. we know Slate monitors forum, so just maybe we promote a good idea.
yes, I’m willing to be one, covering Big Island Hawaii.

I’d volunteer for Mississippi Gulf Coast