Slate Ambassadors

[JImmy]

Retired and will purchase the Slate Truck. Driving to places and talking to prospective owners would be great. Getting some form of 'things' would be great. getting an early version would be Nirvana. Count me in for the PNW.

 

[MontesDesigns]

I think show rooms will come later once production cars are rolling off the line and in the hands of retail customers. Currently, it seems slate is pushing fleet customers to sign up with them and pushing the first production cars to fleet customers to get a true usability for every day use. To try and identify any issues that arise from specific conditions or use cases.

With that being said I think once they are in the hands of retail I see more slaters just arranging meetups to show off there builds and draw more public interest. My hope is first shift customers are considered "ambassadors" and they do reach out to them to see if they are interested in arranging or participating in said events. As for compensation that's a little tough for a startup as of now. They are pushing to deliver a great product with as low over head as possible until they turn a profit. Just because they have serious backing doesn't mean they have unlimited funds. But am sure they can get creative for rewarding those first shifters for participating.

In regards to the islands I totally agree its a good fit. But with the islands being so remote they may need to rely on first shifters in the islands to build awareness and interest.

 

[Techiedavid]

Once the first car is delivered they will be automatically a free ambassador for the car. I had a Honda Clariry FCEV and people approached me in parking lots asking about the car on its looks alone and had no ideal what a Hydrogen Fuel cell was. The Slate is a unique looking vehicle that people will ask about it.

 

[SailorDan]

@ Jimmy- Is that Space Ghost?

@ Monte- There are so many little things Slate could offer that don't cost any money, Slatelets not available to anyone but ambassadors, for instance. Decals and badges.

 

[EVfun]

Retired and will purchase the Slate Truck. Driving to places and talking to prospective owners would be great. Getting some form of 'things' would be great. getting an early version would be Nirvana. Count me in for the PNW.

I have a 2nd quarter preorder in place and show as "earliest available delivery window." I'm hoping to have the Slate at next years Greenwood Car show, which always has a section devoted to EV including home built ones, race cars, and new production offerings. It is one of the largest car shows in Seattle with stock and custom cars from the brass era to current, angle parked on both sides of the Greenwood Ave, spanning over one mile.

 

[sodamo]

A bit of clarification
Vehicles and timing - only suggesting production vehicles same as Slate is promising for test drives. Same time frame. Would not want to suggest showcasing an unfinished product.

Costs - any idea what a current Slate Event costs? Seriously doubt they are free and likely a bit labor intensive. An event takes a dedicated vehicle, transportation, planning, venue costs, employees, vehicle prep, etc. What if an Event is $1k? what if it costs Slate $25k for an Ambassador vehicle? What if that Ambassador contracts for 25 exposures? Which might reach more customers?

Events - current program events are always going to be too limited and constrained. An event in measured in hours vs the suggested program of 6 months (or whatever contracted). A Slate event will always be impersonal vs targeted one on one.

I will be a volunteer Ambassador regardless, but I do think such a formal program would reap dividends early on. And then there is Motivation. 😄

 

[Freyar]

I don't have an issue with striking up conversations about what Slate is, what they're doing (and frankly the conversation around Re:Build will probably be the most interesting part).

That said, I'm not about to put myself into a contractual obligation of any kind that requires me to be a salesman/sales advocate. I'm not a sales guy, far too honest for that. I'll be enthusiastic where it's warranted and critical where it's warranted.

I don't intend to insult anyone here, but I'm finding myself more and more unsettled by the amount of ways people are looking for discounts, credits, brand favoritism. Lower price is good for us, sure, but this kind of negotiating and hoping is the exact kind of behavior I avoid dealerships for in the first place.

 

[slate808]

I have no interest in discounts and credits. I am assuming that the Slate will speak for itself once we have delivery. I am however concerned about Slate’s delivery schedule and logistics. This is a constant concern here in Hawai’i for all kinds of products. If this is viewed as a bid to get favorable treatment then I accept that criticism. But in fact it’s a bid to get heard by Slate Auto. After all, initially Hawai’i wasn’t even on their radar despite all of the obvious reasons why the Slate is a perfect fit for the islands.

 

[Harley Earl]

Lots of tech bros on the Hawaiian islands from time to time yet SLATE, most likely, will not see said tech bros parking their SLATE at the local island Costco on a busy Saturday fielding questions. I also venture you may not see many “influencers” in those places demo'ing SLATE's either. A bit of a challenge to legally video volumes of interested people who are taking a look-see at your SLATE while maintaining in-depth multi-subject educated convos with folks of all different backgrounds. Introverts, extroverts and everyone in between. In my humble opinion.

You will see our SLATE Forum members from Hawaii out and about everywhere on the islands freely sharing their SLATE knowledge and experience as they are all in!

@SlateAuto ;Would be more than happy to answer questions, do demonstrations and conduct ride alongs in an early production SLATE here in NorCal (or Nationwide...). Provide a tablet loaded with SLATE specific training info plus SLATE U content. Geolocate my assigned SLATE tablet so SLATE HQ can monitor. Yep, if I am marketing SLATE; SLATE HQ can monitor my activities representing SLATE. Heck, SLATE can even keep the camera and microphone on during said interactions with potential customers. Provide a per diem and necessary expenses that can, again, be tracked and managed through the tablet. Want a ride in a SLATE, gotta complete a simple survey first. Compile interest.

@SlateAuto Get my educated labor for FREE. Saying this as an automotive repair software industry retiree. And in a company that was an Open Source / Right to Repair advocate in the 20th century.

Maybe I’ll even install a flip down giant monitor inside my SLATE square back rear hatch to run non-stop SLATE sanctioned YouTube videos and/or the open source aspects of SLATE service and installing upgrades/options while parked at pre arranged locations with high foot traffic. Costco, various superstores and wherever SLATE marketing directs me…

Let’s get it done SLATE, happy to help. Mostly gratis...

 

[solartogo]

Maybe I’ll even install a flip down giant monitor inside my SLATE square back rear hatch to run non-stop SLATE sanctioned YouTube videos and/or the open source aspects of SLATE service and installing upgrades/options while parked at pre arranged locations with high foot traffic. Costco, various superstores and wherever SLATE marketing directs me…

Having an available (offline) video stream of SLATE information available would be excellent. Even a normal sized tablet running a video stream hanging inside the passenger window while running around doing normal activities, parked in various parking lots, with the QR code to the slate.auto page having the same (or updated) video stream (and links to the rest of slate.auto) hanging next to the tablet could provide a good bit of information and generate some interest from others in parking lots of stores, restaurants, and other commonly attended venues.

 

[Twisted Santa]

My voluntary ambassador contribution will be a big “Truck Warming“ party that I invite all of my friends and coworkers to. (Or maybe a “Wrap Reveal” party). I’m picturing a frunk full of iced beverages, a “How many balloon dachshunds fit in the bed?” contest, and a competition to see who can create the best looking build with the Slate Maker on a giant screen television.

If my friends expect me to go to their two year old’s birthday party, they will have to come to a party for my truck.

 

[sodamo]

My voluntary ambassador contribution will be a big “Truck Warming“ party that I invite all of my friends and coworkers to. (Or maybe a “Wrap Reveal” party). I’m picturing a frunk full of iced beverages, a “How many balloon dachshunds fit in the bed?” contest, and a competition to see who can create the best looking build with the Slate Maker on a giant screen television.

If my friends expect me to go to their two year old’s birthday party, they will have to come to a party for my truck.

Good plan.
Our retired group does Happy Hour on Mondays. The 1st Monday after I pick it up will be hosted at our house.

 

[RumbleRed]

I think the easier answer is to discount the first 10 to 20,000 units sold and give those owners cool post cards with QR codes to hand out. The truck is going to attract attention wherever it goes. LEt us early adopters do thier advertising for them by simple word of mouth and being on the road. Give us a discount on the cost of the truck. No complicated scheduling and logistics of events needed.

 

[whippet]

I think the easier answer is to discount the first 10 to 20,000 units sold and give those owners cool post cards with QR codes to hand out. The truck is going to attract attention wherever it goes. LEt us early adopters do thier advertising for them by simple word of mouth and being on the road. Give us a discount on the cost of the truck. No complicated scheduling and logistics of events needed.

Isn't the discount the preorder price?

LOL at anyone expecting a discount. Imagine the logistics.

 

[RumbleRed]

Isn't the discount the preorder price?

LOL at anyone expecting a discount. Imagine the logistics.

Curious how the discount is the preorder price? The price is the price regardless of a preorder. Also, when did anyone say they were expecting a discount price?