SOL if you want the Launch Edition features and don't already have it

[SlaterGS]

I missed the opportunity to configure the LE package on my R1S as reservations were full before I got the chance to log in.
Apparently we were adventuring too hard (no cell signal) ?‍

According to my conversation with Chat this morning, getting a Launch Edition will not be an option no matter how many LE package holders decide to not actually commit to the purchase.
She seemed to be hung up with Launch Edition vs Launch Priority but I made it clear as much as I would love to move up on the list, I was more interested in the color, badging and included wheel upgrade option.

So if you don't have a LE package already selected, you are SOL if you want to get the Launch Green color according to CSR.

This bugged me more than I thought it would because I know there are plenty with the LE package that pre-ordered a good bit after many of us, but they logged in and selected it first.
Just seems to be a slap in the face for many of us who have been waiting (and given money) quite awhile for this thing.

Additional notes according to CSR aside from "we're getting closer" and "s00n" :
"Production will begin in January 2022 for the two packages Adventure and Explore" which sounds different than "Deliveries begin January 2022" that is currently listed on my configuration.
"Demo drive program will begin in September, we'll share ways to sign up for this event in our Newsletter once announcing the first cities." Nothing new, just in response to my questions on car seats and videos for 3rd row access.

Edit:
I want to clarify that I reached out to CSR a few days after the configurator launched. This was a follow up to see if anything might change.

Sponsored

 

[timf]

It is extremely common for Launch Edition equivalent models to sell out within days or even hours of being offered. At this point it's already been 9 months since this opportunity came and went. If you happened to be away during the week Launch Edition was available, they might have been able to work something out if you contacted them right away since they have shown the ability to put people back into Launch Edition vehicles who accidentally switched out of them. It's a little late to complain now.

 

[SlaterGS]

It is extremely common for Launch Edition equivalent models to sell out within days or even hours of being offered. At this point it's already been 9 months since this opportunity came and went. If you happened to be away during the week Launch Edition was available, they might have been able to work something out if you contacted them right away since they have shown the ability to put people back into Launch Edition vehicles who accidentally switched out of them. It's a little late to complain now.

FYI I checked same day I got back with CSR which was within 2ish days of them opening up the configurator.
Based on a comment someone else had said that they couldn't get it changed I figured I would follow up.

Additionally, none of these have technically "sold out". A slot has been filled and in my experience, the amount of pre-order holders that actually put the money down when the time comes is a lot less than the amount of pre-orders. Especially with something this expensive.

 

[sevengroove]

FYI I checked same day I got back with CSR which was within 2ish days of them opening up the configurator.
Based on a comment someone else had said that they couldn't get it changed I figured I would follow up.

Additionally, none of these have technically "sold out". A slot has been filled and in my experience, the amount of pre-order holders that actually put the money down when the time comes is a lot less than the amount of pre-orders. Especially with something this expensive.

That's a bummer, I feel for you. Perhaps their reasoning has to do with not wanting to add additional orders to their earliest batch of deliveries (i.e. Launch Editions) - the fewer the better? Still, they could put you on some sort of waitlist in the event that someone backs out of their order after it is produced. You could maybe ask about that.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

I assume that "LE" is more of a reward to early backers, rather than something Rivian views as a "must sell".

So if a few LE reservations don't convert, then that's okay with Rivian, and that doesn't free up a slot for someone else... It's just one less discount (wheel upgrade) that Rivian gives out. The few parts that are different (such as the wood trim that says "Launch Edition") may be engraved on-site, so they may be able to "(not)-embelish-on-demand" during production. Even if that isn't the case, Rivian probably needs to keep a few spares around, anyway.

 

[Smithery]

FYI I checked same day I got back with CSR which was within 2ish days of them opening up the configurator.
Based on a comment someone else had said that they couldn't get it changed I figured I would follow up.

Perhaps the reason some of us are confused is why this complaint is fresh today, when the configurator for LE opened up in November of last year.

If you missed that date in November by a couple of days because of being on vacation, I definitely feel empathy.

But to be overtly frustrated by that at the end of August is odd.

 

[SlaterGS]

That's a bummer, I feel for you. Perhaps their reasoning has to do with not wanting to add additional orders to their earliest batch of deliveries (i.e. Launch Editions) - the fewer the better? Still, they could put you on some sort of waitlist in the event that someone backs out of their order after it is produced. You could maybe ask about that.

That was another one of my questions lol The answer was "We are not maintaining a wait list at this time."

 

[crashmtb]

Sounds like launch edition was more time limited than quantity?

 

[SlaterGS]

Perhaps the reason some of us are confused is why this complaint is fresh today, when the configurator for LE opened up in November of last year.

If you missed that date in November by a couple of days because of being on vacation, I definitely feel empathy.

But to be overtly frustrated by that at the end of August is odd.

It may seem odd, but think about it this way.
If you look at the information that has become available since November, there has been more in the last few weeks than the 9 months prior.
One large thing that has only now become available is seeing actual Launch Green vehicles.

In November when I contacted, it was more of a bummer because 1. I didn't get the free wheel upgrade and 2. I didn't have delivery priority. But it was what it was, "reservations were full"
I honestly didn't think I would be interested in Launch Green anyways.

As time went on and we got to see the Launch Green, it started grinding a bit and seemed odd that it couldn't be made available especially upon seeing more that got the LE that were after me on actual pre-ordering.

LE reservations are full, but I guarantee it will only be reduced from this point. People will drop their order when they are made to determine whether they want to spend the money or not.
Minimally opening up Launch Green to any pre-order holder for a small window would be simple enough IMO.

So no, it's not odd to have frustrations build overtime especially when new information becomes available.

 

[PoorPilot]

Maybe I'm misreading something, but I'm confused. Are you upset that you didn't get the LE Green and the free upgraded rims or are you upset that you want to change to the LE Green now that you've seen in and are having buyer's remorse, but it's no longer available? The timeline doesn't seem to add up - you said you didn't have cell coverage to configure your LE R1S when the configurator was launched and open to pre-reservation holders, but then you said you contacted a Rivian customer service rep a couple of days after it launched to ask questions. I guess I'm not following.

I pre-ordered both models 11/28/2018 and configured both in LE Green because the way I looked at it was: if it's only going to be an option during the short window, then I'll add it and then I can always change it later, even if it means taking a hit in delivery time. I'm not saying that to brag or state what you should have done, but just a simple observation. Maybe some persistent "asking" will get you what you want?

 

[thrill]

Sounds like launch edition was more time limited than quantity?

As I recall it was time limited to that first week without any stated quantity restriction.

 

[svet-am]

Sounds like launch edition was more time limited than quantity?

Yes, absolutely. The "Launch" in both the edition and the color were always obvious to me to be a time-limited thing. When Rivian said "reserve it by this date or you won't be able to", I didn't expect to be able to change later so I locked mine in early.

 

[SeaGeo]

So, I've had this same conversation with CS a few times. They've specifically said they're building them per order, so theoretically there shouldn't be extra (unlike the Mach e for example). Basically they're trying to minimize the LE builds it sounds like. Which makes sense since there is less profit in them for Rivian.

 

[Dohmar]

If we're just talking a unique shade of paint, I don't get why LE isn't still available?
I mean, the cars are not yet being delivered, soooo they're not launched yet.
Am I missing something? Seems shitty to withhold a shade of paint for those that want it while the pre-orders are still being taken. Not that I want it, I'm quite happy with Forest Green

 

[Diddy123]

FYI I checked same day I got back with CSR which was within 2ish days of them opening up the configurator.

The configurator opened on 11/16 and the LEs didn’t sell out until 11/20. If you were back within 2 days of configurator launching you still had several days to place your LE order before they shut them off.

Sponsored