Rivian Kills Free RAN Charging Referral Rewards

[Hilbe]

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[PhatDaddy]

Dang it!

 

[schellack]

Bummer. I would’ve thought they would have limited the free charging, not totally eliminate.

 

[Mellowyellow]

That does stink

 

[CosmicRivian]

Nothing like having a referral “pending” — and looking forward to a summer of free RAN charging (with a lot of West Coast travel already planned) — only to have it yanked away at the last minute. It somehow makes it worse than if it were never there at all. Such a crappy feeling, and I never feel crappy about my Rivian experience. It’s like I just found out my girlfriend cheated on me. WTF?? A huge, unexpected bummer.

 

[malditofman]

Oh, well. Unfortunate, but not unexpected. I charge almost exclusively at home anyway. I only charge on the road infrequently. I do suggest they charge Rivian owners 43 cents automatically and non Rivian owners 63 cents. No grifting memberships. Just detect the vehicle brand and Rivian customer account. Drive well.

 

[R1Thor]

It's very interesting how hypocritical their own narrative appears (at least as of now).

"Will the rewards program grow over time?"
<Paragraph saying yes>

... Reality: all indications to the contrary:
- Dropped from 750 to 500 points per referral
- Now dropping the free DCFC benefit
- Meanwhile: Gear shop items that may qualify have increased in cost over time.
- Meanwhile: There are high demand gear shop items that do not qualify at all.

 

[CaptTrev]

Does anyone else think its crazy that the Rivian chargers ONLY work on Rivians? But Tesla and the other 3rd party chargers work on all EVs?

 

[R1Thor]

Does anyone else think its crazy that the Rivian chargers ONLY work on Rivians? But Tesla and the other 3rd party chargers work on all EVs?

You should...use Google:
https://rivian.com/newsroom/article/rivian-adventure-network-opens-its-first-chargers-for-all-evs

 

[CaptTrev]

You should...use Google:
https://rivian.com/newsroom/article/rivian-adventure-network-opens-its-first-chargers-for-all-evs

Thank you
I missed this info
Apologies

 

[CosmicRivian]

It's very interesting how hypocritical their own narrative appears (at least as of now).

"Will the rewards program grow over time?"
<Paragraph saying yes>

... Reality: all indications to the contrary:
- Dropped from 750 to 500 points per referral
- Now dropping the free DCFC benefit
- Meanwhile: Gear shop items that may qualify have increased in cost over time.
- Meanwhile: There are high demand gear shop items that do not qualify at all.

I really appreciate the sentiment here. Spot on.

It's funny, but I have this really strong emotional reaction to them taking away free RAN charging as part of the referral program because I have enthusiastically sought out and used RAN chargers all over the PNW and Northern California (I have used every charger in Oregon and Washington as I have been adventuring and I was planning to travel from Portland to Yosemite this summer exclusively on RAN charging).

Earning referral credits, and charging at RAN chargers for free, feels like an unexpected first-class bump when flying. It just makes you feel special in this hard-to-describe way. Sure, I do most of my charging at home (80%), but getting it free on the road as a reward for the referrals just felt special, especially because of how much I use RAN charging away from home.

Eliminating the free charging for referrals today feels very "moving the goalposts" for someone like me who has been working to earn referrals and bring people into the fold.

I think I'm just feeling this weird betrayal and I really wish Rivian would just pick the terms for the program, communicate them directly to enthusiasts like me, and then leave it alone. I know that is Pollyanna of me, but it's just how I feel.

On a related note, as someone who has used RAN chargers all over the PNW quite frequently, I am impressed with how little I see the chargers being used at all. I am often the only Rivian charging and I have never seen a non-Rivian EV using a RAN charger.

If bringing new users to the RAN charging experience is a goal, raising prices and eliminating free charging as a reward isn't the way to do it. After my current free charging expires (May), I'll likely be using Tesla membership exclusively for charing on the road because of the value proposition. If given an option with all things being equal, lower price will win the day. Plus, if we're being honest, the Supercharger network is superior*.

TL;DR: Rivian, don't make it so hard for enthusiasts like me to be loyal by changing the referral program in such crappy ways.

*superior = more charging stations, fast charging, often better prices, etc

 

[Golfer04]

JMO, but discounted charging should be part of the monthly/annual subscription. At 60 cnts/kw they are giving $$ to Tesla. Where we vaca in FL tesla is 36/cnts. Panhandle. I would prefer not give Elon a damn dime, but not paying a 75 percent premium for RAN.

 

[kanundrum]

Prepping for the economy, I get it, not the best thing to do but they gotta cut costs and fuel their $$$ elsewhere I suppose. Oh well!

 

[strykerwsu]

This only hurts Rivian. I don't have as much incentive to provide referrals. Very strange, they must be extremely in the hole on RAN to make such a change.

This is still my largest concern on ev's. Last summer with Tesla access trips were easy. With as many new EVs on market and mostly open networks and not enough new chargers im interested and a little worried for this summers trips.

 

[CaptTrev]

I really appreciate the sentiment here. Spot on.

It's funny, but I have this really strong emotional reaction to them taking away free RAN charging as part of the referral program because I have enthusiastically sought out and used RAN chargers all over the PNW and Northern California (I have used every charger in Oregon and Washington as I have been adventuring and I was planning to travel from Portland to Yosemite this summer exclusively on RAN charging).

Earning referral credits, and charging at RAN chargers for free, feels like an unexpected first-class bump when flying. It just makes you feel special in this hard-to-describe way. Sure, I do most of my charging at home (80%), but getting it free on the road as a reward for the referrals just felt special, especially because of how much I use RAN charging away from home.

Eliminating the free charging for referrals today feels very "moving the goalposts" for someone like me who has been working to earn referrals and bring people into the fold.

I think I'm just feeling this weird betrayal and I really wish Rivian would just pick the terms for the program, communicate them directly to enthusiasts like me, and then leave it alone. I know that is Pollyanna of me, but it's just how I feel.

On a related note, as someone who has used RAN chargers all over the PNW quite frequently, I am impressed with how little I see the chargers being used at all. I am often the only Rivian charging and I have never seen a non-Rivian EV using a RAN charger.

If bringing new users to the RAN charging experience is a goal, raising prices and eliminating free charging as a reward isn't the way to do it. After my current free charging expires (May), I'll likely be using Tesla membership exclusively for charing on the road because of the value proposition. If given an option with all things being equal, lower price will win the day. Plus, if we're being honest, the Supercharger network is superior.

TL;DR: Rivian, don't make it so hard for enthusiasts like me to be loyal by changing the referral program in such crappy ways.

I have only charged at a RAN once - and it was a perfect, seamless experience.
This was about a month ago - and there were ONLY a few Rivian vehicles charging there.

If I didn't know RAN was open to all EVs (and I own a Rivian) - I would bet most other EV owners don't know they are open to them. I also wonder if Teslas nav software shows the RAN on their nav

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