One Tesla owner’s attempt at humor turns serious as they find themselves blacklisted for trying to flip their Cybertruck.
Tesla is laying down the law when it comes to flipping its much-anticipated Cybertruck. It seems that one daring owner found out the hard way that Tesla isn’t joking about its no-resale policy. The user, known as “malinecentral” on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum, decided to test the waters by listing their Cybertruck for a whopping $242,069 online. Why such a specific and sky-high price? Well, according to them, it was just for laughs. However, Tesla, not finding the humor in the situation, quickly turned the tables by blacklisting the owner from future purchases.
“malinecentral” shared their tale of woe, explaining how after they sprinkled their Cybertruck listings across the internet, Tesla’s eagle-eyed Loss Prevention team caught wind of it. The outcome? Two additional Cybertruck reservations were canceled, and a stern warning was issued that any future orders would be met with immediate cancellation. To add a bit of salt to the wound, Tesla also made it clear that no refunds would be provided for reservation or order fees in such cases. Though “malinecentral” hadn’t actually sold the vehicle, the mere act of listing it was enough for Tesla to take action.
What’s interesting here is the debate over whether the blacklist applies solely to the Cybertruck or to all Tesla models. Yet, in a somewhat conciliatory gesture, Tesla assured the owner that they’re still welcome to service their other Tesla vehicles. Small comfort, perhaps, for someone now frozen out of adding new Teslas to their garage.
Tesla’s no-resale policy isn’t new information, though; the company has been quite upfront about its stance against flipping, especially when it comes to the Cybertruck. Tesla aims to prevent owners from selling their vehicles for a hefty profit within the first year of ownership. The automaker has even outlined potential penalties, including a fine of $50,000 or the profit gained from the resale, whichever is greater. And while there’s been some online chatter about the enforceability of such clauses, Tesla’s recent actions seem to indicate it’s more than ready to enforce these rules.
This situation has certainly sparked conversation around the ethics of flipping limited-edition vehicles. On one side, Tesla is working hard to keep its unique vehicles from being exploited for quick profits. On the other, owners like “malinecentral” are feeling the heat for even toying with the idea of selling their Cybertrucks. It’s a tricky balance between controlling the market and allowing owners the freedom to do as they please with their purchases.
As more Cybertrucks begin to hit the streets, and with listings popping up at significantly marked-up prices, it’ll be fascinating to see how Tesla continues to handle the issue of resales. Stories of Cybertrucks being flipped for over double their original MSRP have already surfaced, including a dealership in South Orlando listing one for an eye-watering $289,999.
Will Tesla’s firm stance deter would-be flippers, or will the potential profits prove too tempting to resist? Only time will tell, but for now, Tesla is making it abundantly clear that it’s not playing games when it comes to keeping its electric truck from turning into quick cash schemes.
