We wrapped up a great team walk on the Santa Monica Promenade with a stop at the Tesla showroom (October 31, 2025). At the door, my COO asked if there were trick-or-treats for adults. The associate had us sign in and told us to head inside. Another staffer said the sign-up was on the screen inside a demo Tesla, but I declined--personal preference: I don't sit in Teslas until they're truly full self-driving. Inside, we politely asked three different employees. A staff member who appeared to be the manager first said we weren't dressed up; when we explained we'd been told to come in after signing in, the response shifted to "we don't have enough" and "it's only for kids." The candy wasn't the issue--the inconsistent answers and dismissive tone in front of my team were. People may forget words, but they remember how you make them feel. As someone who has purchased three Porsches and two Ferraris in the U.S., I expected better from a brand I believe in. I support Tesla and Elon's mission, which is why I'm sharing this: clear, consistent communication and a courteous, empathetic approach would have turned this into a positive moment. Suggestions for management: - Post the event/promo policy clearly (costumes, adults/kids, quantities). - Offer a non-vehicle sign-up option (tablet/QR code) for guests who prefer not to sit in the car. - Give staff a single, friendly script and stick to it. - If an item is limited, apologize sincerely and offer an alternative (sticker, photo spot, quick demo). I hope this helps the team improve the customer experience going forward. read more

Tesla Motors - Tesla if keeping their local sales managers - Car Dealers Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I went into this Tesla location at the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade interested in a test drive and walked out having 'bought' a Tesla. All in about an hour! Everyone at this location was super helpful and friendly, both in person and in making reservations to come in. Really fast and easy process to take one for a test drive! Did some driving around and fell in love with that acceleration. An even quicker process to pay the deposit and my order in for the car. Tesla rarely has deals so I got very lucky when some popped up in December. I'm obsessed with my Tesla and the staff at this location made that happen for me! read more

Tesla Motors - Outside - Car Dealers Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

PART 2 Regional Manager Art Taylor My name is Erik B, I got your info from a very helpful Mr Cid manager at my Tesla Hayvenhurst location. I've been a Tesla owner of a Model S and now a Model 3 and was going in to Test Drive (and possibly purchase) a Model X on Tuesday April 30th (couldnt do the 29) that your 395 Santa Monica Pl #120 location. My appointment was set up for 12:45 pm by a wonderful Tesla Advisor named Shireen one week prior. I brought my almost 80 yrs old beautiful mother and we arrived 40 minutes early and watched the recommended video. We were greeted by Tesla Advisor Ty upon entering and I asked him now that he has confirmed our appointment could he please point me to the restrooms before we go on the Test Drive...for my mother. He told me they aren't for public use. Shocked, I reminded him we're a customer (not public) on a scheduled Test Drive...but instead of inconveniencing my mother any further... I simply asked him, where can she go?  Ty made my almost 80 yr old mother walk half a block to Nordstrom to see "IF" she could use their bathrooms...maybe we should spend $100,000 there! Well, when you have to go, you have to go so, after making sure my mother was taken care of, I asked for the manager... who took his time coming down and when he did arrive, approached with an attitude and never introduced himself... I politely informed him that I'm a long standing customer and tried explaining several times to him but he continued to interrupt, argue and was unneccesarily condescending!  As a long standing customer with an elderly parent who simply needed a restroom before a Test Drive...we were feeling attacked and discriminated against...I reminded him that we came to Test Drive and possibly purchase a vehicle as a customer (not the public) and that this whole situation was out of hand and unacceptable! I informed him to let his supervisor know that he single handedly cost Tesla a Model X. As I quietly walked towards the exit he yelled can she walk up the stairs? I looked back annoyed at him and walked out! The next day, May 1st I took time from work and went to the 1100 Colorado location where I was poorly helped by a front desk employee Veronica who found a service rep named Ernesto from the Service Dept who sat me down and took notes... He explained there's nothing he himself can do because this isnt his department but that he will try to get it in the hands of someone who can... Veronica mentioned a Rainl who I needed to speak to but that they were in a meeting which is why she got me Ernesto per my request. I was told Kevin P was the lead Advisor and that Alexander M was the store manager for the Santa Monica 395 Santa Monica Pl #120 location my incident took place.  Ernesto was extremely professional and handled the situation wonderfully. I wasn't able to remember the gentleman's name who greeted me at the 395 location on the day of my incident when Ernesto asked so when we finished I went back to the location and got his name and to my surprise was pleasantly greeted by Shireen who originally set our Test Drive...  As I tried to also ask/confirm who the rude manager Gordon's boss was he came downstairs and confronted me... his staff informed him I wanted his supervisors name and immediately he agressively told me he's not giving me that information. I said that's fine I already have it, I just wanted to see if he would be proactive and professional enough to provide it and potentially say sorry and resolve the "ENTIRE MATTER"...he then tried to manipulate me into telling him who I found and he'll confirm it for me... I said no thanks!  Gordon then tried to argue some more as I once again attempted to explain that this situation was unacceptable and possibly ILLEGAL... and that he has offended us and that he has put my mother due to her age/medications in very compromised position. Let alone her lifetime trauma as an 80 yr old black woman being told AGAIN in 2024 she STILL CAN'T use a bathroom!? Disgusting and heartbreaking... Gordon H continued to interrupt and act rudely as I asked him to deescalate stop rudely interrupting and simply say sorry at which point he assumed for no reason at all that I was recording him (I wasn't and it wouldn't have been illegal if I was) he then told Ty to call security and informed me that I'm now trespassed from the location!!! That's not exactly how that works... I told Gordon he shouldn't take things to this level... he continued at which point I called some friends of mine. I then walked outside and spoke with the Santa Monica Police department who then contacted the Sargent... in short, this has now escalated to a Civil matter by your manager Mr. H.  Your employee Gordon H should be immediately fired and your Tesla Advisor Ty should be re-trained on how to provide exceptional customer service and support to all customers as well as the public. read more

The showroom is a little hectic, but we were taken care of by Silvia, who was absolutely phenomenal. She was so dynamic and attentive. She gave us a clear breakdown of the differences between the models and the options available on each one. What really made her stand out was that she gave us clear recommendations based on our information and preferences. She directed us to the Model Y over the Model 3 for our family and to the 3 year lease being a better value than the 2 year lease. The test drive was a win - she was patient in showing us all the features and allowing us to take our time to really experience the car. We purchased next day. The person at the facility we were picking up from couldn't answer our questions, so we called Silvia and she explained everything so clearly. I cannot recommend Silvia highly enough - she is amazing. This was the best buying experience because of her. read more

I need to start acting my wage and stop walking into trash stores like this. I was just told they don't do test drives . Okay bro I can see why anyone who drives one is on par with bmws for being the worst ppl to exist. Imagine acting like your company is still a thing. Ngl I would t even be caught dead in one because I feel like my whole family's name would be ruined. You guys are lucky af I even date people who think your car doesn't look like a f-Ed up Lego brick. I don't even understand how Tesla drivers get into crashes with auto breaks it's like ya'll are so bad not even AI can cover your ignorance. read more

Though dealing with Tesla can be frustrating due to hard to navigate websites and online only transactions, which can be jarring for major transactions, the SM location is gorgeous, with plenty of sales help and opportunities to test drive given its location adjacent to a parking garage. I would like to call out José, who really extended himself to help out, being available, answering questions, and being altogether helpful when assistance was needed, which unfortunately is frequent. Though I hope Tesla will eventually overcome its many customer service issues, my confidence was increased by working with dedicated employees such as José. In fact without him I would have likely walked away from my order and gone elsewhere. I'm looking forward to taking delivery, and hope that any issues that mY come up will be handled professionally. read more

I bought my Model S in 2016, picked her up from the Centinela Tesla dealership and have always had tremendous customer service with the company at several locations. Since the onslaught of social distancing procedures because of Covid and the hugely successful sales force of the Tesla company, the customer service experience has understandably changed to an automated contactless experience. This is a bit unsettling for me as I had gotten into the habit of just showing up for service on my vehicle without making an appointment. I have to thank from the bottom of my heart one of the Santa Monica Tesla location staffers named Damian. He was my online contact for a necessary repair, got me in quicker than my originally schedule appointment, and took care of a couple other problems I didn't notice. PLEASE GIVE THAT MAN A RAISE!!!! I highly recommend everyone to invest in one (or more!) of these vehicles. You will be happy, and there is no time like now to get away from the fossil fuel industry. read more

Tesla Motors - Car Dealers Near Me - Santa Monica, California

So much for customer service. I went in to ask some questions. 2 salespeople were helping customers. A 3rd was on her computer. None of them acknowledged me. I milled around for 5 minutes. I know they saw me. Someone else came in; and they started to him right away. I kind of stared in disbelief for a minute or two. Then I left and wrote this. read more

I just want to give a huge shout out to Devyn and the tech Luis. I came down from Pleasanton 7 hours for a conference. Prior to this problem, it was resolved at the Dublin location so I wasn't thinking the same problem would occur. But while down in LA, the seat malfunctioned and would not stop beeping the entire drive. I could only imagine driving back 7 hours with my 1 year old and 3 year old with that beeping. I first stopped at the Santa Monica location and they were not very helpful at all. I understand I didn't have an appt but when the problem reoccurred 7 hours away from home, I would've hoped for better customer service. They said there was nothing they can do and apologized. It really didn't feel sincere. I just needed someone to see if it was a quick fix or not and the tech and rep said it would take hours if not overnight. I drove to the next service center in Van Nuys and Devyn was so nice to see what they could do. The tech Luis came out and in less than 5 minutes popped the seat forward and saw the problem. He came back less than 10 minutes later and plugged something in and said you're all good. No need for a new seat! I was freaking ecstatic. Then Devyn held my 1 year old baby so I can put her car seat locked back into place. Freaking amazing team and the ability to just listen to my problem and figure it out in less than 20 minutes made me so grateful. Thank you Van Nuys team. read more

Was in the wait list for a cyber truck shortly after Tesla unveiled it and began taking preorders. After all the delays and years of waiting I decided to get my 100 back. Not easy at all. I tried emailing , calling local Tesla sales, called numbers I could find for Tesla online. Nothing worked. I finally had to go to a Tesla showroom to get my deposit back. That worked but what a hassle. read more

First of all - LOVED Paul & James who took me on my test drive! Have seen both since James when I picked up my car & Paul when walking by the showroom. Qualmed my fears & just overall good guys. And I LOVE my car - so easy & fun to drive!! HOWEVER, the guy who handled the purchase was an asshole. Felt pressured to make a fast decision. Dismissive. Even when paying in full. I asked about the long range & he convinced me that you could only charge it to 80% so I'd only get 8 more miles than the standard. Others have now told me that you CAN charge it more before long trips (which is why I wanted it). Asked about showroom floor/demos which I understood were much less expensive & he told me they were only a few hundred less (he lied - I saw that wasn't the case after I went online). I was told there was no destination fee - I was charged $1,390. I was clear that the color & interior didn't matter but he ignored me completely. I then received a "used car certificate" after I paid & had to sign documents. I messaged Tesla - no response. Messaged several times, no response. I showed up to pick up my car in MDR & luckily James was there to walk me through (the other guy there said he saw the message but ignored it). My experience was so bad that I may not buy a Tesla again (the car, James & Paul being the positives) But if you want a Tesla, I recommend going to a different location - friends have had positive experiences elsewhere. The guy that handled checkout ruined it for me. read more

This car buying experience blew me away. From the test drive to ordering the car it's been a unique car buying experience. My salesman Jose has been awesome. It's like I bought a car from a friend . He has been available day or night to help resolve any issues or answer my questions. read more

I normally only post reviews about food and drinks but this is a review specifically for Alex and Johnny. We didn't purchase a Tesla but I want to share our experience with you. My boyfriend and I are from NorCal and do not have a Tesla showroom at our home location. We were a bit hesitant to walk into this Tesla showroom because we didn't want to have to deal with pushy salesman. We were first approached by Johnny. He gave us his honest opinion and guidance about when and where to start once we were ready to begin our journey with Tesla in the future. We were completely unaware that Tesla offers test drive until he brought it to our attention. Alex stepped in and got us squared away with the test drive. 10/10 would recommended these two to you if you're ready to invest in a Tesla. The environment was super welcoming given the fact that everyone who was in there looked "boujee" as heck and we were in a basic presentable outfit. Aside from Alex and Johnny, the other employees I'm sure were just as great. The women was stood at the stand was always smiling and greeting us when we walked by. read more

Steph at Tesla was fantastic with helping me select a car to buy. She was super knowledgeable with all the questions I had and patient with me making such a big decision. I can't thank her enough for all her help! read more

worst customer service. I ordered and a car and told it's been months before I could take delivery. I was willing to wait. now they keep trying to pick me into a car I didn't order and keep running my credit every time they have a car ready that I don't want. this is absurd. has me worried for what customer service will be like in the future if it's it's this bad now I don't even have the car yet read more

*** I think that Emilio M's review of this Tesla shop is spot-on. *** If you are a techie then you will undoubtedly enjoy this experience. It is about time that an electric car is promoted in this fashion imo. Showroom is upbeat, spacious, user-friendly and educational too. The biggest differences between Tesla and traditional auto dealers is that there is no push for a close. Salesmen aren't on commission. They act more like tech consultants and that's really refreshing to me. The downside in comparison is that it takes roughly 2-3 wks to get a test drive scheduled online. Also takes 2-3mo to get a car delivered and $5000 is required upfront to just place the order. I believe that it is refundable up until the time vehicle actually ships but not desirable. I test drove the Model S (Performance) on Ocean and San Vincente. Sticker price as shown was about $82K or so (tech package added). Tech package is either a 'I really love it or hate it' type of option to me. It creates a screen of choices in center console that is mind-numbing. It truly creates an active onboard computer to operate vehicle & web. Aesthetically the Model S is b!tching: roomy, elegant and yet sporty. The ride itself was surprisingly smooth ... comparable to Lexus, soft. Power was unassuming though instantly applied upon acceleration. I would equate this vehicle to an eco-friendly version of Jaguar XJL. In order for monthly lease to work out as they described ($500/mo) you gotta factor in -$2500 CA tax back - $7500 US - $300/mo gas. Wait, who spends $300/mo on gas? That is overestimating, right? And of course this estimate is for the base model ... not the test car. Would I buy one? Prob not, only b/c I am a sports sedan enthusiast. This is where Model S falls short; its "feel" is too soft for its look imo. No stick, no vibration, no growl ... just a quick and smooth 0-60 mph. I think I'd wait for a version where they artificially create sound & vibe. *** That said, Model S is wickedly fast ... seamless acceleration. *** read more

What an amazing way to sell and promote a car! The walls have touch screen interactive displays plus a beautiful red Model S on display. It sucks that you cant get inside it but I understand why. Too many latte carrying freaks at the Promenade! Oh and yes lots of other goodies to buy as well. Like T Shirts, hats and child & infant clothing etc.. The showroom also shows off the basic framework of the vehicle so you can see how things work in an electric car. So Tesla Motors' space is not only a place to place your order for this amazing vehicle, its also an educational environment! My opinion of well marketed electric vehicles is "its about time" I can see one of these being in my driveway. And I hope its sooner than later. Best part NO PUSHY SALES PEOPLE!!! Its more like a friendly version of an Apple Store. Where the employee's actually acknowledge you and are willing to answer any questions. read more

Lawrence is amazing and is the reason why I'm leaving a 5-star review. He was so kind and helpful when I came in to ask questions about the Model Y. He is very informed and made my process of placing my order that day very enjoyable. read more

This is just a small showroom with 1 completed model S and 1 skeleton of a model S on display. All along the walls there are interactive monitors that you can use to get more information on the Model S. You can also touch and feel the samples of interior options available for the car. It's a neat place to get "informed" about these new Tesla electric cars but my one gripe about this place is that the employees there are a little misleading....Although I'm sure that's just how car salespeople operate. What i mean is that if someone asks what are the range/0-60/charge times of the car....the employee will list the numbers based on the highest model with the bigger battery pack and also the charge time of a non standard outlet. They are not lying per se but it's a bit deceiving to the uninformed customer because the standard model has substantially less impressive specs. Also, i overheard one of the employees flat out giving the wrong information when asked what the 0-60 time was. Although admittedly it could have been an honest mistake. Anyways, being a big petrol head I can't say i'm a big fan of these soulless electric appliances but i do wish the company all the best. read more

What the hell! I can't believe that my 2022 Model S Plaid, which I bought in July last year, has given me nothing but trouble. I have had to deal with flat tires over 10 freaking times in just nine months! And what's worse? I have been forced to spend over $6,000 on tire costs in less than a year! This is completely unacceptable and I demand that something be done about it! read more

BAD. Very rude. Very unhelpful. Very disrespectful "service" people. I took my car in to have wind noise repaired, they made the problem worse and then told me to come in again at a specified time to fix the exacerbated issue. When I did, they told me they couldn't actually work on the car that day and offered me a discount. When I came back the next time, they took the car and then told me they would not offer a discount, laughed at me, actively talked over me, and then became increasingly hostile until I eventually just left. Truly a terrible experience, and unfortunately, the only tesla service center near me. read more

I can not rave about this location enough! After having an unpleasant experience over at Topanga, my husband and I could not have been more excited about the service we received! Every single person was so helpful and staff was trained like actual professionals. Thank you Tesla SM! read more

Jake is amazing! Great customer service and he is super knowledgeable and helpful in describing Tesla's features, payment plans, and so much more! He was extremely attentive in answering any questions we had and went above and beyond to ensure that our test drive experience would be good. Highly recommend. read more

I didn't come here seriously expecting to buy a car but 30 minutes later I called my wife and said "Guess what? I emptied my 401k and am driving the Tesla home!" Okay maybe not, but this is a fun place to take a look around. I went here with a friend while I was in town for work and they had us sit in the car, which almost reminds you of a Batmobile with its high tech displays and center console display that seems to be larger than an iPad. The cars are of course top of the line and have prices to match. They do sell a variety of Tesla swag such as hats and shirts if you're still saving your pennies for the cars. The sales people were really friendly and seem to get that they have to balance between treating everyone as a "potential customer" and knowing that most of us probably won't drop that kind of cash on a car and are there just to look around. I didn't buy a car but this place is worth a quick look if you're in the area. read more

Although I'm not a Tesla owner, came in here on Saturday to check out the car. I'm a car guy, so any dealership, especially one on 3rd Street Promenade is like a flame to my moth. This store is probably mostly about brand awareness. Most of the people (like myself) are only hear to check things out, and the people that work there were happy to gab about the car as long as I wanted (albeit the store was kinda empty at 1pm on a Saturday). The car is great. A harbinger of things to come. Love the huge center stack screen. I could live in there! read more

David made this entire experience smooth. If you need a new Tesla, reach out to David !

Went with my mother who was ready to buy 1 maybe even 2 teslas that day. She was ready to get it but wanted someone to show her all the cool features and all of that. We got the WORST sales person EVER! Literally all she did was ask for my moms email and send her the pamphlet. We told her we wanted to Buy the cars, but also wanted to see the features, etc... well, she showed us NOTHING. Took us to the back, opened the page and started the buying process without explaining or showing anything. We ended up leaving with no cars and we were 100% ready to buy. Seriously put off. STAY AWAY! Go somewhere else. WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

My experience with Tesla of Santa Monica has been quite positive overall. In purchasing from this store, I was guided throughout the entire process by Nick Andrews. Nick and the team at Tesla were available at what seemed like all hours of the day. This was especially helpful for a young, first-time purchaser like myself who didn't have much of a clue how the car building and car buying processes work. I would recommend working with Nick and anyone from this location if you have any interest in switching over to an electric car. All of their associates are quite patient, understanding, and helpful. read more

Went to pickup my car today and it was already damaged. You would think that they would check the car before having someone come out to pick it up. Ordered a new car and now need to wait. read more

Trying to buy a Powerwall at Tesla is impossible. I was assigned a rep names Justin Nguyen who refuses to respond to my emails or get to me. Why does this process have to be so painful? Over 2 months to get any response... read more

Horrible customer service. Like seriously, I'm buying a $70-80k car from you and you can't answer an email about how to complete the process in the Tesla app? No one here cares. read more

This was a real treat to be able to learn all about the cars and also take it out on the streets of LA and stomp on that accelerator pedal! Very fast car, silent, beautiful and expensive! The model s has all kinds of trick features and it is in fact really comfortable with the Recaro seats. Visibility out of the back windows is not that great, but I really only had interest in looking forward and flooring it! You could hurt your passengers if you didn't warn them when you stomp on it! Full acceleration creates oneG of force instantly! Shouldn't be too long before this is available in a truck chassis....... read more

Tesla Motors - Car Dealers Near Me - Santa Monica, California

When I first got my Model X , I thought it was the best car in the world. What they didn't disclose is that if you get in an accident or your car suffers any damage. 1) their ship won't have availability for a month or 2 2) even if you find an authorized body shop, they won't have parts available. So you'll be months without a car, without an answer, and most importantly paying for a car, you can't even get rid of. read more

Wow wow wow. The new Tesla SUV has suicide doors which makes it 10 times worth the price tag. Haha. I stopped by there to checkout the Tesla's as I have never seen a store for them before. The store is super tiny and holds a total of 3. I believe that's all you need to make a decision. They are well designed and mostly touch screen. The staff was super nice and answered all my questions. I put it on my car list and hopefully I'll be able to afford it one day. read more

Had a great time at this Tesla location. Kevin helped me out from the first moment I walked in the door all the way to the end when I got my car. I had so many questions, Kevin answered them all with patience and a friendly, positive, and helpful demeanor from start to finish! The test drive was awesome, and when I returned a different day, Kevin took a ton of time to help me yet again, answer questions, explain the ins and outs, and then to place the delivery with me right there in the store. I had questions days later about delivery and he texted back and forth every time. Such a chill, kind dude who went above and beyond! I now have my Tesla and am in love with it. Such a great experience, truly all because of Kevin's kindness and attention, THANKS KEV! read more

Worst experience, customer service suck, you have to call and email for a matter several times and still won't be solved.

I don't know how to actually review this place? As a showroom I guess it does its job: There are a couple of Model S on display. -One is opened all the way to show the seating for 7 and entertainment console. -one is a skeleton frame of the chassis to show the batteries and charger, and also the drivetrain. Very interesting stuff if you want to see how the power is distributed. -one Model S with every option. This is the sexy one. Other than the showpieces you can also buy Tesla swag such as hats, T-shirts, water bottles and baby clothes ("0 emissions ....almost"). You can also utilize the touch screen monitors they have to customize your dream Tesla and how it compares to conventional cars on various metrics (how much do you drive, how fast do you go, etc) Apparently with my driving habits I can go 284 miles on a single charge, which is slightly worse than my current car (Mazda6). However after 30k miles I start saving thousands of dollars in fuel costs. If this is the car that defines the future of automobiles I am all on board. It looks awesome, saves money after 2.5 years, silent, and with all the extra space I don't have to worry about leaving friends or shoving luggage in between spaces. One of these days I can afford one...lol read more

Nadia was incredibly helpful with my purchase and was very communicative and friendly !! Definitely go and see Nadia if you ever looking to purchase 10/10 experience !! read more

Santa Monica location is terrific. David is extremely helpful, both purchasing, and after you purchased for any question you might have. Terrific service. read more

My best friend, my fiancee, and I stopped by Telsa motors to check out these stunning cars. We spoke to two sales associate, Jeff and Derrick who were the best. They showed me some really cool features of the Tesla, and shared some great information about Tesla with us and we just think they are great. I would highly recommend coming down to Santa Monica to check out the cars, ask questions, and sign up for updates on the Telsa cars! Ask for Jeff and Derrick! read more

Tesla Motors - Red Tesla - Car Dealers Near Me - Santa Monica, California