From the EW article:

Eh, these days it’s almost always a software and/or process problem. The user may have enabled some checkboxes on the order form that the system wasn’t properly configured to handle correctly for that car type and since the system wasn’t expecting it in the first place, the system doesn’t have a way to fix either.

Based on my expectations for Hertz, I assume any customer service rep who agrees to a refund gets fired. Maybe not immediately on the spot, but that Hertz finds a way to get rid of them as soon as possible, so everyone on staff knows what will happen if they provide actual customer service. 

The policy that charges gas for an EV... totally agree. As far as the customer service: typically, it’s laziness combined with poor management. That is, the employee would have to put in some sort of exception to get the refund, and with that additional effort, that employee would have to spend the next 2 weeks…

Every time I read a story like this, it feels malicious. Like some one deliberately added the charge out of boredom or something. 

https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/22/anyone-relying-on-lidar-is-doomed-elon-musk-says/

Lidar used to be expensive. precision rotating mirrors in big bulky beacons. But tech marched forward and now it’s vibrating lenticular lenses on a chip. And it’s cheap. There is a reason every other self driving car company has test mules driving around equipped with lidar.

Google is your friend. Tesla hating on LIDAR has been a thing for a long time.

I generally find the Tesla reporting here to be a bit one sided,

It’s pretty newsworthy that a company that literally just swore they will never use Lidar has been outed by their lidar supplier. It makes them look like a bunch of monkeys running a multibillion dollar market cap company, which is absolutely true. 

And I’m sure wherever that report is, you’ll be there to defend him

Elon going back to LIDAR would be a huge admission of failure for him, something his ego will find hard to swallow, especially after years of denigrating it at the expense of safety.

It’a almost like Tesla should have a PR department or something to get ahead of the rampant speculation.

I generally find the Tesla reporting here to be a bit one sided, but them going to LIDAR after years of saying it wasn’t necessary, is actually pretty newsworthy.

Sad to say, but the owner probably got the best possible outcome there —- insurance pays her to replace a vehicle that has terrifying depreciation. It’s the only way she’d ever get close to her money back. 

Or just turn it off. Takes about 3 seconds.v Passcode required after restart.

Or, you know, just rapidly smash the home button on iPhones so it defaults to requiring your passcode, which is protected information.

I don’t know what it cost to manufacture, but I can say from my perspective and the people around me were turned off by the price tag.

that wasn’t specified.

In terms of comfortability, Apple sells a Dual Loop Band headset strap that applies less pressure on your face. That said, it lacks the usual sleekness of Apple.