Portenzo iPad 2 Case: Now a Smart Cover

[Sand Man]

I think the problem now is that in general good quality HARD maple is far more expensive then good quality birch (about 80% more expensive). However, in general birch is much more uniform in density and hardness when compared to maple. Therefore you can get low quality and cheaper maple easily in US which ends up in plywoods. The birch plywood that Portenzo used was high quality. Also P&Q is using high quality birch plywood either from baltics or russia. Portenzo's statements about maple's higher hardness are partly true since it can be harder then birch but in this case its meaningless. Even more so WWII Mosquito fighters where made out of birch plywood so if its ok for that then I assume it can take the punishment it gets when used as iPad 2 case material. All in all, I think Portenzo just wanted to get easier access for raw materials. In order to do so they had to choose soft maple as raw material which then resulted lower quality wood. The fact remains, just by looking at it its very hard to tell apart good quality maple and birch plywood. In this case its easy since their current maple plywood seems to be low quality.

While I am no wood expert, I have purchased some wood for home projects before. I believe the problem has more to do with consistacy of quality control when making the plywood as well as selecting. I look at it kinda like produce and this may not be a very good example, but when I worked in that industry you had to hand pick quality. You could not just pick up the phone and order up 300 cases of perfect lettuce. I think the same is Tue in wood.
While there should be some sort of consistency in the wood, not every sheet is going to be of the same quality I assure you no matter if be Birch or Maple.

 

[glen e]

then fire/retrain their wood selector -

my case is 9442 - please send me another case, and prepaid ups label for my case - I get the feeling darin/sand man, that you know these guys well - (for whatever reason.)...I'll return the case I have when I get a new one...all my order details stay the same...

I would be happy to show here my new case and how nice it will be.....

thank you

 

[Nuvi]

While there should be some sort of consistency in the wood, not every sheet is going to be of the same quality I assure you no matter if be Birch or Maple.

But this is a fact. If you want light colored plywood you go for "baltic white birch" (which is actually very likely russian white birch) with high grade. If you buy low graded plywood you end up with variation in texture and overall quality. Also for the Portenzo's use it is best to choose lower number and thicker plies so you can make sure sanding never ends at darker ply. Its really not that hard to get high quality plywood if you are willing to pay for it and know what you need.

 

[Sand Man]

then fire/retrain their wood selector -

my case is 9442 - please send me another case, and prepaid ups label for my case - I get the feeling darin/sand man, that you know these guys well - (for whatever reason.)...I'll return the case I have when I get a new one...all my order details stay the same...

I would be happy to show here my new case and how nice it will be.....

thank you

Well, if I was him I would not have let any of this stuff go unchecked. All this because I make a statement about wood selection. If you want to return your case, you are talking to thin air since I would be of no help.
I will say that you all make me laugh though. When someone tries to inteject a voice of command sense you all think they are a spy. When I finally receive my case I will surely check it closely . But until then, I reserve the right to keep an open mind since there have been far more happy customers on their FB page than all the negative feedback floating around here.

 

[glen e]

Well, if I was him I would not have let any of this stuff go unchecked. All this because I make a statement about wood selection. If you want to return your case, you are talking to thin air since I would be of no help.
I will say that you all make me laugh though. When someone tries to inteject a voice of command sense you all think they are a spy. When I finally receive my case I will surely check it closely . But until then, I reserve the right to keep an open mind since there have been far more happy customers on their FB page than all the negative feedback floating around here.

oh no, I'm not accusing you...you came up with their answers very quickly when I could not find them ..so I assumed you knew them. No matter, you said they read here so I assume they'll be in touch...

but also be aware they purge bad comments from their FB site - AND RIGHTFULLY SO....that's good business...but you can't use it as "look at all the good there".....

 

[Sand Man]

oh no, I'm not accusing you...you came up with their answers very quickly when I could not find them ..so I assumed you knew them. No matter, you said they read here so I assume they'll be in touch...

but also be aware they purge bad comments from their FB site - AND RIGHTFULLY SO....that's good business...but you can't use it as "look at all the good there".....

Since I have been looking at the responses to quality issues on their FB I did kind have a head start on where to look for the comments I was referring to. I do not remember saying they read here, but if they aren't they should. This forum seems to be the place to get feedback for possible issues that need to be addressed.

 

[Sand Man]

But this is a fact. If you want light colored plywood you go for "baltic white birch" (which is actually very likely russian white birch) with high grade. If you buy low graded plywood you end up with variation in texture and overall quality. Also for the Portenzo's use it is best to choose lower number and thicker plies so you can make sure sanding never ends at darker ply. Its really not that hard to get high quality plywood if you are willing to pay for it and know what you need.

I will have to agree and disagree since like I said before. My knowledge of wood is limited to my home improvement projects.

 

[Paik4Life]

Their excuse that a bunch of frames went out without sanding made me laugh. What kind of workflow and QC do they have if this could happen?

I'm really looking forward to my case but staying up to date on the forums is just hilarious. I think the P&Q frame design is what keeps me from going there. It looks the worst in terms of design and thought, in my opinion, but they seems to have the quality up to snuff. I like their little metal gasket or whatever they have for the camera hole. Looks much more professional than everyone else's solution to the camera hole (not that I bought that option for myself).

~Paik

 

[MrMac'n'Cheese]

Their excuse that a bunch of frames went out without sanding made me laugh. What kind of workflow and QC do they have if this could happen?



~Paik

If it were a bunch it'd be believable they "slipped by" but it was about 1000 frames and at the current slow as molasses rate, they put out bad quality control frames for two weeks straight?

Me thinks not, it was intentional the customer would not mind/realize

 

[ASakai]

If it were a bunch it'd be believable they "slipped by" but it was about 1000 frames and at the current slow as molasses rate, they put out bad quality control frames for two weeks straight?

Me thinks not, it was intentional the customer would not mind/realize

Whoa!! I didn't hear it was 1,000 frames that missed a sanding stage. I thought they said "a bunch of frames" missed and went out not too smooth to the touch, not a specific number.

They did mention on Facebook that they changed their choice of wood about 1,000 frames ago.

Please tell me that is an error and it's not true that that many have sanding issues because that sounds like an insane number considering some have posted recently that their case arrived fine.

 

[Sand Man]

Whoa!! I didn't hear it was 1,000 frames that missed a sanding stage. I thought they said "a bunch of frames" missed and went out not too smooth to the touch, not a specific number.

They did mention on Facebook that they changed their choice of wood about 1,000 frames ago.

Please tell me that is an error and it's not true that that many have sanding issues because that sounds like an insane number considering some have posted recently that their case arrived fine.

I think that just like most people he is speculating, I know that the truth in any of my statements are about me personally. I would like to think what they are posting is true. And even though people have said they delete negative feedback on their FB page, I personally have not seen this but I am sure I do not see everything.
Your statements reflect what I have seen on their FB. It would be nice if they posted here but I am afraid that some would just turn this into a pissing match no matter what heyday.

 

[Sand Man]

If it were a bunch it'd be believable they "slipped by" but it was about 1000 frames and at the current slow as molasses rate, they put out bad quality control frames for two weeks straight?

Me thinks not, it was intentional the customer would not mind/realize

Did you say you ordered another case ? I am just curious how long we will have to wait for your next review.

 

[glen e]

I think that just like most people he is speculating, I know that the truth in any of my statements are about me personally. I would like to think what they are posting is true. And even though people have said they delete negative feedback on their FB page, I personally have not seen this but I am sure I do not see everything.
Your statements reflect what I have seen on their FB. It would be nice if they posted here but I am afraid that some would just turn this into a pissing match no matter what heyday.

Like I said everyone does it at FB, I screen printed this a few weeks ago when some port fan boy was complaining that treegloo pruned their page. Search for this post if you don't believe me this is the potenzo wall....

 

[MrMac'n'Cheese]

Did you say you ordered another case ? I am just curious how long we will have to wait for your next review.

Considering I'm two weeks out...I may have another 6-8 weeks wait......the 4-6 weeks should be updated to ACCURATELY reflect their 8week shipping delay, as evident by their Facebook.......

 

[Sand Man]

Like I said everyone does it at FB, I screen printed this a few weeks ago when some port fan boy was complaining that treegloo pruned their page. Search for this post if you don't believe me this is the potenzo wall....

Image

I will have to take some more looks. I do not sought that it goes on, but had not noticed.

Thanks

 

[S cott]

then fire/retrain their wood selector -

my case is 9442 - please send me another case, and prepaid ups label for my case - I get the feeling darin/sand man, that you know these guys well - (for whatever reason.)...I'll return the case I have when I get a new one...all my order details stay the same...

I would be happy to show here my new case and how nice it will be.....

thank you

I have E-mailed you. Warranty claims need to be submitted through the website. Also I am not sure if the order number you provided was correct or not. Thanks, Scott

 

[glen e]

I have E-mailed you. Warranty claims need to be submitted through the website. Also I am not sure if the order number you provided was correct or not. Thanks, Scott

sorry.... 9444-- I don't have an email as of now...thanks!

 

[S cott]

sorry.... 9444-- I don't have an email as of now...thanks!

Just read the rest of that after I looked up your correct order number and sent an E-mail to THAT address. All warranty claims must be submitted through the website or a form of E-mail. If you would still like your case replaced please submit it the proper way and we will get you taken care of. We stand behind all of our products and we will make it right if there is a problem. Thanks, Scott

 

[Sand Man]

I have E-mailed you. Warranty claims need to be submitted through the website. Also I am not sure if the order number you provided was correct or not. Thanks, Scott

So you guys do watch the forum. Can you tell us what range you are shipping in for those that do not watch the FB page. My order is in the 13000's

 

[S cott]

So you guys do watch the forum. Can you tell us what range you are shipping in for those that do not watch the FB page. My order is in the 13000's

SandMan,

I do not want to conduct any business through mac rumors and I only wanted to take care of a customer which is why I signed up. If you have a question or need something specific please feel free to E-mail us at AwesomePerson@Portenzo.com

Thanks,
Scott

 

[glen e]

email received - thanks

 

[Sand Man]

SandMan,

I do not want to conduct any business through mac rumors and I only wanted to take care of a customer which is why I signed up. If you have a question or need something specific please feel free to E-mail us at AwesomePerson@Portenzo.com

Thanks,
Scott

No problem, I will just keep checking the FB page like I have been. Was just trying to help others. Having your e-mail for them will serve the same purpose.

Thanks

 

[S cott]

Considering I'm two weeks out...I may have another 6-8 weeks wait......the 4-6 weeks should be updated to ACCURATELY reflect their 8week shipping delay, as evident by their Facebook.......

Just as an FYI we have been hitting a very accurate ship time of 4-6 weeks with a very small percentage not making that time line. Sometimes it is delayed due to a payment issue being resolved or a shortage of a particular material. If you would like to discuss this anymore please shoot me an E-mail: AwesomePerson@portenzo.com

Thanks, Scott

 

[MrMac'n'Cheese]

Pictures speak 1,000 words, or at least a couple months worth.....*wink*

However I have the oddest premonition, this post of a person waiting for 2 mos.= 8 weeks almost, will magically become invisible, as all posts of customers waiting 8+ weeks with no word or case in sight........#thatisall

 

[Sand Man]

Pictures speak 1,000 words, or at least a couple months worth.....*wink*

However I have the oddest premonition, this post of a person waiting for 2 mos.= 8 weeks almost, will magically become invisible, as all posts of customers waiting 8+ weeks with no word or case in sight........#thatisall

I guess we will see. Scott seems to have created an account here so that he can interact with those that choose to post here rather than their FB page. He also stated that sometimes the longer delays revolve around payment issues or material supply problems . Maybe since they are now reading here we will not notice any of that funny stuff.