Portenzo iPad 2 Case: Now a Smart Cover

[blueridge]

Based upon what I've seen in this thread from others and from the Portenzo folks, yes, it would seem Morocco is definitely the most popular option (I think it more closely resembles a Moleskine). Of course, with the delay, I'm guessing quite a few have changed their minds. Darin posted here a while ago (maybe two weeks) that Morocco would take longer due to supply issues. I always preferred Levant (at least in pictures, I like the look of the texture), but upgraded my order to the 23.5 last week.

Just curious, of those who upgraded to 23.5, were you expecting your order by now? When I changed my order a week ago, it said there would be a 7-15 day wait, so I always assumed I'd have to wait another 2 weeks for shipment. With that in mind, today would be the first possible day I would even hope for it to go out, with early next week being a more likely scenario. Obviously even that's not guaranteed at this point, but I am curious about expectations, especially from upgraders and non pre-orders.

yah.. originally we were thinking the same thing.. morocco looks more like moleskine. my wife really likes the 23.5 since her ipad is white.. if i knew there would be shipping this week i would change my order.. i haven't gotten a response yet.. im lookin at other alternatives but i really like everything i have seen from portenzo so far.. but we cant wait forever.. i hope preorders get priority on everything..

 

[mysterygirl]

I also find it interesting that those of us who have remained positive about this scenario have been called trolls and working for Portenzo. I assure you that's not the case here either. In fact, this will be my first ever experience with this case (also my first iPad). In my case, I've researched a lot about this company and know they have a strong reputation for making a quality product and offering excellent customer service. There is clearly a hiccup in their process at the moment, but all the positive press from users isn't suddenly negated because of a one week (at present) shipping delay. The very fact that Darin comes on these forums at all is more than most companies could ever say. For these reasons, I have been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for a period of time.

For those who needed cases within a certain timeframe, I understand their need to cancel and move on. And for those who used paypal so were charged right away, I also have greater understanding since you are out a significant amount of money with no product.

But for me (and I suspect many on this thread), I have the luxury of being able to wait another 2 weeks before I need a case in hand. I also have not been charged, so as I said earlier, this costs me nothing (and the accusations of a shady vendor seem somewhat silly when they make a point not to charge until your product ships).

 

[blueridge]

mysterygirl.. same here.. first ipad.. researched a bunch of cases for a week before i chose to go with portenzo.. my wife and i both really like their cases and preordered.. i used paypal however so im out that $ from the get go.. my wife and i looked over the other alternatives last night.. we still think the protenzo is the way to go.. just wish we could get some confirmation on a realistic time frame.. also.. assurance that preorders are getting priority over any newer orders since the 18th.. i dont think they are doing anything shady.. i run my own business.. i know how it is to order a product for a customer.. and have to wait because of back order or out of stock.. customers sometime dont like when an item is delayed but things happen.. the funny thing is most of the time the people who complain about delays the most are the people who didnt prepay.. i knew there were going to be delays but didnt think it would be 2-3 weeks..

 

[27spots]

Manufacturing issues are, to be quite honest, expected. It's a tiny company that makes their cases by hand. They're probably inundated with several thousand orders, especially since their iPad 1 case was pretty popular and they couldn't sneak up on people this time.

Anyone who expected them to hand make and ship out all of their orders between the time they got an iPad 2 and today, while also answering all emails within a few hours, while also placating those in this thread, were just not being realistic.

Is it ideal? No. But its reality. The ipad 2 presumably sold close to 1 million units. If even 1/10 of 1% of all ipad purchasers ordered this case, that is 1000 cases that need to be built by hand, quality tested, packaged, and shipped out.

If you wanted machine crafted mass produced cases, there are plenty out there.

I am aware I sound like a shill here. I don't know Darin and only heard about Portenzo from these forums. I just think a lot of you guys either went in with unrealistic expectations, or fooled yourselves into thinking you could deal with that reality when you couldn't.

Portenzo needs to come clean and address why the product isn't shipping. Most of what everyone saying is conjecture. Could they be having manufacturing issues? Yes. Are they? We do not know.

Why don't we know?

Mar 22, 2011, 12:24 AM
Shipping, I'ts starting to trickle... flood coming soon...

Shipping times? Pre orders definitely go out first. Updates will be posted as we get a better picture of capacity.

Composition shipping in 3 to 5 days? For the iPad 1, yes, that is possible. For the iPad 2, no. 1-2 weeks.

Mar 24, 2011, 01:00 AM

More photos of other colors coming soon, shipping first.

(back to packing, it's only midnight!!)

Mar 27, 2011, 08:15 PM

The universal answer is: They are all being worked on. We have had a little slow-down after our first wave (people have been ordering these since the 1st of the month...). We are almost back up to speed.


Will Morocco take longer than all the other cases? Yes.

"So, Levant, Twenty Three And A Half, Old School are shipping quicker?"
Yep, all varieties.

All of Darin's posts *state* or strongly allude to him *shipping*. Yet for all we know, no one has gotten any yet he alludes to have started shipping. For a company to have built a huge following over the Internet and not have any official reviews, posts of receiving is really odd.

I believe we can all be optimistic and Portenzo has definitely a strong following, but we don't need promises and hints that the product is shipping. We need to know what's actually happening.

What's happening Portenzo? We'll stick with you... just tell us what's really happening!

 

[ragermac]

I also find it interesting that those of us who have remained positive about this scenario have been called trolls and working for Portenzo. I assure you that's not the case here either. In fact, this will be my first ever experience with this case (also my first iPad). In my case, I've researched a lot about this company and know they have a strong reputation for making a quality product and offering excellent customer service. There is clearly a hiccup in their process at the moment, but all the positive press from users isn't suddenly negated because of a one week (at present) shipping delay. The very fact that Darin comes on these forums at all is more than most companies could ever say. For these reasons, I have been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for a period of time.

For those who needed cases within a certain timeframe, I understand their need to cancel and move on. And for those who used paypal so were charged right away, I also have greater understanding since you are out a significant amount of money with no product.

But for me (and I suspect many on this thread), I have the luxury of being able to wait another 2 weeks before I need a case in hand. I also have not been charged, so as I said earlier, this costs me nothing (and the accusations of a shady vendor seem somewhat silly when they make a point not to charge until your product ships).

I was charged immediately on paypal, so you are wrong. All they had to do was place me on waiting list and then send paypal request similar to ebay. I would love to have one, but they have not even had one completed one shipping and that seems suspicious.

 

[glen e]

I also find it interesting that those of us who have remained positive about this scenario have been called trolls and working for Portenzo. I assure you that's not the case here either. In fact, this will be my first ever experience with this case (also my first iPad). In my case, I've researched a lot about this company and know they have a strong reputation for making a quality product and offering excellent customer service. There is clearly a hiccup in their process at the moment, but all the positive press from users isn't suddenly negated because of a one week (at present) shipping delay. The very fact that Darin comes on these forums at all is more than most companies could ever say. For these reasons, I have been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for a period of time.

For those who needed cases within a certain timeframe, I understand their need to cancel and move on. And for those who used paypal so were charged right away, I also have greater understanding since you are out a significant amount of money with no product.

But for me (and I suspect many on this thread), I have the luxury of being able to wait another 2 weeks before I need a case in hand. I also have not been charged, so as I said earlier, this costs me nothing (and the accusations of a shady vendor seem somewhat silly when they make a point not to charge until your product ships).

excellent post...I find that many apple fans have no idea how business works and seem to think that their 60 bucks or so entitled them to some type of super class service and constantly being informed of where their shipment is along the way. Sorry, sometime business has glitches - like when you can't get the original product until it comes out and the mfr has to stand in line to get one like everyone else. Does anyone have any idea how to set up a mill machine to create new product? Run off a few hundred and find it's wrong, can sink a small company like this.

Darin came on here and did his best - no, his greatest - to answer everyone. And it bit him in the ass. I retired recently as a factory rep from BMW for 20 years and you would not see me get within 20 yards of a BMW forum board. Why? because you never win. Someone will always take issue with what you do.

Do I think Portenzo made some mistakes? absolutely - should have changed the promise time on the site. he tries to satiate some with an offer of new shipping and no one gave them credit.

Keep getting the case right Darin, and ship when you are ready. BMW has made some mistakes in the last 20 years and it's always when we rushed to marketplace. Screw everyone upset here and give them their money back. The first case out here that is perfect - no matter when that happens - will triple your order bank.

people need to grow up and get a cheap cover/back from ebay, apple, wherever and wait it out. I'm running a smartcover and dodocase backcover now, I can wait 6 months if I have to. I don't care. Or continue to press Darin for a refund. Darin, take a few minutes of everyday to process refunds. Get the haters off your back on off this forum.

But please people,calm down, no one has cancer here or sold you a piece of swamp land...it's a friggin ipad case for God's sake.....

 

[mysterygirl]

I was charged immediately on paypal, so you are wrong. All they had to do was place me on waiting list and then send paypal request similar to ebay. I would love to have one, but they have not even had one completed one shipping and that seems suspicious.

Exactly how am I wrong? Read my post--I fully acknowledge that people who paid via PayPal are in a different situation that I sympathize with.

 

[Steviejobz]

You guys make valid points. To each their own. But I do not need a six-month lead time for a $60 case. I'll be getting the next iPad that this case may or may not even work with by then.

Marginal improvement in quality (theoretical and anecdotal) vs competition in exchange for several weeks of delay and uncertainty is not worth it for me. If Apple delayed a release by 1 day, 99% of this board would flip out. But for some reason this case maker gets a pass.

As an owner of a small business, this type of set up would be a non starter for my customers. Before I start advertising and promoting on forums, I make sure I have my manufacturing in place and a temp worker on standby to process orders/refunds and handle inquiries. Especially after the first version of my product received positive reviews.

I get hundreds of emails and I answer them all, each day. No reason to use "we are busy working" as an excuse to not respond to customers who have handed over their money.

 

[aricher]

I also find it interesting that those of us who have remained positive about this scenario have been called trolls and working for Portenzo.

I think it's sad that people here feel the need to vent their frustrations and sling mud at others - it's very childish. Patience is a virtue and @mysterygirl's comments as well as those by @Cutwolf are refreshingly levelheaded and realistic. I've been on MacRumors for over 7 years now and have found that the level of discourse here has all to often been slipping into infantile fighting and rants, sigh.

Having been an iPad 1 Portenzo owner I'll wait for one for my iPad 2. I'm not happy about the long wait but I'm not going to come here to whine, moan and poke the hornets nest. If the worst thing in your life is having to wait a few more weeks for an iPad case you should consider yourself VERY lucky. If you feel like the wait is too long go get an inferior case from a competitor or get a cheap case as a stopgap until your Portenzo arrives.

 

[phant0m]

Meh. I can afford to wait. Still waiting on my iPad *grumble grumble*. One day, I swear I'll have one. It's probably better this way so I can delay my payment until the next month's credit card statement.

In the beginning of my research, Darrin was very prompt in e-mailing me back. Lately I've been going the FB route and he usually replies back within 48 hours.

Stuff happens. I'm willing to hold out for the best, even if I did have the iPad in hand at this moment. But I ordered the Old School II, so hopefully it'll get here around the same time Best Buy decides to fulfill my reservation.

 

[ragermac]

I think it's sad that people here feel the need to vent their frustrations and sling mud at others - it's very childish. Patience is a virtue and @mysterygirl's comments as well as those by @Cutwolf are refreshingly levelheaded and realistic. I've been on MacRumors for over 7 years now and have found that the level of discourse here has all to often been slipping into infantile fighting and rants, sigh.

Having been an iPad 1 Portenzo owner I'll wait for one for my iPad 2. I'm not happy about the long wait but I'm not going to come here to whine, moan and poke the hornets nest. If the worst thing in your life is having to wait a few more weeks for an iPad case you should consider yourself VERY lucky. If you feel like the wait is too long go get an inferior case from a competitor or get a cheap case as a stopgap until your Portenzo arrives.

Please don't make the claim that portenzo is superior to competitors when there are no comprehensive reviews from either products.

 

[Steviejobz]

go get an inferior case from a competitor or get a cheap case as a stopgap until your Portenzo arrives.

Yes, that was a very adult comment.

 

[FMLFMLFML]

Having been an iPad 1 Portenzo owner I'll wait for one for my iPad 2. I'm not happy about the long wait but I'm not going to come here to whine, moan and poke the hornets nest. If the worst thing in your life is having to wait a few more weeks for an iPad case you should consider yourself VERY lucky. If you feel like the wait is too long go get an inferior case from a competitor or get a cheap case as a stopgap until your Portenzo arrives.

LOL. I love how so many act like Portenzo's are being hand crafted by a little old Italian cobbler in a Tuscan village like some work of art.

Meanwhile, they are made by this dude:

http://www.facebook.com/darin.murray

 

[comixster]

I think it's sad that people here feel the need to vent their frustrations and sling mud at others - it's very childish. Patience is a virtue and @mysterygirl's comments as well as those by @Cutwolf are refreshingly levelheaded and realistic. I've been on MacRumors for over 7 years now and have found that the level of discourse here has all to often been slipping into infantile fighting and rants, sigh.

Having been an iPad 1 Portenzo owner I'll wait for one for my iPad 2. I'm not happy about the long wait but I'm not going to come here to whine, moan and poke the hornets nest. If the worst thing in your life is having to wait a few more weeks for an iPad case you should consider yourself VERY lucky. If you feel like the wait is too long go get an inferior case from a competitor or get a cheap case as a stopgap until your Portenzo arrives.

how was the durability of the cover material of the portenzo case for ipad 1? did it last long? I'm interested to get one for my ipad 1.

 

[Domdog31]

When your in the business to make a profit you really do not have much slack when it comes to excuses and delays, no matter how 'custom' your product is -

With that said, its important to remember it's because he makes a great product that this thread has gone 25+ pages and we all are waiting patiently / impatiently.

 

[ro-76]

I think this thread is testament to the perceived higher quality of the portenzo case. No one has held one yet, but we all, me included expect it to be the best of the high end notebook style cases.

The issue is that if your selling a high end product like this, some high end customer service would be nice.

Darin's point about not wanting temps answering emails is valid, but he has failed to provide any concrete information in his posts either. This scenario is the same as when a flight is delayed and the airline tell you it's going to be an hour, but then the push it back in increments and it ends up being 4 hours.

I think they are overwhelmed and trying to put a brave face on the situation. I would like to see some real information is a post from Darin. Like:

1. When will the first case ship?
2. What's the scale of the backlog and what's the rate of production?
3. How bad is the Morocco shortage? Are they actually getting a shipment, or just looking for a supplier?
4. Is this really a backlog issue, or are there product redesign issues like the microphone hole?
5. Does the free expedited shipping apply only to preorders, or to those who ordered last week, or what?

I think Portenzo has a huge resource of fans in this thread that can be a big asset to a small startup. We are the ones likely to write very positive reviews, make YouTube videos and refer additional business. I don't mind the fact that they have my money and I have no case and no realistic timeframe as to when I will have it......for now. Our patience will not last indefinitely.

 

[blueridge]

would be interesting to know those that have canceled did they order one of the other moleskine type cases and if so.. have you received it yet? pics?

 

[Jhutchings]

Everyone relax a little. It is just a case.

My oh my, been following this thread with interest. New forum member long time tech geek. For me had no trouble getting my ipad. Ordered early when they first came out, now finding accessories well that has been a different matter. Saw this thread and ordered one of the Portenzo cases, decided to change my order to Levant to speed things up, no replies to email. Now for me that is ok. Also I have a temp solution with a smart cover and BSE back. Really works well. Now my thoughts. Yes this is a small company, but and this is a big but, in order to stay in business small companies must do things right for the customer, unless there is no competition, and believe me there will be competition. The owner has been on this thread several times explaining the current situation with his product, he has not taken anyone's money and headed for the hills. Do I want my case? Yes, but in the scheme of things I can wait. Yes I ordered the competition also, should I have, no not really, but for me this is also a hobby, I enjoy my ipad. I am not going to let a case get in the way. So my advise to everyone, if you want one, wait, if not cancel your order and move on. I will wait for all my "stuff" to come in, have fun with it and move on to other "stuff".

 

[ragermac]

would be interesting to know those that have canceled did they order one of the other moleskine type cases and if so.. have you received it yet? pics?

I am ordering the Octavo case today. My refund finally came in. I will provide an extensive review when I get it.

 

[ro-76]

The owner has been on this thread several times explaining the current situation with his product, .

IMO he has not really explained the situation. He told us he's having problems. I think we knew that. He told us the Morocco is delayed. We knew that already. Not one of the timelines for shipping has become a reality. For the current predictions, we don't know if these apply to pre-orders or new orders. We don't even know what's pre-order. Is it before iPad launch, or before the first case shipped? If it's the latter, then every order is a pre-order.

he has not taken anyone's money and headed for the hills.

He has taken my money and many other people's money. The problem is that I don't know if he has headed for the hills.

We don't know anything. That's my point. The likelihood is that everything will work out fine, but some real communication would be nice.

 

[blueridge]

I am ordering the Octavo case today. My refund finally came in. I will provide an extensive review when I get it.

cool.. cant wait to see your review..

 

[Steviejobz]

I am ordering the Octavo case today. My refund finally came in. I will provide an extensive review when I get it.

Cool. I ordered one also and looking forward to it. Brian at P&Q said mine should ship by Friday.

If it is inferior or just not for me, I figure I can always sell it on ebay.

I have not received word from Portenzo regarding my refund but they only authorized my card and there is no charge yet.

 

[Steviejobz]

He has taken my money and many other people's money. The problem is that I don't know if he has headed for the hills.

Even though I am a canceller I do not think he has headed for the hills. I think consumers are protected enough here to not have to worry. But we also cannot assume that this is Darin's full time job. Not sure how much of a living one could have made on selling these previously.

That said, the iPad 2 case may be in much more demand (I think my order number was in the 6000s) so he / they probably did not have enough supplies (would require one taking inventory risk) and so there is a huge backlog. Hand making stuff is not easy when you have to whittle wood down with precision.

 

[ro-76]

Even though I am a canceller I do not think he has headed for the hills

That said, the iPad 2 case may be in much more demand (I think my order number was in the 6000s) so he / they probably did not have enough supplies (would require one taking inventory risk) and so there is a huge backlog. Hand making stuff is not each when you have to whittle wood down with precision.

I think you're probably correct, but it would be nice if he told us those details, rather than have us speculating.

The negative sentiment that is building is this thread is due to an information vacuum.

 

[glen e]

1. When will the first case ship?
2. What's the scale of the backlog and what's the rate of production?
3. How bad is the Morocco shortage? Are they actually getting a shipment, or just looking for a supplier?
4. Is this really a backlog issue, or are there product redesign issues like the microphone hole?

although I agree with your post, these questions are none of anyone's business and are internal to the company. Your choice is to sit still or get your money back.

and on the part of companies getting release dates wrong, no one did a worse job than apple with the white I4 phone...

and again, many write like Prtenzo is a start up and using our money for seed money - there are many ipad1 cases out there!!! The company is established with a good track record...