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Portenzo iPad 2 Case: Now a Smart Cover

fishcube said:
I canceled my order. They keep telling me longer and longer release date. I give up and will buy another case. I am also decided i dont like the thickness of case when folded back I am liking the thinness of the iPad and smart cover and will buy a case that is thin.

I was so looking forward to the 23.5, but I cant wait forever. I may buy one at a later time if they ever get caught up.
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Thats understandable, that some do not wish to wait the quoted 2-3 weeks (really 3-6).

Not everyone has that sort of patience.

If I hadn't been on top of them hounding their @$$e$, my case would not even be on its way, let alone here on Friday, like it is now.



The one advice I have for impatient people is if more than 3 weeks go by, get at them and do not let up until they get moving.......
 
MrMac'n'Cheese said:
Thats understandable, that some do not wish to wait the quoted 2-3 weeks (really 3-6).

Not everyone has that sort of patience.

If I hadn't been on top of them hounding their @$$e$, my case would not even be on its way, let alone here on Friday, like it is now.



The one advice I have for impatient people is if more than 3 weeks go by, get at them and do not let up until they get moving.......
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I don't think it really works. I've been polite but firm trying to find out my status. Now emails just aren't answered.
 
eimeria said:
I don't think it really works. I've been polite but firm trying to find out my status. Now emails just aren't answered.
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Don't get me wrong I was always and have been polite.

But I must've exchanged at least 12-15 emails sent/reply with them

***o_O

And this week at least, they have been answering within 2-4 hours for me at least.
 
Hindsight is 20/20...

So... since they say hindsight is 20/20... what could Portenzo have done differently to avoid the delays and confusion?

  • Too many options out of the gate. Perhaps they should not have offered or promised options other than the base notebook models initially. I believe some confusion (ever changing orders/upgrades/downgrades, etc.) could have been avoided by starting with just a couple options (probably Morocco/Levant) in March, then waiting until end of April to announce and start to produce a couple more (composition & 23 1/2), waited about a month after that to announce/start production on other options such as the 76, etc.)
  • Restrict any order changes (other than cancels) after a 48 or 72 hour period. A lot of confusion has come as people have switched case styles or added/removed options (and that includes me).
  • Clear the problems with their supply chain including finding other vendors if needed. Is taking way to long to get key supplies in stock.
  • Based on what we have heard, they have processed orders out of sequence. Other than allowing for delays in materials (such as the Morocco), earliest orders should have been processed first. There have been a number of reports where a much later order was sent and received days or weeks before an identical earlier order.
  • Once it became clear that they were overwhelmed and their supply chain couldn't keep up immediately, there should have been daily status updates to their site, facebook, and twitter (i.e.: We are up to order xxxx in levant, Morocco material on back order but we have shipped through xxxx.".
  • Hired more help earlier. I understand that they were not expecting the number of orders they received... and that it takes time to get production staff up to speed... but even hiring temp help to answer emails, handle shipping, etc. would be helpful.

That's a short list of things I can think of right off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others... but I have to get out the door and get to work.

Not intended to "pile on"... just thinking for future reference.
 
grimwanderer said:
So... since they say hindsight is 20/20... what could Portenzo have done differently to avoid the delays and confusion?

  • Too many options out of the gate. Perhaps they should not have offered or promised options other than the base notebook models initially. I believe some confusion (ever changing orders/upgrades/downgrades, etc.) could have been avoided by starting with just a couple options (probably Morocco/Levant) in March, then waiting until end of April to announce and start to produce a couple more (composition & 23 1/2), waited about a month after that to announce/start production on other options such as the 76, etc.)
  • Restrict any order changes (other than cancels) after a 48 or 72 hour period. A lot of confusion has come as people have switched case styles or added/removed options (and that includes me).
  • Clear the problems with their supply chain including finding other vendors if needed. Is taking way to long to get key supplies in stock.
  • Based on what we have heard, they have processed orders out of sequence. Other than allowing for delays in materials (such as the Morocco), earliest orders should have been processed first. There have been a number of reports where a much later order was sent and received days or weeks before an identical earlier order.
  • Once it became clear that they were overwhelmed and their supply chain couldn't keep up immediately, there should have been daily status updates to their site, facebook, and twitter (i.e.: We are up to order xxxx in levant, Morocco material on back order but we have shipped through xxxx.".
  • Hired more help earlier. I understand that they were not expecting the number of orders they received... and that it takes time to get production staff up to speed... but even hiring temp help to answer emails, handle shipping, etc. would be helpful.

That's a short list of things I can think of right off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others... but I have to get out the door and get to work.

Not intended to "pile on"... just thinking for future reference.
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Very well put... you covered what i was thinking pretty much.

#1 in my eyes.. once Morocco supplies were getting short.. there should of been a notice emailed out to everyone who preordered morocco to let them know they could either change to levant or wait..

#2 keep the new designs hush until all preorders are sent OR email only preorders and give them option to upgrade.. give 24-48hr window to upgrade.. if you miss out you miss out.. then once all preorders are finished and shipped.. put option on page for everyone else..

#3.. same as you said.. limit all these different NEW designs until the first wave is over with.. sure you cant please everyone and some will want to change because there is a NEWER one but you gotta do that else you get mass confusion with everyone wanting to change SOMETHING..

i think anytime a small company gets overwealmed it could make them look bad.. hell i run my own business and i get days where i get overwelmed.. however i let each customer know once it starts to get busy that your repair may be delayed.. its first come first served so each additional repair is place in que and will be worked on as i go down the line.. its only fair..

overall i got both my cases.. they look amazing.. detail is really good.. there are a few things i like on my Octavo over my Portenzo.. and vice versa.. too bad i cant COMBINE both of what i like on each :) but honestly they are different designs.. so with all the competition out there.. everyone can get a moleskine case within their budget and design they like.. i will do a comparison review once my wife's treegloo comes in today.. so i have 4 cases to compare.. phew.. and of course its tax week lol deadline so im working on stuff like that too.. so much fun.. after this weekend i need a vacation lol
 
blueridge said:
.. i will do a comparison review once my wife's treegloo comes in today.. so i have 4 cases to compare.. phew..
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yes, please do blueridge! i just got the octavo one and i was thinking of getting portenzo first but with all this fiasco that is happening, i would wait till things get settled before getting one from them.
so i am hoping someone would do an side by side review of portenzo, pad & quill, and treegloo moleskin cases!
 
clovis112 said:
yes, please do blueridge! i just got the octavo one and i was thinking of getting portenzo first but with all this fiasco that is happening, i would wait till things get settled before getting one from them.
so i am hoping someone would do an side by side review of portenzo, pad & quill, and treegloo moleskin cases!
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thanks.. i have my pad and quill Octavo video unboxing and small review (link is below).. but I want all of them in my hands.. so i can do a comparison video.. im anxious to see the treegloo.. my wife got it in white.. so i want to compare it to the 23.5.. which i gotta edit video of the unboxing/review of the 23.5 too.. will try to get something done tonight.. then over the weekend do a comparison between them all..

any suggestions.. let me know by PM and i will try to cover them..
 
blueridge said:
thanks.. i have my pad and quill Octavo video unboxing and small review (link is below).. but I want all of them in my hands.. so i can do a comparison video.. im anxious to see the treegloo.. my wife got it in white.. so i want to compare it to the 23.5.. which i gotta edit video of the unboxing/review of the 23.5 too.. will try to get something done tonight.. then over the weekend do a comparison between them all..

any suggestions.. let me know by PM and i will try to cover them..
Click to expand...

Great reviews and videos!
 
grimwanderer said:
So... since they say hindsight is 20/20... what could Portenzo have done differently to avoid the delays and confusion?

  • Too many options out of the gate. Perhaps they should not have offered or promised options other than the base notebook models initially. I believe some confusion (ever changing orders/upgrades/downgrades, etc.) could have been avoided by starting with just a couple options (probably Morocco/Levant) in March, then waiting until end of April to announce and start to produce a couple more (composition & 23 1/2), waited about a month after that to announce/start production on other options such as the 76, etc.)
  • Restrict any order changes (other than cancels) after a 48 or 72 hour period. A lot of confusion has come as people have switched case styles or added/removed options (and that includes me).
  • Clear the problems with their supply chain including finding other vendors if needed. Is taking way to long to get key supplies in stock.
  • Based on what we have heard, they have processed orders out of sequence. Other than allowing for delays in materials (such as the Morocco), earliest orders should have been processed first. There have been a number of reports where a much later order was sent and received days or weeks before an identical earlier order.
  • Once it became clear that they were overwhelmed and their supply chain couldn't keep up immediately, there should have been daily status updates to their site, facebook, and twitter (i.e.: We are up to order xxxx in levant, Morocco material on back order but we have shipped through xxxx.".
  • Hired more help earlier. I understand that they were not expecting the number of orders they received... and that it takes time to get production staff up to speed... but even hiring temp help to answer emails, handle shipping, etc. would be helpful.

That's a short list of things I can think of right off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others... but I have to get out the door and get to work.

Not intended to "pile on"... just thinking for future reference.
Click to expand...

Bravo, email it to them.
 
Xultar said:
Bravo, email it to them.
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e-mailing it to them will not do any good. I'm sure they realize their mistakes, if they haven't realized the mistakes they made, an e-mail from a customer will not change how they operate their business. None of us work for them, so all we can do is speculate. For all we know that one week they didn't say anything to anyone, they could have taken a vacation.
 
I must say after despite my original anger at Portenzo service, seeing all these Treeglues and Octavios, Portenzo is clearly the hands down winner.

Darin must be printing money there.

Apple should acquire them and sell these themselves for $99.99
 
My 4/1 order arrived today! Its soooo much lighter/smaller in person than in pictures, and my god the quality it top notch, the wood, the faux leather, really sharp, love it!
 
Higgs1 said:
My 4/1 order arrived today! Its soooo much lighter/smaller in person than in pictures, and my god the quality it top notch, the wood, the faux leather, really sharp, love it!
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I ordered my case on 4/1 too. Did you get a shipping notice?
 
edk said:
jezzz.. carefull with that knife - looks like you could of easily cut the case!! :eek:
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actually i didnt think it was going to cut so easily.. and it just went.. then i noticed the 23.5 was right there near where it ended.. i was like.. DOH!!.. hehe..

thanks for the compliments everyone.. editing the 23.5 video now during spare time at work.. should go up tonight on youtube..
 
blueridge said:
Thanks for watching.. 23.5 coming along.. just need free time.. been busy today at work.. shh dont tell anyone.. :D
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Excellent review, never imagined your voice like that o_O

For some reason I thought Blueridge was a girl, does your wife use your MR account? lol
 
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