Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Portenzo iPad 2 Case: Now a Smart Cover
- Thread starter Jeff5i
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Received mine
I received mine yesterday. Ordered 3.21 #64XX.
The case is excellent. It surpassed expectations in quality and finish. The wood frame is perfectly finished and seems very strong. There were no issues with splinters or bad corners, etc.
I found the customer service throughout to be utterly awful. Most of the cs problems are due to poor communication and lack of transparency. My case took 45 days. If they told me it would be 45 days when I ordered it, I would have put on the back burner and been pleased when it arrived, but they kept changing their story, with inconsistent responses by email, here and on facebook. I just wished they were more honest with their customers.
I am very pleased with the case, but I think it's a shame that this company has such a great product, better than the competition but is generating such bad feedback because of poor customer service.
I received mine yesterday. Ordered 3.21 #64XX.
The case is excellent. It surpassed expectations in quality and finish. The wood frame is perfectly finished and seems very strong. There were no issues with splinters or bad corners, etc.
I found the customer service throughout to be utterly awful. Most of the cs problems are due to poor communication and lack of transparency. My case took 45 days. If they told me it would be 45 days when I ordered it, I would have put on the back burner and been pleased when it arrived, but they kept changing their story, with inconsistent responses by email, here and on facebook. I just wished they were more honest with their customers.
I am very pleased with the case, but I think it's a shame that this company has such a great product, better than the competition but is generating such bad feedback because of poor customer service.
MrMac'n'Cheese
macrumors 6502a
No cigar buddy, their quality used to be better than the rest
And customer service went down a pipe and into the sewers for months now.
Also Darin is condescending to the very customers that put bread on his table and in his mouth.
I agree with you about the cs, and the attitude of the company. If you read my posts in this forum, they are very critical of Portenzo.
I was concerned about quality, especially having seen some of the recent cases with splinters and bad corners. All I can say, is that the case I got is perfectly finished. I think the design is better than Dodo, P&Q or Treegloo. If they can consistently produce it to the standard of my case, the Portenzo case is better.
My basic point is that the manner in which they treat the customers is ruining a good product. I could imagine the business expanding and becoming a great brand, were it not for the communication.
MrMac'n'Cheese
macrumors 6502a
I agree especially with those two points.
Shame they cannot maintain the quality level.
May I inquire who built your case?
Mine was by Kris, the new girl.........*sigh*.......she's not too good.
Xultar
macrumors 6502a
Which is why hiring during a rush is a gamble. Monitoring the new folks takes time.
MrMac'n'Cheese
macrumors 6502a
Exactly most jobs, and it's especially important for skilled labor like case-making, train you/you're on probation for about 90days/3 months.
Scratch that, mine was made by Liz, she's one of the newest Team members.
For what it's worth(not much) she was supposed to tick off "Custom" but it's not important.
Attachments
Xultar
macrumors 6502a
Dude, a small company with an unexpected explosion in orders will go through these bumps.
I am so shocked that people do not understand that. I don't think anyone of us in their position could have done better. They received more orders in a month than they got the entire time they were making cases for the ipad 1. WHILE still selling the iPad 1 and iPhone 4 products.
That is incredible guys, can't you give them props for that at least! It is so easy to run a business like Portenzo making handmade products from the MacRumors: Forms. But imagine if you were them...think about Darin who also has a day job that got this big fat baby laid on his doorstep.
Yes, Portenzo did mess up but they are trying to make it right. Now if people will just LET them make it right.
You guys wanted them to communicate, they did. Then you didn't like what they said. You wanted them to hire more people, they did but those new people didn't do so well. People here wanted custom cases for set designs like the 23.5, then got mad because custom order changes slowed them down. Then they stopped making custom items and people got mad at that.
People wanted them to communicate where they were in the process then they got complaints for going to slow. They start shipping orders then people go off the deep because someone from Portenzo was dropping them off at a kinkos and shipping orders out of sequence.
I mean REALLY people. SERIOUSLY.
They started charging for the hole...seems greedy I thought so until I realized that it is taking longer to create the cases with the hole. they gotta put the hole in the case, make sure the cover is tight, glue it, put the gasket gromit(sp) thing in and then let the sucker dry.
I think $10 bucks is too high but hey...show them how you feel by not buying the hole or the case. SIMPLE.
It is plain and simple that with increased demand comes more errors. They are fixing those. But most folks who have received their cases are loving it and feel it is worth the wait. If you are waiting know that they aren't crooks, and if there is a problem they'll fix it...even while still swamped. Personally I think Portenzo deserves some applause. I'm willing to give it to them. While I wait to order my LEATHER Alano or 76 (yes, I changed my mind again. My chrome Star Trek TNG communicator badge will look better a fixed to leather.) Until then my iPad 2 is fine with a skin and a smart cover and an old sleeve.
anthonymoody
macrumors 68040
I'm still with Portenzo here and plan to order some type of custom/exotic when they are available.
When these issues originally surfaced, I was one of Portenzo's biggest supporters and took a lot of heat from naysayers for being just that. And I agree with you that in general, everyone can't be pleased in this situation and that there will be complaints regardless what Portenzo does. That said, I will reiterate my current thoughts about this situation--I don't believe Portenzo has done a good job communicating with it's customers and most information that they have provided has proven to be inaccurate. FOR ME, a good job communicating would have meant:
1) a notice on their website that explained that they were experiencing shipping delays and were doing the best they could to rectify the situation
2) an email to customers who were waiting longer than posted wait times to have their order fulfilled, again explaining the situation, asking for patience, and providing customer options.
3) providing accurate information about shipping times, etc.
In my opinion, none of that has been done. Posting on FB, twitter, and Macrumors cannot replace posting information on their own website. People don't want to have to chase down information from a company that is providing a product for a fee. That company should make information easily accessible and readily available. In general, many of us are happy to wait for however long it takes, because many of us believe that Portenzo offers the best quality available. But, we're also looking for an accurate picture of when we can expect our product.
To offer a few other examples, I've recently ordered two other bags from companies that make handmade and exceptional products. In both cases, I was given a delivery window of well over a month. Now, while I'd love to have these items in hand sooner, I placed my order having an ACCURATE expectation of when it would be delivered. And I'm willing to wait the month(s) that it will take to have my product in hand, knowing that I'm paying for a quality handmade item. But those companies, unlike Portenzo, didn't create a false expectation that I would have my product in 2 or 3 weeks. They told me what to expect (even when their timeline is 6 weeks or longer) and will stand by the dates that they promised. I feel no need to email them or bother them further until after the 4, 6, 8 or whatever week wait time.
I don't think the folks at Portenzo are crooks and I strongly believe, as you do, that their intentions are good and that they are experiencing "growing pains". But I also believe there are some simple measures that they could have taken that would have made this situation a million times better both for themselves and for their customers.
I am still waiting for my case and will continue to do so. I look forward to having what I believe will be a great quality product. But I remain disappointed that Portenzo has failed to deal with the situation in a better manner. It gives the impression of disorganization and confusion, which concerns me for many reasons (not only in receiving my case, but also in addressing any future issues, concerns, etc.).
Anyway, I've tried to be a voice of reason too many times on this thread--first to calm those who were complaining when Portenzo was only two days late shipping and now to help some understand why many are upset or disappointed with what is happening. Not sure that reason works in this environment, but I'll put it out there anyway.
Portenzo mentioned on the facebook page that they have started shipping order numbers in 6000. Mine is in 8000's. I think at this rate they will ship mine late June.
After looking at all the current orders they are processing it seems their quality has dropped down drastically with cracks and splinters coming out. Seems its not worth all the wait now. Not only pay premium over double the cost of what the competitors are charging, but now we dont get a premium product.
I plan to refund and go for octavio or treegloo.. looking at these cases, now i feel they a better option for the money they are charging.
After looking at all the current orders they are processing it seems their quality has dropped down drastically with cracks and splinters coming out. Seems its not worth all the wait now. Not only pay premium over double the cost of what the competitors are charging, but now we dont get a premium product.
I plan to refund and go for octavio or treegloo.. looking at these cases, now i feel they a better option for the money they are charging.
Last edited:
VidPro
macrumors 6502a
They say 6000's but it seems like the numbers jump around. Who knows. I'll keep waiting.
VidPro
macrumors 6502a
Your're right but so isn't getting an iPad without horrendous light leak . . . at least for me. 😉
Not to worry abt Light leak.. We can walk into apple store and get a replacement.. once they have caught up with their stock.. i plan to do the same.
Just an FYI that Porenzo posted on FB today that they are shipping into the 6000s for Moroccos and 9000s for Levants.
Their quotes don't really mean anything. My Levant order is in the 5200's. Have gotten lots of promises over almost 7 weeks since I've placed my order, but no shipping notices. I think they are picking orders to fulfill by random number generator.
Threw this together . . . little murky just used the iphone whilst @ work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKK7a53QVks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKK7a53QVks
I thought mine got lost in production! But I just got my shipping notice 😱
Morocco
Italian Cloth (special modification)
Ordered on 3/17
Will recive it in 5/6
The costumer service was... Interesting... when they were not busy, they will answer me right away, but when they were busy all hands were on deck. I was tempted to cancel but I'm on finals I got better things to worry about than a case lol... I guess that's why I stop checking this thread out, it was getting me anxious 🙄
Got my levant with dark blue. Had nothing but good customer service, only tough thing was waiting....
Will buy again for ipad3
Will buy again for ipad3