Leather alternatives to FineWoven cases

[FatCatSings]

Right! I returned my Andar case and told them I’d be happy buy the new one once available and any discount for trouble as I paid a restocking fee. They told me I would have to keep the case to get a 50% refund. Not a great first experience considering what Caudabe did.

I had a similar experience with Andar’s customer service. I also told them I’d be happy to forgo the discount if I could just exchange my case with the new button version once it’s available and they told me no. They also wouldn’t offer the discount if I didn’t keep the current case and pay for a new one. Why would I pay for one and a half cases for one case that I could use?

I mentioned that Caudabe was offering a free revised case and being very transparent on their site about the cutout on this current batch of cases. I’m not asking for a free case or anything wild, I just expected a little more accommodation for selling me a case with a button that I literally can’t press unless I shove my fingernail edge into the cutout, considering I heard good things about their customer service in the past.

They wrote back:

Hi!

Thanks so much for the feedback. When you are ready for a 100% full grain leather case made in the USA, which Caudabe does not offer, we will be here for you.

Have a great day!
-Sarah

Um…ok? I think Andar doesn’t need my money right now.

 

[ksj1]

Got a Nomad Horween for my 15PM. Fits perfectly, feels great, and sticks quite well to my Mophie battery/stand.

 

[Jeff5i]

I had a similar experience with Andar’s customer service. I also told them I’d be happy to forgo the discount if I could just exchange my case with the new button version once it’s available and they told me no. They also wouldn’t offer the discount if I didn’t keep the current case and pay for a new one. Why would I pay for one and a half cases for one case that I could use?

I mentioned that Caudabe was offering a free revised case and being very transparent on their site about the cutout on this current batch of cases. I’m not asking for a free case or anything wild, I just expected a little more accommodation for selling me a case with a button that I literally can’t press unless I shove my fingernail edge into the cutout, considering I heard good things about their customer service in the past.

They wrote back:

Hi!

Thanks so much for the feedback. When you are ready for a 100% full grain leather case made in the USA, which Caudabe does not offer, we will be here for you.

Have a great day!
-Sarah

Um…ok? I think Andar doesn’t need my money right now.

Made in the USA? I doubt it. Also because of this messaging I gave caudabe money today for a sheath case. Also if I was being feisty I would respond to Andar and ask them if their 100% leather case made in the USA included an aluminum camera protector that doesn’t chip or scratch.

 

[rstark18]

I had a similar experience with Andar’s customer service. I also told them I’d be happy to forgo the discount if I could just exchange my case with the new button version once it’s available and they told me no. They also wouldn’t offer the discount if I didn’t keep the current case and pay for a new one. Why would I pay for one and a half cases for one case that I could use?

I mentioned that Caudabe was offering a free revised case and being very transparent on their site about the cutout on this current batch of cases. I’m not asking for a free case or anything wild, I just expected a little more accommodation for selling me a case with a button that I literally can’t press unless I shove my fingernail edge into the cutout, considering I heard good things about their customer service in the past.

They wrote back:

Hi!

Thanks so much for the feedback. When you are ready for a 100% full grain leather case made in the USA, which Caudabe does not offer, we will be here for you.

Have a great day!
-Sarah

Um…ok? I think Andar doesn’t need my money right now.

I got the same message from them and said something similar to what you said. Why would I pay 150% for one usable case.

When they stumble upon this thread hopefully they will realize that their customer service is lacking.

 

[Macalway]

Got the Lonli, has button.

 

[Supermallet]

I had a similar experience with Andar’s customer service. I also told them I’d be happy to forgo the discount if I could just exchange my case with the new button version once it’s available and they told me no. They also wouldn’t offer the discount if I didn’t keep the current case and pay for a new one. Why would I pay for one and a half cases for one case that I could use?

I mentioned that Caudabe was offering a free revised case and being very transparent on their site about the cutout on this current batch of cases. I’m not asking for a free case or anything wild, I just expected a little more accommodation for selling me a case with a button that I literally can’t press unless I shove my fingernail edge into the cutout, considering I heard good things about their customer service in the past.

They wrote back:

Hi!

Thanks so much for the feedback. When you are ready for a 100% full grain leather case made in the USA, which Caudabe does not offer, we will be here for you.

Have a great day!
-Sarah

Um…ok? I think Andar doesn’t need my money right now.

Wow, being a smartass while asking someone to pay half the price of a case to get functionality that they should have included from the start is galling. I already wasn’t inclined to go with Andar again because of the height of their front edges and the chipping camera protector but now I won’t be buying anything from them on principle. Who do they think they are?

 

[mfrank29]

I don't really have a problem with how Andar is handling this. It isn't like they advertised or showed pictures of the case with the action button. It clearly showed a cutout, so you knew what you were getting and you can return it.

Can't expect companies to be everything to everyone or let you keep it and get another free. I seriously question companies who can offer things like that because the only way they can do that is if their products are dirt cheap to make. To me, return it or get 50% and free shipping when the revised one is released is more than fair.

Having tried about 6 other leather cases, theirs is by far the best quality overall. Best leather by far, best fit, buttons aren't crooked, my camera bump feels like hard plastic and doesn't seem likely to chip. Being a little thicker, it will likely protect a bit better than some of thinner cases and apple's own leather case.

Since I don't really see the action button as very useful yet (will be trying some shortcut options soon) I am happy to have a nice leather case for now, and I'll happily take their offer when the button version is released. The extra case can be a spare for situations where it might get rained on or something.

 

[Nozuka]

Just received my Decode leather case from Rotterdam to Tucson, AZ in 4 days.

The iPhone 15 PM weighs in (on my scale) at 7.8 oz.

The Decode case weighs in at 1.3 oz. - not bad at all. There are "real" button extenders for all the iPhone buttons. Shipping was $17 and the case was $55 but if you search for a "discount code" it will be cheaper overall ( for me - 20% off the case = $61 shipped FedEx International Priority). Best of all the mag safe works now. I was one of the ones who had the first iteration of the Mujjo Shield case that was recalled and refunded. No need for me to return the case. Interestingly enough that case was heavy, it weighs in at 2.5 oz. I actually am glad I am not using it since it was significantly heavier.

The old iPhone Apple leather case (RIP) weighed in at 1.1 oz.

Here is the Decode case, fit is excellent and the buttons are perfect, no binding or hard to press issues.

View attachment 2284065View attachment 2284066

Received the same one today. Quality looks pretty good... except for the Action Button that falls right off on mine. Will get it replaced

 

[daindian1]

Yeh I like the decoded case also. Smells like real leather also. Doesn’t feel plasticky either

 

[Nozuka]

Received the same one today. Quality looks pretty good... except for the Action Button that falls right off on mine. Will get it replaced

hmm the merchant automatically refunded the money and i got the message "it's not worth to send it back" and i should just order a new one. But they say it's not available until 2024 lol

think i'll just try to repair it with glue 😅 seems stupid to just throw it away

 

[Elektrofone]

Got a Nomad Horween for my 15PM. Fits perfectly, feels great, and sticks quite well to my Mophie battery/stand.

How’s the thickness of it? Seems a bit chunky.

 

[ksj1]

How’s the thickness of it? Seems a bit chunky.

I still have my 14PM in the Apple leather case. Face to face they are the same size. The Nomad is about 11.35mm thick and the Apple case is 10.63mm thick, so pretty close. The Nomad does appear to have thicker edges at the display, but they also have a nice channel that runs up both edges that keeps the buttons lower:

https://res.cloudinary.com/shogun-f...cdn.com/9d14f5a1-eeee-4b70-8b56-b7b80e46ed17/

Overall very I'm happy with it so far.

 

[FatCatSings]

Made in the USA? I doubt it. Also because of this messaging I gave caudabe money today for a sheath case. Also if I was being feisty I would respond to Andar and ask them if their 100% leather case made in the USA included an aluminum camera protector that doesn’t chip or scratch.

Don't worry, I wrote a very polite, yet fitting response back.

From my Caudabe Sheath case

 

[bmac4]

I don't really have a problem with how Andar is handling this. It isn't like they advertised or showed pictures of the case with the action button. It clearly showed a cutout, so you knew what you were getting and you can return it.

Can't expect companies to be everything to everyone or let you keep it and get another free. I seriously question companies who can offer things like that because the only way they can do that is if their products are dirt cheap to make. To me, return it or get 50% and free shipping when the revised one is released is more than fair.

Having tried about 6 other leather cases, theirs is by far the best quality overall. Best leather by far, best fit, buttons aren't crooked, my camera bump feels like hard plastic and doesn't seem likely to chip. Being a little thicker, it will likely protect a bit better than some of thinner cases and apple's own leather case.

Since I don't really see the action button as very useful yet (will be trying some shortcut options soon) I am happy to have a nice leather case for now, and I'll happily take their offer when the button version is released. The extra case can be a spare for situations where it might get rained on or something.

What?! You can’t be serious. Who was to know the cutout wasn’t gonna work. No one knew how much the button would stick or whether the cutout was bigger or not.

I question a company that charges a restocking fee in 2023. That is ridiculous. Andar should own their mistake, and offer refunds. Full refunds and fee shipping on the new cases for those that order version one.

I sure as hell won’t be ordering an Andar case from day one of Apple releases. Hell probably not ever because if I don’t like it, they will charge me a restocking fee and add a smartass email to it. That’s not customer service.

 

[mfrank29]

What?! You can’t be serious. Who was to know the cutout wasn’t gonna work. No one knew how much the button would stick or whether the cutout was bigger or not.

I question a company that charges a restocking fee in 2023. That is ridiculous. Andar should own their mistake, and offer refunds. Full refunds and fee shipping on the new cases for those that order version one.

I sure as hell won’t be ordering an Andar case from day one of Apple releases. Hell probably not ever because if I don’t like it, they will charge me a restocking fee and add a smartass email to it. That’s not customer service.

Hey that's your right. My interaction with their CS was way different with no attitude at all. As long as a company lays out the terms prior to the sale, people can choose if that's agreeable or not. There was no bait and switch here.

 

[mjpearce023]

Right! I returned my Andar case and told them I’d be happy buy the new one once available and any discount for trouble as I paid a restocking fee. They told me I would have to keep the case to get a 50% refund. Not a great first experience considering what Caudabe did.

that’s strange cause andar let me return my case with no shipping or restocking fee.

 

[bmac4]

Hey that's your right. My interaction with their CS was way different with no attitude at all. As long as a company lays out the terms prior to the sale, people can choose if that's agreeable or not. There was no bait and switch here.

I am not saying bait and switch, but Andar made a mistake, and they should own it. They wanted to be one of the first cases out and choose the cutout thinking Apple wouldn’t do the action button. They were wrong and should own it.

 

[austriak]

I received the decoded leather case for the iPhone 15 pro and I highly recommend it. It looks and feels great. It doesn’t add too much bulk and the buttons are the best I have felt on any case ever.

I tried Andar first but returned it because of it missing the action button. I prefer the decoded case. The buttons on the Andar are not as good and it felt bulkier. The leather on the Andar is nicer but I’m still happy with the decoded leather quality. It is better than what Apple used the last couple years.

 

[Jeff5i]

that’s strange cause andar let me return my case with no shipping or restocking fee.

I’m escalating to the to see if I can get my restocking fee back.

 

[Yuuuki]

Also got a Decoded leather case today for my 15 Plus, it really looks and feels great. Clicky easy buttons, great texture, strong magsafe magnet. So far nothing negative to say.

 

[Nozuka]

Glad to see i seem to be the only one with the action button coming off problem.

On the bright side, i got the case for free now. (minus the $4 for the glue)
Hopefully it will hold

 

[x34]

DECODED guys, can someone of you measure the height of the case on the side?
in mm please!

thanks so much!

or, can someone compare it to the LONLI case? if feels a bit thick and not so slim. thanks!

 

[Dannny]

Which case do you think is the thinnest leather case? the aspen was too thick for me. I think the Lonli is quite good, but unfortunately it is a bit thicker than the original from Apple. what about decoded?

 

[mjpearce023]

Which case do you think is the thinnest leather case? the aspen was too thick for me. I think the Lonli is quite good, but unfortunately it is a bit thicker than the original from Apple. what about decoded?

The alto is the thinnest leather case I’ve found and it smells like leather so I’m hopeful for a nice patina. Here’s some pics next to the andar and the apple leather case I had for my 13pro. It’s also just a light as the apple leather case. My only knock is the large speaker cutouts. Not sure why they made them so big.

 

[^_^]

The alto is the thinnest leather case I’ve found and it smells like leather so I’m hopeful for a nice patina. Here’s some pics next to the andar and the apple leather case I had for my 13pro. It’s also just a light as the apple leather case. My only knock is the large speaker cutouts. Not sure why they made them so big. View attachment 2285380View attachment 2285381View attachment 2285382

Oh, wow... The Andar is so thick :\

Dammit.

Why can't a company have a case with some good quality leather, Action button, closed bottom and a relatively close thickness to that of the Apple leather case?! That may sound like a long list, but I feel like those are very reasonable expectations!