[lgreenberg]

I just received my 3 Vaja cases.

They are all model RI052 (two are Aniline leather and one is Vitelino leather.)

The fit is so tight I can't even get the 8700 to fit all the way inside the case. In order to even get it in almost all the way I have to push so hard on the 8700 I feel as though I might break it. I removed both the set of Egrips and I had installed and the Best Skins Ever as well. Still no go.

I've dispatached an e-mail to Vaja expressing my concern and will post an update once I hear back.

[blkberryboy]

Just a thought, but how about trying to stretch it a bit usaing something of similar dimensions, like maybe a deck of cards or cassette case. Just a thought. Although I seem to recall a thread a while back that someone mentioned this same type of problem and even offered a solution but I cant find it from the search, oh well.

Good luck and keep us posted

[lgreenberg]

Yeah I could try that but should I have to?

I tried pulling at the sides of the leather to loosen them a bit but it didn't really help. Plus I don't want to risk tearing it.

I'm wondering if Anthem (who got the case first) had a similar problem or not.

[blkberryboy]

Originally Posted by lgreenberg

Yeah I could try that but should I have to?

Absolutley Not...And I'm behind you contacting them. I was just simpley offering a solution in the mean time.

Please let us know what the response is and the solution you or Vaja comes up with.

[lgreenberg]

Oh I know you were and I appreciate it.

[KonTiki]

What the solution was if I recall was to put in an even larger older BB in it for a day or so I believe that they used a 7290.

[AlbertoM]

Not fitting with the eGrips and the Skins, I can understand - but you are saying it doesn't fit with them off?

I can also understand a bit tight, to allow stretching....

[lgreenberg]

Correct Alberto.

They do not fit with them on or off.

This is way beyond "a bit tight."

No reply from them yet.

[DuckWingDuck]

Just toss the cases in your oven and put it on broil for 5 minutes, that should loosen the leather!! ;D

[Anthem]

Originally Posted by lgreenberg

Yeah I could try that but should I have to?

I tried pulling at the sides of the leather to loosen them a bit but it didn't really help. Plus I don't want to risk tearing it.

I'm wondering if Anthem (who got the case first) had a similar problem or not.

I agree, it's a tight fit. I had to use some pressure to get the 8700 to fit all the way into the case, but nothing that would make me feel I was going to damage the device.

Please Note: This is with the e-grips still on.

[lgreenberg]

Wow, so you got yours into the case with Egrips on?

No chance of that with any of mine. I first tried it without the side pieces. No go. Then I removed the back piece too. Still no go. Then I removed the Best Skin Ever and again no go.

I could get it almost all the way down. The top of the case was basically at the top of the screen. It needs to go in another inch to inch and a half. But this was using extreme force to push it down. Even then trying to get it out of the case was a whole different challenge.

Once I started to hear creaking from the BB I stopped trying to get it to fit.

I've sent Vaja a second e-mail.

[Anthem]

Originally Posted by lgreenberg

Wow, so you got yours into the case with Egrips on?

No chance of that with any of mine. I first tried it without the side pieces. No go. Then I removed the back piece too. Still no go. Then I removed the Best Skin Ever and again no go.

I could get it almost all the way down. The top of the case was basically at the top of the screen. It needs to go in another inch to inch and a half. But this was using extreme force to push it down. Even then trying to get it out of the case was a whole different challenge.

Once I started to hear creaking from the BB I stopped trying to get it to fit.

I've sent Vaja a second e-mail.

Yes, I still have the egrips on both sides and the back. I will say removing the device was a little more difficult than the install but nothing that caused me any concerns i.e. creaking or tearing.

I hope they have an easy resolution to your issue.

Good Luck and keep us updated on your progress.

[penk]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_13#Quote

[lgreenberg]

Here is the response I received fron Vaja.

Hi Lawrence,

Our cases design was meant to be very tight. As you might see the best way your Blackberry will stay safe inside the case is if held tight by both sides.
You should also take into account that as all new leather garment, the case has a tight fit. So at the beginning all our cases come with a rather tight fit since with time and use leather will stretch due to its natural features. Leather is indeed a flexible material.
In some days time you will notice that your cases will allow you to remove the device more easily.

Anyway, please follow these tips:
To insert the case you should take the case from the sides, press down firmly from the top of the device but without applying any pressure at the sides, since this will prevent the unit from going down. To remove the item, you should press from the bottom edge until the top of the unit protrudes 2 cm approximately from the top of the case, and when you see there is a gap between the edge of the BlackBerry itself and the bottom edge of the leather, insert your finger in that gap pressing the unit upwards.
You will notice that with time and use, as explained, your leather case will adapt to your BlackBerry perfectly achieving a perfect fit.

Ixxx180;d suggest you give it some time to adjust, then please get back to me and let me know how it worked out.

Thank you.


Best regards,

Nora Stolzenwald
Customer Service
www.vajacases.com
www.vajachoice.com

[lgreenberg]

And my response:

Nora,

The fit is so tight there is no way I can get the 8700 into any of the three cases all the way.

I just got it in partially to one of them and it took me ten minutes of pulling as hard as I possible could to remove the Blackberry from the case. I'm scared to try it any more for fear my device is going to break.

Something is not right with the design. I've been using Vaja case since you started the company with the first review on The-Gadgeteer and have never had a problem like this.

It simply does not fit.

Please advise.

Larry

[Sparkomatic]

Originally Posted by lgreenberg

Here is the response I received fron Vaja.

Hi Lawrence,

Our cases design was meant to be very tight. As you might see the best way your Blackberry will stay safe inside the case is if held tight by both sides.
You should also take into account that as all new leather garment, the case has a tight fit. So at the beginning all our cases come with a rather tight fit since with time and use leather will stretch due to its natural features. Leather is indeed a flexible material.
In some days time you will notice that your cases will allow you to remove the device more easily.

Anyway, please follow these tips:
To insert the case you should take the case from the sides, press down firmly from the top of the device but without applying any pressure at the sides, since this will prevent the unit from going down. To remove the item, you should press from the bottom edge until the top of the unit protrudes 2 cm approximately from the top of the case, and when you see there is a gap between the edge of the BlackBerry itself and the bottom edge of the leather, insert your finger in that gap pressing the unit upwards.
You will notice that with time and use, as explained, your leather case will adapt to your BlackBerry perfectly achieving a perfect fit.

I´d suggest you give it some time to adjust, then please get back to me and let me know how it worked out.

Thank you.


Best regards,

Nora Stolzenwald
Customer Service
www.vajacases.com
www.vajachoice.com

I hate canned responses.

Don't they know they're talking to the King of Cases?

[wangta01]

Can you post some pictures? I'm curious to see this fit. My ipod video case was tight, but not to the extent that you're experiencing.

[lgreenberg]

I honestly am too frustrated to deal with trying to put it back in the case to take pictures.

I just tried again to do it and go it as far in as before. Then I literally could not get it out. It was almost to the point where I thought I might have to cut the leather apart to free my device from the case. After five minutes of the hardest pushing I could muster I eventually free it.

[yustonuser]

Wow - I can only imagine how annoyed I would be after waiting so long for the case only to not have them fit. Is it the same for all 3 cases you got?

Think of it this way - at least you have 10 other cases you could use until they figure this out

[lgreenberg]

Yep, all three cases are equally as tight.

I'm not really worried about it. I wasn't thrilled with the Vaja design to begin with. But more on that when I write up the review.