Making & Shipping
We have shipped thousands of Docks and are working to get the rest out as fast as possible. We know you are very eager to have them. Will be shipping about 500 per day through July to wrap this up.
We have been working through a bottleneck at bead blasting and anodizing - our vendor could not deliver at our planned and expected speed. We brought on another specialty metal finishing company, they have jumped on it very fast to match our finish quality and have already started delivering.
All the docks you see on these anodizing racks represent about 1/7th of what gets machined, anodized, assembled, packaged and shipped everyday.
As you can imagine, there is some friction in going from zero to mass production with parts that require this much work and precision - any machine marks and burrs have to be reworked or scrapped, anodizing that leaves a streak or the color is off has to be stripped and redone, off lasering has to be redone, circuit board assemblies that don't work are unbolted and swapped out, etc. We have 10x less fail QC than when we started production - it takes continual process improvements.
All cylinders - Our machine shops run over a mile in toolpaths every day of the week. Our anodizers are now hitting 500+ capacity per day in each of their three steps of glass bead blasting, electro-chemical micro polishing and anodizing. Lasering is turning around everything they receive in one day. When finished dock bodies arrive at our shop, we have 9 people dedicated to assembly, packaging and shipping - finished Docks are going out within 24 hours of their bodies arriving here.
Our custom compact USB chargers for the Dock+ versions look and work great, very glad we went to the extra effort to get them made and not go with 3rd party chargers.
If you need to contact us for an address change or anything else, please do so through kickstarter@elevationlab.com and not through kickstarter messenger, so our team or people can get back to you. More informal updates are posted on our Facebook page.
Thanks,
Casey + Elevation Lab
12,521
Backers
$1,464,706
pledged of $75,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Dec 13, 2011 -
Feb 11, 2012
(60 days)
- First created · 25 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: elevationlab.com
Pledge $59 or more
3726 backers
Get your own Elevation Dock in glass bead blasted finish (like on Apple unibody Macs). These will later retail for $90 if the project gets funded. CNC'd from solid aircraft aluminum, low friction connection, USB out. [US shipping included, add $20 for international]
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $79 or more
4179 backers
Get the Elevation Dock+ in glass bead blasted finish. The Dock+ adds shielded Line Level audio out plus USB power adapter. These will later retail for $120. [US shipping included, add $20 for international]
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $85 or more
1956 backers
Get the Elevation Dock+ in anodized Matte Black finish. The Dock+ adds shielded Line Level audio out plus USB power adapter. [Shipping included, add $20 for international]
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $118 or more
1918 backers
**Newly Added** Back Multiple Rewards: Select this level, add the total of the rewards you want, and enter that as pledge amount. For example, if you want two Matte Black Dock+ and one SunOrange Ltd Edition Dock+, you would enter $320 in the pledge amount (85+85+150=320). We will email you when funding is complete to reconfirm your order exactly. [USA shipping included, add just one $20 charge total for international shipping]
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $150 or more
196 backers
Get a special LimeGreen or SunOrange anodized Elevation Dock+ with lasered serial numbers. These beautiful finishes subtly change color at different angles and are exclusive only to KickStarter backers in this limited run. [We'll get your color choice when the project ends. Includes USA shipping, add $20 for international]
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $250 or more
229 backers
MultiPak: Get one limited edition LimeGreen Dock+ and 2x standard Elevation Docks for yourself or to give to friends and family to step up their docking experiences. [We'll get color choices from you when the project ends. Includes USA shipping, add $50 for international]
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $500 or more
178 backers
ProPak: Get 2x Matte Black Dock+, 2x standard Docks, plus both the limited edition LimeGreen and SunOrange Docks. Outfit everybody with the best dock made for the iPhone. [Includes USA shipping, add $50 for international]
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $2,000 or more
5 backers
**New** Reseller Pack - Get 15 standard Docks and 15 Dock+, both in bead blasted finish and in premium retail packaging. Tremendous discount from retail. [Insured USA shipping included. International shipping arranged by buyer]
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $5,000 or more
13 backers
**New** Distributer Pack - Get 100 standard Docks in bead blasted finish and in premium retail packaging. You will have these long before any other vendor. Retail is $90. [Insured USA shipping included. International shipping arranged by buyer]
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $10,000 or more
8 backers
**New** Distributer Pack+. Get 70 standard Elevation Docks, 62 Dock+ in bead blasted finish, and 25 Dock+ in Matte Black. All in premium retail packaging. Tremendous discount from retail. Email if you would like to customize this or do a higher level. [Free insured USA shipping. International shipping arranged by buyer]
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012
Comments
Creator John Luker on October 24, 2012
Finally. It's here. Dock is as expected. Packaging sucks. Big time. Really bad. Awful.
Creator Nicholas Gray on August 17, 2012
It's been 7 days since I've gotten an email response. This is unacceptable. This is some of the worst "customer service" I've experienced. Please respond to my, very important, email.
Creator Glenn McQuaig on July 29, 2012
Well, it turns out that the dock is simply not releasing the phone as it should. I've tried every way of pulling my phone out of it (not pulling forward or tilting it, etc.). The phone is stuck fast in the dock. Again, with and without case. I've written an email to Elevation Lab, but have received no response yet.
Creator Glenn McQuaig on July 26, 2012
@Paul Borokhov: Paul, I'll give that a try. It is possible I'm doing the pull forward motion. If so I'll definitely post here. Thanks.
Creator Sean K King on July 26, 2012
Nearly a month and no update on kickstarter.
.
Yes they have a Facebook page but this was funded through kickstarter....
Creator Scott on July 25, 2012
Here's the video that to me demonstrates the main selling point: http://vimeo.com/33075569 easy to use dock. --- However, kickstarter is funding startups. I'm sure many V.C.'s can tell us that startups are risky. Sometimes they produce and sometimes they dont. I'm with you all. I hope I get my dock soon, and I also hope that dock is easy to retrofit to whatever the next iphone is.
Creator Carlos Gonzalez on July 25, 2012
Where is my dock??? Been sending emails and no response....
Creator Paul Borokhov on July 25, 2012
Here's the video I was referring to https://vimeo.com/45673540
Creator Paul Borokhov on July 25, 2012
Glen, look at the videos posted by Casey earlier. If your phone is upright relative to the dock, it will not disengage. It needs to be in a "leaned back" position to lift off cleanly. If you're pulling your phone forward and up, that's why the dock is getting stuck.
Creator Glenn McQuaig on July 24, 2012
@John Passarella: come to think of it, you're right. It is the main selling point. I'll send them an email with details, and maybe a video of the undocking that shows how tightly the phone is gripped. I can easily lift the whole dock by holding just the phone and wave it around with the iPhone in it, it's that tight.
Creator dtsm on July 24, 2012
I've heard nothing since my pledge was accepted....but hopefully something will arrive soon?
Creator John Passarella on July 24, 2012
@Glenn McQuaig - if this is true, I'd ask for a replacement. Especially if it doesn't work as advertised without any case at all. The ease of docking and, more importantly, undocking was the MAIN selling point for this dock. If that interaction is no better than any other dock on the market, what was the point of the project? This might be more disappointing than all the delays. If this doesn't work, then the project has failed to deliver. No pun intended. Reminds me of that old doctor joke, that the surgery was a success but the patient died.
Creator Charles Friedberg on July 24, 2012
These pictures must be fake as I have yet to receive anything. I'm pretty sure I've effectively had my money stolen.
Creator Steven Dean on July 24, 2012
Justin, are the dock connectors on yours like any other? Mine don't look like any new engineering as was described in the pitch, so the iPhone is just as tight as it would be in any other dock. How is yours?
Creator Justin on July 24, 2012
My docks arrived yesterday, and I'm quite pleased with how they turned out.
Creator Lorne Litowitz on July 24, 2012
I'm starting to regret backing this project. Still haven't received the dock and it's getting close to August.
Creator Steven Dean on July 24, 2012
Just to add to what others are saying about the dock: It's very solidly built. The quality is excellent. I am disappointed, however, with the force required to remove the iPhone from the dock. It's nothing at all like the promo video. It's just like any other dock. It doesn't even look different.
Also, the iPhone sits at a really awkward, almost strait up angle. Again, not at all like the video. When not in a case, the iPhone doesn't even touch the rubber spacer, so every time you touch the phone it moves.
These two points were the main draw of the dock, and both are quite disappointing.
Creator Indrajeet Kalyankar on July 24, 2012
I would like to second Amit's suggestion too.
Creator Will Rose on July 24, 2012
I would like to second Amit's suggestion as I still haven't received my docks and it's been almost a month since the last update. I understand that you guys are probably still working your way through a logistical nightmare, but it'd be good to know if my docks are either still to be made or are on their way.
Thanks.
Creator Amit Gupta on July 24, 2012
Hi,
Is it possible that you post a list online of shipped docks - say just first name and city?
Creator Ernest Lansford on July 24, 2012
Still waiting on my dock. No more Kickstarter for me. Cheers EL
Creator Glenn McQuaig on July 23, 2012
I did finally receive my Matte Black dock last week. It looks nice and it charges the phone. So overall, it's pretty nice. Solid workmanship.
One big downside is that undocking the iPhone is not like they claim. The whole point of this was to be able to dock and undock the phones easily, even without holding the base down while pulling the phone out of it.
Very disappointed that the iPhone does not slide out of the dock easily at all. I have to hold the Elevation Dock down while pulling the phone out. Yes, that is with and without the case on. And yes, I do know how to turn around the silicone backing block in the dock.
Still, it's a nice base, the sound from the phone while mounted is great, and it still looks good. Just wish they'd been more forthright about how easily it would undock, since that was the major selling point, or one of them.
Creator Ben Stack on July 23, 2012
Will the dock be compatibly with iPhone5? May be no one knows that yet, but I am due for an upgrade in the fall.
Creator John Passarella on July 23, 2012
A short while ago they said they would all be shipped by the end of July. So, I guess we should take the "end of August" comment with a grain of salt.
Creator whaled09 on July 22, 2012
I received an email response back. All Kickstarter docks are expected to be shipped within 4 weeks. So by the end of August everyone should have their docks.
Creator whaled09 on July 22, 2012
I received an email response back. All Kickstarter docks are expected to be shipped within 4 weeks. So by the end of August everyone should have their docks.
Creator briankb on July 21, 2012
I second a request for a new update with shipping estimates. Estimated delivery was April 2012, so you are more than a little late.
Creator Mark Thompson on July 21, 2012
Hey folks,
Any idea what the timeline for the remaining shipments is? Patiently waiting for my Matte Black Dock+ but we've not heard anything from you for a few weeks - any chance of a status update for all us peeps still waiting for our docks.... Mildly worried Apple will announce the iPhone 5 before I get my dock....
Creator Don Manning on July 21, 2012
I ordered an anodized one and will continue to wait patiently. There still is nothing else of this quality on the market. From the reports of the people who have received the dock already, it's worth the wait.
Creator Adam Beasley on July 20, 2012
Can't wait!!! Looking forward to this dock!
Creator Emad Shams on July 20, 2012
WHERE IS THE DOCK??? THAT'S NOT COOL MAN!!!
Creator Paul Borokhov on July 20, 2012
And judging by your profile picture, Scott, you're good at making ad hominem attacks while hiding behind anonymity! Stay classy my friend.
As for everyone else, you will get a shipping notification when your dock ships. No, there is no way to find out ahead of time when that will happen. If you're moving and need to change your address, email kickstarter@elevationlab.com. Beyond that, sit tight.
Creator Victor Leal Garcia on July 20, 2012
Still waiting here... Can i have my tracking number?
Creator Jason Rueckert on July 20, 2012
This is also my first check-in in quite some time as well. My desk is an empty mess without this dock sitting on it. I still have not received it, but am trying to stay positive about this shipping process. I check my mailbox every single day in hopes of it being there...even on Saturday when the mail doesn't even deliver. Just in case.
Creator Aaron Martin on July 19, 2012
Still waiting.
Creator Prescott Perez-Fox on July 19, 2012
This is my first check-in with the project in some weeks. Is there a way to check the status of my specific Dock? Will I receive a message that it has shipped, or something? Sorry for being so uninformed; looking forward to seeing the Dock in action.
Creator Brent on July 18, 2012
You have 60 days to contest credit card charges after the statement date (federal law). Assuming your statement was sent out at the end of February, the credit card dispute ship sailed at the end of April.
I know you probably don't want to hear from someone who received their dock already, but I also backed the Lunatik pen, which, like the elevation dock, had an estimated delivery date of April. I did not get it until last week (straight from China), and I really wasn't that impressed with the quality.
Judging by the comments throughout the process, people on that project were not overly concerned about the delivery being delayed a few months, but some people here seem to be lining up with pitchforks. Not saying one is right or wrong, but I'm surprised at the varied mentalities of different groups of backers. Might make for a good sociology study...
Creator Scott W on July 18, 2012
Armando- Ask Paul, he seems to have a lot of good answers.
Creator Scott W on July 18, 2012
yes paul, useless. Who cares about pictures of an assembly line production, when there is no information being relayed on distribution, when it will actually make it to peoples hands.
ANd based on your picture, i can see you are a little wet behind the ears, and may not even have a credit card. But yes, you can contest charges after they've already been charged.
Creator Scott W on July 18, 2012
yes paul, useless. Who cares about pictures of an assembly line production, when there is no information being relayed on distribution, when it will actually make it to peoples hands.
ANd based on your picture, i can see you are a little wet behind the ears, and may not even have a credit card. But yes, you can contest charges after they've already been charged.
Creator Armando DiRienzo on July 18, 2012
Would someone like to tell me how to get in touch with the lab? I recevied my dock a week ago and it does not work. I switched out the cable and it still does not work. I have left messages and emailed and no one is getting back to me. Please advise.
Creator Paul Borokhov on July 18, 2012
No one said you need to read the comments. just the updates. there's a grand total of 19 of them, no more than two a month. that's "many" "useless" updates? seriously?
also, good luck "blocking charges" on your card – given that it's already been charged months ago.
Creator Karan Kapur on July 18, 2012
Oh Boy - I wish i could know when my docks will ship...
Creator John Luker on July 17, 2012
@ Scott W: Let us know how that works out for you.
Creator Scott W on July 17, 2012
And waiting ...... And no idea when, if ever, I'll get my dock. I may block the charges on my credit card
Creator Kelvin Tong on July 17, 2012
Still waiting....*whistling*....
Creator Andrew Westle on July 17, 2012
How is it looking like a failure if they have shipped thousands of docks?
Creator Scott W on July 17, 2012
Paul- I dont think its hard for people to read, its more likely that people dont want to take the time to go through so many, for lack of a better word, useless comments, and updates. People want to know when their dock is going to ship, and quite frankly elevation labs communication is horrendous. To your point of the iphone 5 connector swap out, yes, I imagine it would be easy to physically remove the old connector and put the new one in. However, how long will those new connectors take to make and be shipped out? We cant even get our docks yet, let alone a new connector that hasnt even been confirmed as to the actual specs for elevation to create for the dock. I'd say this project is looking more and more like a failure. Its frustrating to say the least. And before people start getting on me about my thoughts not being the spirit of kickstarter, sit on it. This is more about communication than anything else.
Creator whaled09 on July 17, 2012
Harris, In the end of this post it states: "If you need to contact us for an address change or anything else, please do so through kickstarter@elevationlab.com and not through kickstarter messenger, so our team or people can get back to you. More informal updates are posted on our Facebook page."
Creator Harris Tsim on July 16, 2012
I have waited long enough that I left my job and would need to change the shipping address. Who should I contact to do such a thing?