iPhone 4 case info and FAQs
What you need to know before you purchase a Bamboo iPhone 4 case
Our Bamboo iPhone 4 cases are made from natural, sustainable Anji Forest bamboo, which is a grass. Bamboo, like any natural material will react to heat, cold, moisture and other environmental conditions. While we take great care to accommodate these environmental changes in our tolerances, slight dimensional changes, warping and tightness can occur. Bamboo will typically acclimate to the environment it's in after a brief 1-3 day exposure. If your case seems to be a bit loose or tight, chances are it will adjust itself in the coming days. Extreme heat may cause your bamboo case to crack or warp. If you live in places like Colorado or Arizona you may need to condition your bamboo cases with a furniture oil of your choosing. We prefer natural citrus oils such as lemon oil.
Remember, this is a living breathing natural material. If you prefer a hard, non-living, soulless plastic cases, you should probably stop by the Apple store or have a look online.
Give your phone a soul!
Warranty
We guarantee our product for a three month period from the day it ships.
Be aware that the bamboo is a natural material (grass) and will distress/change over time. It's actually part of the charm of bamboo. You can expect your case to wear similar to fine, hand-oiled furniture.
Be Warned
We do not cover damage from abuse, exposure to moisture, extreme temperatures, cracking from screen protector use, improper installation, and impacts (such as dropping your phone). We do however, offer a one-time 50% off discount program with some basic terms. See below.The case MAY NOT SURVIVE AN IMPACT FROM DROPPING THE PHONE
If you are notoriously bad at dropping phones, this may not be for you. Most of our cases survive some large impacts but repeated drops can cause the phone to weaken and eventually break. We highly suggest that you don't sit on your phone. Putting you phone in your back pocket will put stress on the bamboo that may cause it to break or crack eventually.
Will my iPhone 4 bamboo case survive a drop?
We want to be honest with you about our product so you can make the best decision for yourself. =)
Bamboo cases are not drop proof. They are also not crack proof or bullet proof. Being made of natural materials, your case may not survive an substantial impact. This is true of any product made of bamboo or wood from any brand. We want to be very honest and clear about the qualities of bamboo with you. Our products are of the highest quality, but this does not guarantee that your phone case will survive a drop. Your bamboo case will protect your phone from normal wear and tear but is not guaranteed against drops Bamboo material varies greatly. Sometimes the case survives very hard drops or tosses, other times the case can break from the smallest drop onto a soft surface. Even though our cases do often survive dramatic impacts, we just can not guarantee it.
If you are the kind of person that drops your phone a lot, like me, we suggest cases made of silicone or rubber. Otterbox is pretty good.
Although we cannot guarantee it, there have been numerous incidents where iPhones/iPads have been saved by our case. In fact, we do not know of a single incident where an iPhone has been ruined in our case.
Think of it as a motorcycle helmet: might break in a crash but will most likely save your iPhones life.
What kind of bamboo do you use?
We use a variety of bamboo species from the Anji forest. Moso is the most prevalent but in special cases where our designs call for extra strength or flexibility we use a variety of bamboos species from the Anji forest.
How can I care for my iPhone 4 bamboo case?
For gentle cleaning, use a damp rag to lightly scrub the iPhone case, then pat dry.
For more intense cleaning use a 10 to 1 solution of water and mild dish soap on a rag then, wipe with a damp rag and pat dry.
If you would like to re-oil the case later you can use boiled linseed oil, lemon oil for an added sent or according to some of our customers, rub orange peels on the case for a nice smell and finish.
The natural finish will patina with age and look better than ever!
How heavy is the iPhone 4 case? How big is it?
It depends on the case. The Heavy Bamboo or Tiger Bamboo is our largest and heaviest case. It's also the most beautiful case and for many is a refreshingly substantial weight. The Carbonized, Two Towed and Cross Bamboo cases are about 6oz, which is barley noticeable. The Cross bamboo iPhone cases mimics the iPhones natural antenna feel making it very easy to grip and hold while maintaining a very light weight.
How and where are the Bamboo iPhone 4 cases made?
We'd love to say "Made in the USA" but to be as sustainable as we strive to be it just makes sense to make the product next to the mountain rage that the bamboo comes from. The Anji forest is located just miles from the Shanghai district where our custom designs are CNC'd and individual finished to perfection. There are no USA bamboo forests as yet. There are some small farms that have planted bamboo but they will not be harvesting for 4-6 years. We have a stake in these farms and will be looking to move our production of all bamboo products to the states, ASAP.
Is there any difference between the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4s?
Yes, the difference between the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s is the mute button is in a slightly different position on each phone. This slight design variance has been accounted for in all of our bamboo iPhone 4 designs.
Here is a side by side comparison of the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4s
http://www.beta-ro-omega.com/bamboophonegfx/20-iPhone-4S-vs-iPhone-4.jpeg
Regarding the fit of bamboo cases - at the bottom of the tech spec comparison chart on Apple's site it says "Actual size and weight vary by configuration and manufacturing process."
http://www.apple.com/iphone/compare-iphones/
While our bamboo iPhone 4 case designs account for this "small variance" we do occasionally find that a phone is too tight in the case. The few case of this happening have been in very humid locations and we're happy to work with you to get a bettering fitting case, or a refund.
Can I use 3rd party headphones/docks with your case?
It just depends. Any headphones we sell will fit, although it can be a snug fit. Our headphone hole diameter is approximately .32 inches and will easily fit the standard apple headphones.
An adapter which can be found online, and soon to be at the Beta Ro Omega store can be found online, usually for $5-$10 shipped. We recommend searching "iPod Headphone Adapter" in google.
Most docks probably won't work with any bamboo case made by anyone, including us.
Color Variations
Due to variations in monitor/screen settings and bamboo being a natural material with random variations, we cannot guarantee a color match with images on the website. Color discrepancy does not warrant a valid return.
Exchanges/Replacements
All exchanges will be made only with the identical product ordered.
The one-time, I dropped my phone and broke it 50% off -- replacement deal
If you break your case for any reason (even out of warranty) we will offer you a one-time 50% discount on a new replacement!
The Bamboo cases are not guaranteed against drops of any kind. But, we understand that life happens and we are willing to meet you half-way. if you drop and break your bamboo iPhone 4 cases, we will give you the replacement discount.
What you'll need to do: Start by sending us an email with an attached picture of the phone broken case. We want to see how it broke and what we can do to make them better. We'll get back to you with a discount code that you can use for the product model you originally purchased.
Note: Limited to identical product replacements. Deal only valid while we are still in production of that model. We may be able to offer an equal cost product option, but we'll have to see what's available.
Original Purchaser
Warranty is only valid with the original purchaser with a valid order# and matching email address. For example: if you buy from a 3rd party on eBay or from a reseller all warranties are void.
Collaborations/Special Editions
Warranty is only valid for one month due to experimental nature of projects. Refunds only- no replacements. If you are unhappy with this warranty please contact us before the month is up and we will fully refund you.
Can I use a screen protector on my iPhone 4 case?
Using a screen protector on the front or back of your iPhone 4 with our bamboo cases voids your warranty. DO NOT use a screen protector on the back- it will break the case!
We will not be issuing refunds or offering replacement cases for those who break their case while using a screen protector of any kind.
What are my shipping options?
We use USPS - Priority Mail. Most Packages take a few days to process and from 5 to 14 days to arrive, depending on where you are.
Do you ship worldwide/international? How much does international shipping cost?
Yes! We ship globally via the US Postal Service. Please add your item to cart and proceed with checkout. Shipping options and prices will become available just before you finalize your order.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We use PayPal exclusively which accepts Visa, Discover, and MasterCard.
Can I pay extra to have my product shipped sooner via FedEx or UPS?
It's not our standard practice but we've been known to go the extra mile for some extra money and a good story. If you're really in a spot and willing to pay for a rush order, contact us and we'll see what we can do. No guarantees though.
Can you combine discount codes or use them on introductory prices or pre-orders?
Nope, just one code pre user. We are very generous, but save our charity work for other endeavors.
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