Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I just received the case today, and my initial impression of it is pretty good. I will state my reason for purchasing this particular case had to do with the great reviews for the previous generation Bear Motion case for the iPad2. I wanted something of quality at a decent price, and it had a pretty great rating. Now onto my review... The case comes packaged in a transparent plastic bag, and one of the first things I noticed were the words: Made in China. (This concerned me a little in terms of quality, but I know most things are these days. I guess it's one thing it has in common with the iPad.) Upon sliding the plastic bag open like a ziplock bag, I took the product out. It comes in a velvety, felt-like bag and I thought this was a nice little addition to protect the case when traveling, etc. Even the plastic ziplock bag could be reused to hold the case if you wanted to add another layer of protection when on the go. When I first took the case out of the bag, I noticed a chemical-like smell. I'm guessing this has to do with what the leather was treated with? Now that it has aired out, it has gotten much better. (Not a huge negative, but it was something I did notice.) In terms of quality, the case I have seems pretty well stitched together and solid. The magnets hold the case shut well, but I do wonder how longterm use will affect the corners on top of the iPad on the inside of the case. (Will they fold up after extended use of the magnets pulling on them? We'll see...) The stand works as intended and the case feels nice to the touch--it's not too heavy or bulky. The iPad slips into the left side of the open case and secures with a velcro strip and a fold of leather that slips under the iPad. (My particular velcro strip seems a little loose, so we'll see how that works out.) I'm sure the case will protect and hold my iPad securely in case of an accidental drop. Thankfully I don't think I'll be dropping it as often as my smaller iPhone due to the size, so I don't believe I'll need an extreme level of protection like I have on my phone. Also, since the new iPad is almost exactly the same size as the last one, I'm sure it's going to fit well when I receive it later this week. My last leather case purchase was for my Kindle, and I spent about $75 on that case. It didn't take long for that case to "bleed" onto my Kindle, so I was constantly wiping the black streaks off. This case already seems much better than that case, and I'm sure I won't have the same problem. Plus, the price is much better! Only time will tell how well this case holds up, but the company's customer service gives me confidence it will last. A one year unlimited warranty is pretty great, especially if you use the case everyday. I'm sure daily use over the course of a year will be enough to really test it. And even if you don't like the case or it doesn't hold up, you have nothing to lose by purchasing it. To me, that's comforting and what I'm looking for in a product. Even more, looking over the negative reviews, it's nice to see the company reach out to try and remedy the situation(s). It makes me content in my purchase. Overall: I'm pleased. It's definitely worth the price I paid for it, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice leather case without a huge cost. I'm one who doesn't mind investing in something if it's going to protect my device, but I also don't mind saving some $$. If I can do both, I'm happy. UPDATE 3-18-12: Having used the case for several days now, I have to admit: I really like it. The chemical smell has been replaced with the genuine leather smell now, and I honestly can't complain with the the way the case holds and fits the iPad and how it feels in my hands. As for the smart cover issue: that is a problem. When I bought the case, that wasn't really a selling point for me like it has been for other people, so it's not a big deal for me. Overall: still pleased. UPDATE 3-26-12: I've contacted the seller about the replacement case and will update my review when I receive it. The customer service is really great! UPDATE 4-3-12: I received the replacement case in no time, but I figured I would hold off on my review until I had time to use the case for a few days. The smart cover feature now works flawlessly, and the case is still just as impressive as the previous version. Again, the customer service is top notch. They respond quickly, are eager to resolve any issue, and best of all: they are extremely friendly. Honestly, other sellers could learn a few things from them. HIGHLY recommended. I'm completely satisfied. UPDATE 7-17-12: Case is holding up well considering how much it is used and how often I toss my iPad into my bag for work. The edges where the magnets are on the inside still aren't folding up from opening the case repeatedly (which was a concern for me initially) and the stitching is 100% in tact. No issues whatsoever. Definitely worth the price! UPDATE 3-18-13: After having this case for over a year now, it is still holding up. The only issue I've had is a small one: inside of the case at the bottom, some of leather has frayed. I guess it's a small issue considering the daily use. Great case!