Shapeways

I´m working with Shapeways since now nearly 11 years for prototype modeling on scale models and it´s like the Amazon of 3-D print. There´s a big range of different materials and print methods, were you can choose the ideal solution for your product. Since over a year I´m using also the shop-section on Shapeways and it´s an easy way to sell your products to other model builder. Some improvements should be done on the shop section for the shop owner and also for the customer (mostly other language - German for example).

I use Shapeways for producing my silver, gold and platinum jewelry since 2015. I miss that days when they had sharply 9 business days production, no additional fees, shipping was provided by USPS and costed $4.99.

I'm very happy with the product quality. I never worry that I will get my designs imperfectly made. I tried other companies, and can say, Shapeways is the leader!

Customer service always was and still is caring and attentive. Maybe I'm lucky but 99% of my requests are resolved almost immediately.

I use my shops integration - this is really great thing! I'm waiting only one improvement here - I want to have opportunity to choose shipping method and production mode (standard or priority).

I contacted the customer service few months ago and everything was fine. Not only I've got response within 24 hours (also on weekend, not that usual somewhere else), all the questions were clarified but on top of it I could communicate in my native languege which made it much easier, definitely. So far I'm moreless satisfied. Of course, some items could be more pricey (hence -1*) but because of the rare items and frequently quite difficult model it's overall OK.

Very satisfied by the final result, a lot of material options and all staff is helpful. I was surprised though with the new price polishy this year. 3dprinting it was always an expensive sport but now for myself as an artist although it felt I could jump up to larger scale prints I have to come back to small scale and safety. I guess the previous model wasn't sustainable for you so I hope one day soon it will become.

I have been working with Shapeways for about 5 years, and in general I'm very satisfied with the service, but unfortunately I need to say that, after the co-founder and CEO Peter Weijmarshausen leave the company, the things are getting visibly worst.
Some exemples are a total neglect of the marketplace, the bad relationship with the community, the disappear of the "Cancel Order" button that, IMO, is totally unacceptable, and so on.
I usually place 1-3 orders a day on Shapeways, and the stress of doing this without possibility of make any simple mistake is a painful. I had an order placed with one wrong item, I sent a message to the Service 10 minutes (yes 10 minutes) after the mistake, and the answer was that the order was already at the production and couldn't be canceled... what? So, I needed to place another correct order, my customer received two items, and I paid twice... totally ridiculous!
Usually I have a very good customer service, mainly by Christel and Lefteri that are awesome, but I have noticed a delay at the replies sometimes, something that I haven't before.
Even so, my overall concept of Shapeways is positive, I'm very grateful by them letting and helped me to have my main job today, that is develop and sell my Geek Ring Boxes.

The tracking on my package proved that my order was never delivered. Shapeways was quick to either reprint or refund my money (I asked them to reprint).

I've been modeling jewelry for shapeways for 4.5 years now. And I think its Ok. Yeah, I have dealt with the change of minimum requirements, printing failures, price changes etc. All my designs are on shapeways, I sell like 3 models per year on the platform, but I see shapeways as a tool for my business, and also as a business of their own. Their guidelines are good, they have always delivered quality, solved my issues etc. As a business they have to make a profit to continue working and the best way to have profits is to not produce what they belive cannot be done.

Lately I've been producing and selling my pieces localy because for me its cheaper, but Shapeways continues to have all my catalog because its free and only represents a small part of my business.

I've been using shapeways for about 4 years. I design and sell 3d printed jewelry. I have items printed in SLS nylon, steel/bronze, as well as cast metal items in silver and brass. In general, the quality has been great, although I've had to request a reprint on rare occasions. They were always willing to do the reprint.

Like any business, they've had pricing changes over the years, and like everyone else, I don't like the increases. However, there have been a few price decreases that work in my favor.

My biggest gripe is that they switched from using regular USPS for the standard shipping to the Mail Innovations setup, which starts out as UPS and ends up as USPS. This takes at least a day longer for me on the west coast, but even worse is that there have been at least two occasions where the package shows as dropped off to USPS by UPS but USPS denies all knowledge of the package, so I lose a shipment. I can get everything made and shipped again, but it's time consuming, and I'm sure shapeways does not like doing that either. Lately, I find myself making large enough orders to justify using UPS 2-day. (I wish they hadn't raised the price so much on UPS 2-day).

I will mention that although shapeways quotes fairly long non-expedited production times, they have shipped fairly quickly all this year, although things may slow down once the holiday season gets rolling. I wish they could provide a real-time production time estimate for an order.

Probably the easiest way to create models that doesn't exist. Accurate materials dedicated to models. Always interesting being able to chat with other creators.
Btw, a bit expensive. But nice quality and materials available nowhere else.

As compared to Stratasys Direct, the prints, made of nylon 11, have had comparable print quality and the price has been 1/2. I'm pretty satisfied although I don't order but 5 parts per year.

I've been using shapeways for about 4ish years now and lover the variety of material options. This lets me launch products that can't be made with conventional cnc manufacturing, and to not have the dreaded MOQ.

Only downside of them is the prices, understandably these things cost to make but being in another country (Australia) the dollar difference is a killer already. So price increases means I've had to stop making certain products, as I now have to price myself out of the market.

Another thing is small imperfections in the manufacturing, they are normally quick to help getting you a fixed version, but is annoying that they let it leave in the first place.

Overall happy with them, and would suggest it to any small business.

Prices have gotten more expensive, broken models in shipping more frequent but Shapeways always other provides a credit or reprint if this occurs. I have never had a rude customer service person or had to ask for a supervisor. The turn around time can be lengthy but I am not looking for a speed service. The post cleaning of parts is hit or miss. I have to clean all models before painting so this is not a deal breaker for me. I have not found a service that is cheaper that provides access to the same machines any where.

I use shapeways to sell models, and I'm over all pretty satisfied with my experience. Theres always room for improvement, but for the average shopper it is very well done.

We have a lot of 3d print jobs while prototyping. We are using Shapeways for over 3 years now. We always satisfied with thiır prints.

So, I was a little surprised they received so many negative reviews, as my experience has been overall positive. However, I am reviewing from the perspective of a small enthusiast, and used Shapeways a few times over the years for metal prints (I have my own plastic 3D Printers at home). I have always had great customer service, from fast replies to answers for very random / specific questions (I once asked for estimated weight of a steel print).

I still design some small knickknacks here and there with the intention of ordering through Shapeways, so I am, and have been, a repeat customer.

Over the years, their site changed a bit, and is slightly more difficult to navigate, but overall materials are laid out in an easy to find manner. However, the amount of new materials begin to confuse me as I don't always keep up to date with all the types of plastics and new printing technologies. It can get a bit overwhelming. Perhaps more and up to date photographs of example prints might help a bit.

I have noticed some price changes, but some of my prints seem to have even dropped in price? (I could be wrong). So overall, my experience has still been on the positive end. But I do hope they continue to work towards better pricing and clearer descriptions of materials.

Overall, I am satisfied with the service Shapeways delivers, but I miss the old material listing where all selections are listed with green/red light for if you could choose that particular material.
The website does not work in my normal browser Pale Moon but I have to use the Opera browser to select the material on the models I want to buy.

The customer service has always been professional to me and helped with the problems I have had or concerns.

A small detail I have missed for a long time is that the model/product title/name is not on the bags that the model/product comes in, and that the image on the label is out of very poor quality.

I use Shapeways to unique models for model railway and here it is perfect, but it costs more today than when I started using Shapeways, so I think of once extra before a model comes out on my shop.

My order consisted of two radio knobs to fit a 09 - 10 Pontiac Vibe radio / the knobs were exactly the same as the existing, but therein lies the problem / my suggestion to shapeways is that the flare should only protrude 1/16 - 1/8th of an inch max so as to merely press the new knob onto the metal post / ( I achieved this measurement of protrusion by grinding the excess off - pressed the knob onto the metal post and voila, a volume knob that now works / to be fair, shapeways would not know this / hopefully they will read the afore / Dwight N.

There are lots of places to get things people make, like etsy and even eBay. What Shapeways adds to this is that they have 3d printing capabilities, which lets the inventor upload a pattern and customer can then buy it in different materials. Do a creative outlet where you do not need to stock the items, and the customer can get it how they want it. All that is great.

Actually doing the work and making the pieces is not always easy. The customer does not need to worry about this, but if you are a designer, things like not being able to make working metal hinges and other limits can be problematic. So there are limits, and it is not perfect, but it is a great link between designers and the general market.