Shapeways
Reviews and Complaints

Shapeways created a 3D print for me of a Japanese style Buddha that I modelled in 3DS Max and converted to VDB for complicated booleans in Houdini. The model was then converted back to a poly mesh and was reduced to about 900k polys. I wanted a print just to get a visual feel for the scale before doing a sculpture so I chose their "first available material option" as I wasn't concerned about the quality as much as just getting a comp in my hand to see and feel. They used versatile plastic, I believe its called, and the finished print turned out AMAZING! Just beautiful. No finishing work was needed, amazing detail, no banding, just perfect. So good, in fact, that I'll show it as part of my project. Couldn't be happier, sending a Burmese style Buddha next.

I absolutely recommend this service for the most professional level of printed products anywhere. Quick story: I had trouble with some designs that I picked up from Thingyverse because I had them resized to a smaller scale. They did in fact point out that a number of areas would be extremely thin to print and gave me a choice to print it anyways OR to resend it in after editing the models myself. Problem is that I don't work with 3D modeling and it would take me forever to figure out how to fix it all. I emailed their customer service about it and the kind folk at Shapeways made an exception for me and fixed up all the designs for me. Such great people. Emails were all sent back and forth within a day; very satisfied with their support team. Thank you again!

This review is specifically talking about the level of customer support/experience I received during the planning/order process. While I found the website pretty easy to use and having a pretty good level of documentation, they are not going to be teaching you 3d modeling(understandable). I had not done 3D modeling in the past and I was ordering a single model for myself and classmates as a custom gift from my class for our teacher. William Magley helped me review my model, gave me incredibly helpful design tips throughout the process, and gave me great advice about printing material/color/finish. He was quick in response time and response quality was high. He clearly has a competent knowledge level to help potential customers. I would highly recommend this company to friends/family based on my customer service experience.
-Jake S.

I was assigned a homework project to research 3D printing for my 3D class. Knowing very little about the concept, I researched several companies and chose Shapeways because I was impressed with the informational completeness and ease of use of their website. I was impressed with their tutorials which were easy to follow, and for the comprehensive range of available materials for any project. What really sealed the deal for me about Shapeways was that I needed to double check certain information. A bot popped up and the FAQ section was very complete but I still wanted further confirmation. I was directed to customer service and within a short period of time was contacted by an actual person who confirmed the rest of my questions. While I did not have a project at this time to bring from design to completion, Shapeways is definitely the one I would trust to do that.

I don't know WHAT some of these reviewers are talking about. I love this company. I have placed a half-dozen or so orders with them, of my own nerdy, technical designs and there are delivered in perfect condition. Everything looked great and it all fit together perfectly. Maybe because it was my own design and not someone else's?

And I've had only one "problem" and it was with UPS, NOT Shapeways. It was NOT delivered when it was supposed to have been delivered (I paid for next-day) and we thought it was lost.

Shapeways quickly re-printed it, and sent it out again to me, arriving on time - even though it was NOT there fault.

And the people I have dealt with are always informative and great.

I was considering acquiring my own 3D printer, but because of affordability of Shapeways doing it for me, makes it much more worthwhile to have it done by them. And I then do not have to worry about maintenance and calibration and trouble-shooting and the replenishing of supplies.

Yes, I would HIGHLY recommend them (like I said, I design my own stuff, so I have no idea about purchasing something that was designed by someone else).

I am a silversmith. I do an annual ornament in sterling every fall. When my casting company declined to cast a model in 2019, I was directed to Shapeways by several local jewelers/silversmiths.
The edition that was cast for me in 2019 was perfect. I learned a great deal about the digital design process.The edition was for 150 pieces in sterling. The cost was more than the tradition castings that had been done in years past, but the finishing time was much less.( We hand finish each of the ornaments).
For the 2020 edition the design was slightly smaller to adjust the cost due to silver price increases.
The production was amazing. The detail was perfect. The surface finish was even better than the 2019 edition.
The attention I received from my representative was beyond my expectations. He was prompt in his responses to my questions and the timing was better than promised.
I will continue to trust Shapeways with my designs going forward.
I have been a silver/gold smith for 50 years now and I find the level of professionalism and business ethic of this company to be refreshing, and encouraging.
Give them a try, you will be glad you did.
I apologize that the image of the ornament is not available to post with this review.

I've been using them for almost 2 years now and I've never been disappointed. This company is based on perfection, If you're model is not printable due to flaws, they give you a great detailed reason as to why and sometimes offers to help get it over the top. The quality of the materials are excellent. If you're designed turns out to be really good, they will upgrade it to first try printing which means that your model can be printed in almost any material with zero flaws. If you was a customer decide to purchase any of these products you are giving a great description of your order and the progress that it is making to the system. In some cases your product will arrive sooner than what anticipated. I definitely get this company five stars.

On November 7, 2022, I placed an order for two sets of 3D printed 1/72nd scale SH-60B rotor hinge folds from Shapeways. The total cost, including shipping, was $48.23. The order was shipped on November 11, 2022, and I received it on November 17, 2022. The order was fulfilled by a contracted vendor assigned by Shapeways, whose name is not mentioned.

When I opened the box, I found that the zip lock pouch inside was empty, and the pouch itself was not sealed (see pictures). I immediately contacted Shapeways customer service on the same day and had several email exchanges with a customer representative named ***. I informed him that I had already notified my bank about the issue, and they were likely to process a refund. He suggested that I search for the product as it might have slipped out of the packaging, considering its small size. I thoroughly searched the area where I opened the package but could not find the product.

On November 28, 2022, my bank informed me that the refund had been rejected because Shapeways claimed it was an "Authorized Purchase." Since Shapeways directly interfered with the refund process, I contacted *** at Shapeways again to request a refund. I am also filing this complaint to document the issue further. I have attached two pictures of the packaging received from the contractor for Shapeways. Please note the red/orange stripe on the inner packaging, indicating that it was not sealed by the vendor and that the product may have slipped out during handling.

I purchased the black premium versatile plastic reproduction eyeglasses on April 25, 2022. They were described as smooth black plastic, just like the original glasses for a Charmin Chatty doll. I ordered two pairs, but I was disappointed when I received the product on May 7, 2022. It was not smooth as described in the product description. I contacted Shapeways, thinking that I received the lower-cost black natural versatile plastic instead. A representative from Shapeways named *** responded and explained that I did receive the premium product. However, he further explained that it does not have a smooth finish, despite being described as such in the product description. He advised me to contact the designer and provide feedback on the misleading product description. I followed his suggestion, but I believe that Shapeways should take responsibility for the misleading product descriptions and ensure that they are corrected on their website as soon as they become aware of the issue. It should not be the customer's responsibility to notify the designer about misleading product descriptions. I would like the product description on their website to be updated so that other customers are not misled. I have attached photos of the product description, the email from ***, my invoice, and a photo of me holding one of the pairs of glasses I received next to an original pair of glasses worn by the doll. In the photo, you can see that the product is not a smooth black plastic, identical to the original glasses as stated in the product description. I would like the product description to be updated so that other customers are not misled like I was.

I ordered a ring from Shapeways late at night and realized shortly after that I needed to cancel the order. I quickly sent in a cancellation request, but unfortunately, the ring had already entered production. I received a response from the company stating that they were unable to cancel the order and refund my money. I was disappointed and frustrated that the cancellation option on their website did not seem to be effective.

I reached out to several representatives from Shapeways through email, hoping to find a solution to my problem. While they offered several alternatives to make things right, none of them seemed to be a satisfactory solution. Despite my efforts to communicate my frustration and disappointment, the representatives were unable to remedy the situation.

It's frustrating to encounter a situation like this, especially when you feel like you've done everything you can to resolve the issue. I was disappointed that the cancellation option on their website didn't seem to work as advertised, and I wish that the representatives had been more helpful in finding a solution. Overall, my experience with Shapeways was not a positive one, and I would hesitate to order from them again in the future.

I gotta say, I've been waiting for my order from Shapeways for over a month now. They told me it was done and dusted, but it seems like it's lost somewhere between UPS and the post office. And let me tell you, nobody at Shapeways seems to give a hoot about helping me out. UPS says they sent the package on to the post office, but the post office is all like, "We can't do nothin' without a tracking number, buddy." And when I finally do get a response from someone at Shapeways, they just pass me off to someone else like I'm some kinda hot potato. It's one excuse after another, and they even sent me shipping info for a whole different city! I'm telling you, watch out for these guys. Once they've got your cash, they don't give a rat's behind about helping you out if something goes wrong. You're on your own, pal.

Shapeways is not a good choice for anyone looking for quality customer service. The process starts off well enough, but if you have any questions or issues, you're in for a rough ride. For example, if you upload a file and use a coupon, but then they reject your file, you won't be able to use the coupon anymore. This is just a silly policy that doesn't make any sense. Even if you decide to print your item anyway, the prices are way too high! You can get the same thing made in silver for just a couple of dollars more than what they're charging for plastic. It's just not worth it.

The worst part is that they don't seem to care about their customers at all. They're terribly disorganized and don't follow through on anything. They have multiple people answering the same question, but then they don't actually do anything about it. If you're thinking about creating pieces to sell, you're better off finding someone else to work with. Shapeways just isn't worth the hassle.

I made a part on Shapeways and offered it to partner labs for free for at least 2 years. But then, in October, they jacked up the price by more than 25%. I tried to contact them through their online tool 3 times, but only got one canned response that didn't help me at all.

It's not fair that they can just raise their prices without any explanation or warning. Some people have built their whole business around their 3D printing service, and now it's not even possible to make a profit. I'm going to have to switch to a cheaper manufacturing method as soon as possible.

I wish Shapeways would at least call or email me to help me figure out how to make my part cheaper to print. But I guess they don't care about their customers anymore. It's a shame, because I used to really like their service.

Yo, I gotta be real with y'all. I had a pretty bad experience with Shapeways. I ain't one to complain, but their customer service was straight up terrible. I made a mistake in my order and tried to cancel it right away, but they straight up ignored me and started printing my stuff anyways. When I hit them up to ask why they didn't cancel it, they said they saw the order first. Like, what kind of excuse is that?

Anyways, since they already started printing, I asked if they could at least change the shipping to basic, which was the mistake I made in the first place. They said they could do it, but wouldn't refund me the difference. Like, come on, man. That's just shady.

I asked to speak to a supervisor or manager, and they put me in touch with some dude named Lefteri. He was supposed to be a senior customer service rep, but he was just as useless as everyone else I talked to. Honestly, I don't even know why they bother having a customer service team if they're all gonna be this bad.

On the bright side, the printing itself was decent. But honestly, I don't think I'll be using Shapeways again after this experience.

I recently had an experience with Shapeways that left me feeling frustrated and disrespected. I had sold a file of a ship on their website, but later discovered that it had been stolen from me and uploaded without my permission. When I contacted Shapeways to have the file removed, they refused, even though Mr. Garry Stair admitted that it was my work.

Talking with them was like talking to a brick wall - they seemed to change their policies whenever it suited them, and it was clear that money was their only concern. They had no respect for me or my work, and didn't seem to care about doing the right thing.

It turns out that someone had bought my file, made some changes to it, and then uploaded it to Shapeways as their own. This was a clear case of theft, but Shapeways didn't seem to care. They were more interested in protecting their own interests than in doing what was right.

When I asked them to remove the file, they made me jump through all sorts of hoops, and even laughed at me while I was doing it. It was clear that they had no intention of helping me, and that they were more interested in making a profit than in doing the right thing.

This experience has been incredibly frustrating for me and my family. We were relying on the income from this project to help us through a difficult time, and now it has been stolen from us. I would strongly advise anyone considering using Shapeways to think twice - they are not a company that can be trusted.

So, let me tell you about my experience with Shapeways. First off, you gotta fork over some cash before you even know if they can print your thingamajig. And if they can't, you'll get an email telling you to fix it up.

Now, here's where it gets tricky. If you order more than one thing and they can only print one of 'em, they'll send that one out before you can fix the other. So, you'll have to pay for shipping all over again. Not cool, man.

But, they do have this "print it anyway" deal for some materials. I wanted my thing in polished brass, but they said it was too detailed and would get lost in the polishing process. So, I said to print it in unpolished brass (which was supposed to be part of the "print it anyway" service), but they didn't follow through.

Luckily, I found out about these imaterialise folks who offer similar services and seem to do a better job (especially with jewelry). Plus, they're cheaper. So, I'm gonna give them a shot.

Shapeways used to be my go-to for 3D printing, but they've gotten pretty pricey lately. Especially for small objects, because they charge a "per item" fee that doesn't go down even if you print more than one. I used to group small objects together on a tree or sprue to save money when I needed multiple parts, but now they won't let me do that anymore. They say it's because the parts won't print properly, but I think it's just a way for them to charge me more money.

I've had a lot of success with Shapeways in the past, and most of the parts I've ordered have come out perfectly. But now they're rejecting my sprued parts and telling me I have to print them individually. It's frustrating because I know these parts can be printed together, but the program won't let me do it. It's like they're trying to scam me into paying more money.

Honestly, if Shapeways would just drop the per item fee or make it a percentage of the material cost, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But when you're printing small parts, the setup fees are the main cost, and they add up quickly. With this new policy, I don't think I'll be using Shapeways anymore. It's just not worth it to me to pay so much for something that used to be affordable.

I recently made a purchase from Shapeways, and I have to say, I was not impressed with the experience. I ordered two window shade brackets, hoping to get a product that would hold my shades in place. Unfortunately, the clips on the brackets were too short, and the shades wouldn't stay put. When I contacted the company for help, they told me it was a design problem and that I should take it up with the designer. They offered no assistance whatsoever.

I had purchased the brackets directly from the Shapeways website, where they were listed as Shade Bracket 304 Louver drape Kirsch Levolor. I assumed that this meant they would fit my Kirsch Levolor shades, but I was wrong. Despite my repeated requests for help, the company refused to offer any support, leaving me to spend hours filing down the clips on the brackets so that they would work with my shades. The two parts cost me $62.10, so I was understandably frustrated and disappointed.

It seems to me that if a company is selling a product with a specific part number, they should be able to deliver that product as advertised. Would they sell a bolt that was out of spec? I don't think so. I would advise anyone considering using Shapeways to be cautious and not assume that they will receive the product they think they are buying. And if you do run into problems, don't expect any help from the company after the sale. Overall, my experience with Shapeways was not a positive one, and I would not recommend them to others.

I recently purchased a product from Shapeways and unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The product was much smaller than what I had anticipated based on the website picture. Additionally, the product didn't work as intended due to the size and choice of materials.

When I reached out to customer service, I was disappointed to find that their response was less than satisfactory. Christel Maurmair, a customer service representative, informed me that the product was printed accurately based on the designer's model file and that a reprint would lead to the same result. She also stated that they were unable to provide a reprint or refund for the product. Instead, she recommended that I reach out to the designer for a resolution.

While I appreciate the suggestion, I was disappointed that Shapeways didn't take more responsibility for the product they sold. As a customer, I expected better customer service and a willingness to make things right. It's frustrating to have to go through the designer for a resolution, especially when I purchased the product through Shapeways.

Overall, I was disappointed with my experience with Shapeways. The product didn't meet my expectations, and the customer service was lacking. I hope that in the future, Shapeways will take more responsibility for the products they sell and provide better customer service to their customers.

Ordered customized phone case from www.shapeways.com as a present. When it finally showed up it was not the case which I ordered. I immediately contacted Shapeways and told them about what happened. I was hoping to get some help from them and wanted to get an exchange, but they did not reply to my emails. I sent them over 10 mails and decided not to waste my time any longer.

I purchased 4 gift cards from the website www.shapeways.com. The website looked really great and I thought that it was good gifts for my friends. I was upset that the seller charged me and provided only 2 cards. After that I heard blah-blah and fake promises, but nothing changed and no idea how to get money back, ‘coz seller replied really rarely. Please leave comments about this company, because people should be aware when they buy from such dishonest seller.