Moto X custom engraving feature delayed due to quality control issues

Motorola has pulled the Moto X custom engraving feature for now, as the company is trying to fix some quality control issues.

One of the most highly-appreciated features of the new Moto X lies in the advanced customization options available for the handset. The upcoming Moto Maker experience is designed to allow owners (initially only AT&T subscribers) to design their own custom Moto X smartphone.

Customization options include hand-picking colors, accessories and wallpapers, as well as a much-touted custom engraving feature. According to new reports, however the latter option will not be available at launch. A Motorola representative reportedly explained the delay to GigaOm.

"As with all testing programs, we are adapting and changing the process based on what we learn. One item that requires some additional work before we launch is creating a custom signature on the back of the phone. As such, creating a custom message is no longer available at this time," said the Motorola representative.

In other words, the custom engraving feature was supposed to be available at launch on Aug. 23, but those plans are no longer in place because Motorola was not satisfied with the quality of the engravings on early tests runs. Consequently, the feature will be delayed until Motorola fixes quality control issues.

The company said it hopes to sort things out soon and offer the custom engraving option in the near future, but it offered no exact date or timeframe for when this would happen.

Offering a custom product on a large scale cannot be an easy task, especially while also trying to keep delivery times within reasonable margins. Motorola claims to deliver custom-made handsets to customers within four days of placing the order. Considering the whopping number of different customization options available, just four days is quite impressive, even if the engraving feature will take a bit longer to debut.

While this is not a major drawback, there's a good chance that many Moto X potential buyers will hold off on purchasing the handset until the custom engraving feature becomes available as well. The smartphone packs some good specs, but the customization options are its biggest advantage.