How long will Gillette be able to profit from their insanely overpriced razors?

[WelshBloke]

I don't think the standard Mach 3 blades have gloopy strips?

Could be. I just remember those gloopy strips being extra horrible over a normal multiple bladed razor.

One good pass over the boys will turn that sucker white as snow but it is still sharp enough.

TMI!

 

[OutHouse]

Gilette blades aren't expensive in the long run

this guy totally disagrees with you.

http://www.electrogent.com/2012/10/cost-analysis-double-edge-vs-cartridge-razors/

 

[OutHouse]

Buy one of those, learn how to use and care for it, never buy another razor again.

(Unless you're like me and you start collecting them and end up with >100 of the things. :sneaky: )

no thanks. takes to long and not as good of a shave. there is a reason they are nearly extinct.

 

[gorcorps]

I'm shocked at how many people buy into the hype that razor blades are a large part of our budget, and really needs to be cheaper. I spend maybe $30 per YEAR on these "overpriced" blades. If I was worried about saving money, I think I'd get a bigger return by measuring which brand of bar soap lasts me the longest. They simply don't wear out fast enough to be of any concern to me.

I can understand if the quality of shave is important, as I'm sure you can get a much better shave if you can work a DE razor properly. But if saving $15-20 a year is that big of a deal to you I'm sure there are other things that can be changed before we worry about razors.

 

[poofyhairguy]

A big dirty secret in marketing is men are bigger brand whores than women are.

That is why it took the whole "Dollar Shave Club" brand to get some guys to ever CONSIDER not buying Gillette. The whole "Club" is just Amazon razors with extra marketing and margin on top and we eat it up. Why? Brand. Whores.

 

[Instan00dles]

I bought a braun 7 series electric razor 3 years ago and it was an amazing choice. I cant grow a beard at all and shaving everyday ripped the crap out of my face using my straight razor. Switched to this electric one and everything has been perfect. Its saved my face and I should save a bunch of money in the long run compared to buying gillette razors.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Funny how guys skin is different. I'm in the I have never used an electric razor on my face without it being uncomfortable and giving me red spots for an hour.
Most blades I have no problems. Cheap blades give me a similar problem.

 

[FeuerFrei]

How long will they profit ?
A couple more weeks - then the bottom will fall out of the razor market.


Does Gillette still mail out free samples to college students?

 

[ControlD]

Funny how guys skin is different. I'm in the I have never used an electric razor on my face without it being uncomfortable and giving me red spots for an hour.
Most blades I have no problems. Cheap blades give me a similar problem.

Same here. I even fell for old Paul Harvey advertised Wahl foil razer. That thing did nothing but leave me with stubble and a burned face.

I actually used those plastic Bic razors for years and never had much of a problem with them except they got dull really quickly.

I would consider giving a DE razor a try, but the word "razor" accompanied by the term "learning curve" generally aren't two things I want going together.

 

[edro]

I would consider giving a DE razor a try, but the word "razor" accompanied by the term "learning curve" generally aren't two things I want going together.

Ha. :awe::thumbsup:
Same here.

 

[HumblePie]

I get 6 months out of a gillette blade. My wife gets 6 days before she wants to swap hers out. Then again I clean and dry my razor after every shave and she doesn't. Problem is when I would go to replace a cartridge I couldn't find them as they were all used up by my wife. Then I started hiding them when I bought them and she switched to using my razor when she couldn't replace hers. Really annoying.

Part of the reason why I am contemplating switching to a safety razor.

 

[HumblePie]

Funny how guys skin is different. I'm in the I have never used an electric razor on my face without it being uncomfortable and giving me red spots for an hour.
Most blades I have no problems. Cheap blades give me a similar problem.

Same here for most electric. Some I've used the past were better than others, but they tend to cost more without offering much more in the way of durability. Which means overall I would spend more to get comfortable shaves with good electrics.

Funny thing is I have no problem dry shaving with my Gillette. No water and no cream needed for anything less than 4 days growth or so. After that though I need some hot water running.

 

[gorcorps]

I get 6 months out of a gillette blade. My wife gets 6 days before she wants to swap hers out. Then again I clean and dry my razor after every shave and she doesn't. Problem is when I would go to replace a cartridge I couldn't find them as they were all used up by my wife. Then I started hiding them when I bought them and she switched to using my razor when she couldn't replace hers. Really annoying.

Part of the reason why I am contemplating divorce.

FTFY

Might as well fix the actual problem

 

[HumblePie]

this guy totally disagrees with you.

http://www.electrogent.com/2012/10/cost-analysis-double-edge-vs-cartridge-razors/

Depends on how long you can make them last. I was able to go 4-6 months on a single cartridge no problem. Which in the long run isn't that much if one can make them last that long.

 

[HumblePie]

FTFY

Might as well fix the actual problem

As annoying as it gets, razor blade battles with the wife aren't really good grounds for divorce

 

[sandorski]

Fill the sink with hot water when you're shaving, and swish the blade around in the water after a few strokes.

Always have, but it didn't work.

 

[fleshconsumed]

As annoying as it gets, razor blade battles with the wife aren't really good grounds for divorce

Isn't that the beauty of living in a no fault divorce state? You don't have to have good grounds for divorce! ()

 

[drbrock]

Switched to DE razors for about a year. It was ok for a while but ended up going back to store bought blades. Women always complained about me having stubble when I was shaving with them.

I buy Schick Hydro from Costco and shave daily. 1 pack has lasted at least a year. Well worth it. Still not as good as pro glide but the 20 bucks I saved made me feel better about it.

I would much rather invest in the soaps and creams to take care of the skin. Preshave lotions an balms are important. Saint Charles is my favorite. Lavendar milk is incredible for post shave. Preshave I am not entirely sold on. Bought some crazy expensive stuff and it was marginal. Should have spent the extra money on soap. Tried Poraso. Decent stuff but not amazing. Worthwhile to upgrade to a premium soap.

 

[NetWareHead]

no thanks. takes to long and not as good of a shave. there is a reason they are nearly extinct.

I have the exact opposite experience. I have a straight razor and the shave from that is far superior than any cartridge razor. The only part of your post that I do agree with is that it takes longer.

 

[lxskllr]

I have the exact opposite experience. I have a straight razor and the shave from that is far superior than any cartridge razor. The only part of your post that I do agree with is that it takes longer.

I'm quicker shaving with a straight, especially since I'm not diligent about keeping shaved. I can take off any length without prep work(though I sometimes trim with scissors beforehand).

 

[ControlD]

I'm pretty sure with the right technique any razor will give satisfactory results.

I have always been fascinated with the idea of a straight razor, but I am way, way too chicken to actually try one.

 

[preslove]

I like the dorcos. I got the 6 blade handle and got the 6 blade refill back in march. Recently ran out and got the 4 blades instead (they're interchangeable). This should last me until march or after. I change cartridges every 10 to 14 days...

 

[NetWareHead]

I'm quicker shaving with a straight, especially since I'm not diligent about keeping shaved. I can take off any length without prep work(though I sometimes trim with scissors beforehand).

I wouldnt dare shave quickly and sloppily with a straight as I can get away with with a cartridge razor.

True if you are shaving some whiskers of considerable lenght, the straight can mow through whiskers of greater length than a cartridge. Your typical march 3 would need you to prep the area with a clipper first.

 

[SP33Demon]

I'll let you in on a little secret. I bought 250 Mach 3 blades off ebay in 2004 for $192.50 (.77 apiece). Walmart is selling them for $2.89 apiece. That would be the equivalent of 250X2.89 = $722.50 today. BLS inflation calculator says $192 is only worth $243 today. Guess who is getting f'd in the ass (hint: you guys who buy Gillette)? Not to mention I bet the quality has gone down in the past decade since Gillette has shareholders to appease.

These razors have gone with me to 3 different states and to 6 different places in the past 11 years. They are so small that it's not a big deal, and if I have a buddy stay the night who forgot his razor I got him covered. Still have 48 left over, one blade seems to last a long time - at least a month and I shave about twice a week (telework a lot). My burn rate (including giving some to friends) is 1.5 razors/month, so it will be another 6+ years before I have to worry about razors again. I remember my dad was like wtf when I told him I bought 250 razors to beat rising costs that Gillette would inevitably pass down to us. Now he thinks it was a great idea.

In 2021 I'll probably check out Murkur, or just find the cheapest supplier of Mach3's and buy bulk again which should should last me close to retirement age. Actually, I may try Murkur now and just buy bulk razors (500-1000) if I like them. Never have to worry about buying razors for decades, and who cares if they raise prices.

 

[WelshBloke]

As annoying as it gets, razor blade battles with the wife aren't really good grounds for divorce

I'm pretty certain that a straight razor fight would be grounds for divorce.

But only if you play the soundtrack to West side story.