A Wilkinson sticky DE on Ebay for 82 GBP....

[Areler67]

Yesterday I tried to buy a Wilkinson sticky DE. It was sold by an English guy. It was in "good condition" and went for 82 GBP !!!!
What do you think about it? Is it really necessary to spend such a big amount for this kind of razor?
I think It's a really nice one and also quiet rare.

Raphaël

[MarSellus Wallace]

Hi Rafe, I was bidding on a Gillette myself yesterday on eBay. It went for 86€ to an American bidder. This is the razor I'm talking about: http://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/a7/8e/37ac_1.JPG. I'm not a specialist, but a collector will pay any price I guess to complete his collection...

[Areler67]

Hello Marsellus,

No, this is not the kind of razor I was talking about. It's a Wilkinson DE fro the sixties. I think there is only 2 or 3 bids a year on Ebay (That's maybe why It's so expensive after all...:smile: )
I'll try to find a picture of this razor...

[gse123]

Razors tend to go for more in the UK - the cheapest razor I have bought from UK ebay was a Gillette Tuckaway - in pretty ropey condition, and that was 10 pounds plus postage (just over 20 dollars total).

Even though the dollar is almost double the pound at the moment, razors seem to go like for like... a razor that would sell for about 10 dollars in on ebay.com, will sell for about 10 pounds in the UK, which is obviously a lot more :sad: .

[minstrel]

Maybe it's because all the $10 razors in the US are sold to buyers in the US only? I've been looking through eBay a lot, and it seems most US sellers (not all, but the majority of them) only sell to the United States, and maybe Canada. Which means that if you're in Europe and want to buy a DE or Straight razor on eBay, you have to buy from a European seller, and since DE razors seem to be more rare over here, the price goes up. Supply and demand...

Also, most sellers over here don't have a clue how much a razor is worth, so they guesstimate that they are worth a lot. I saw a couple of rusty, grotty straight razors with chipped edges in a flea market, and the price tags for those were about $25. Another stall at the same flea market had a soap encrusted, mismatched mongrel Gillette Tech/Swedish (unknown brand) razor for that price too.

[gse123]

...snip and since DE razors seem to be more rare over here, the price goes up. Supply and demand ...snip



Even English made razors seem to go for less in the States. Or maybe i've just been unlucky so far!

Although you are right about the availability... there are far far more DE razors for sale on ebay.com than there are on ebay.co.uk... and like you said - a lot of them won't post internationally.

[MarSellus Wallace]

Hello Marsellus,

No, this is not the kind of razor I was talking about. It's a Wilkinson DE fro the sixties. I think there is only 2 or 3 bids a year on Ebay (That's maybe why It's so expensive after all...:smile: )
I'll try to find a picture of this razor...

Hi Areler, I know your post was about a Wilkinson, but the same reasoning goes for Gillettes that fetch USD50/EUR35+. I for one bought a Gillette TTO coloured tip 1955 from Eugene for USD4,99. This is it: http://i10.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/a7/8b/1728_1_sbl.JPG. Greetings from a fellow countryman.

[Areler67]

I think flea market is the best place to go : I bought a Gillette knack (1974) for only 1 Eur (in good condition) and I love hunting in places like that....

[Christoph]

The Wilkinson "stickey" is a much sought after razor. The price paid doesn't sound all that high given other sales I've seen recently.

[MarSellus Wallace]

Leisureguy dedicated a blog entry to this rare razor: see here (http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2006/09/15/new-shaving-toys/). Here is a picture of it: copyright leisureguy http://leisureguy.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/wilkinson.jpg A beautiful razor indeed.

[DustBow]

Hi Rafe, I was bidding on a Gillette myself yesterday on eBay. It went for 86€ to an American bidder. This is the razor I'm talking about: http://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/a7/8e/37ac_1.JPG. I'm not a specialist, but a collector will pay any price I guess to complete his collection...

that is a British Aristocrat #66 or #16
If in good shape, they will always sell for around $100 or more, especially with case. They have to really be under the radar to go cheap

[Leisureguy]

By coincidence, I shaved with the Sticky this morning, using a Tesco blade that had one or two shaves on it. Got a great shave. When I first used the Sticky, I wondered, "Where's the magic?" It seemed like little more than a flashy Super Speed. But, as always, it's a matter of learning the razor and perhaps finding the right blade. I now get superb shaves from it, and it is indeed a beautiful razor. (FWIW, soap was Honeybee Spa Mocha-Java, brush was an Edwin Jagger medium Silvertip, and the aftershave was Nicolai Perfumery New York. Great start to a morning.)

[Areler67]

Hello Michael,

What is the average price for a Wilkinson sticky on ebay? Are they so hard to find?

Thanks

Raphaël

[Leisureguy]

They come up quite rarely. I would expect them to go at least $150, more likely over $200. You can do a favorite search on "Wilkinson razor" and see a lot of blades, but eventually one may come up. You can also post a "Want to buy" for a Wilkinson Sticky in the Selling/trading forum...

I keep having a dream of walking into an antique store and spotting one still unused in the original box and buying it for $10, and having the guy say, "You like those? I have a case of them in the back that I'll let you have for $100." :)

[BroJohn]

I keep having a dream of walking into an antique store and spotting one still unused in the original box and buying it for $10, and having the guy say, "You like those? I have a case of them in the back that I'll let you have for $100." :)

Me too. :w00t:

-- John Gehman

[Hawkeye5]

A case, now that would be retirement.
A mint Sticky will go $250 to $300. Lesser razors can be had for less. It they are abused they seem to have a tendency for the plastic to crack not far under the head. Something to keep in mind.
I have a mint one that I alone have shaved with. I foresee no other owner as long as I am on this earth, well, not under it anyway :biggrin:

[Taz]

I have been looking for a mint one and would $250 to $300 they just do not come around:frown:

[paydepst]

I keep having a dream of walking into an antique store and spotting one still unused in the original box and buying it for $10, and having the guy say, "You like those? I have a case of them in the back that I'll let you have for $100." :)


Michael this very thing happens to me all of the time. I have to stack the things in the corners to have room to walk! You mean there's a demand for them? :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

[Tech 62]

:001_unsur
Hi.I'm the winner of this "sticky".I'm sorry to hear I was bidding against a B&B member but I figured I'd have to for this razor,I've been waiting & searching 5 months for 1 to come up for auction.It cost me $177.00 CAN & if I'm not happy with it,I will NOT post it on Ebay until I give B&B members a chance to purchase it.I'm not a collector,I use all the shaving gear I buy.This is the most I've ever paid for a razor & I hope I'm not dissapointed,It looks like it's in good condition.

[Leisureguy]

It looks to be in good condition, and that's a very good price. My experience was that the first shaves were okay but not special, but then as I used it more I found the angle --- or whatever --- and it delivered quite good shaves. Needs a sharp blade, I think. Congratulations!