Skyrocketing price of flair tips?

[deshaveman]

For the past few months I have been avoiding the BST to try and curb my ADs while I am unemployed so forgive my ignorance. Every once in a while I click on a sale and lately I have been shocked by the price being asked for some razors.

When exactly did Gillette Flair tip prices spike through the roof?! I've seen more than one sale with flair tips going for $35! They are not NOS and they do not have cases. Sure they are shiny but I can get that look with a little MAAS. This price point is where I recall most decent Fat boys going for in the recent past, not the lowly flair tip super speed.

I bought similarly "shiny" flair tips like those for sale for under $15 less than a year ago. Here in the BST.

What is going on?

[AsylumGuido]

For the past few months I have been avoiding the BST to try and curb my ADs while I am unemployed so forgive my ignorance. Every once in a while I click on a sale and lately I have been shocked by the price being asked for some razors.

When exactly did Gillette Flair tip prices spike through the roof?! I've seen more than one sale with flair tips going for $35! They are not NOS and they do not have cases. Sure they are shiny but I can get that look with a little MAAS. This price point is where I recall most decent Fat boys going for in the recent past, not the lowly flair tip super speed.

I bought similarly "shiny" flair tips like those for sale for under $15 less than a year ago. Here in the BST.

What is going on?

I was wondering the same thing myself. The thing is that people are willing to buy them. If anyone wants a flair tip (50's or 60's style) Super Speed let me know. I have several in varying conditions that I can let go for $20 or less.

[Starfury]

Interesting. I hadn't noticed that.

Are we talking the average silver-colored flair tips, or the red/blue-tipped flairs as well? There seems to be a lot of passion for the red-tip, but I'm sure Guido knows that. Obviously there's the TV Superspeed and the black-handled flair-tip.

If it's just the standard silver flair-tipped 50's SS, then yeah, that is indeed strange. Easier on the eyes than the 40's SS, but they don't really have much of a following compared to the grand 40's model.

Cheers.

[deshaveman]

Interesting. I hadn't noticed that.

Are we talking the average silver-colored flair tips, or the red/blue-tipped flairs as well? There seems to be a lot of passion for the red-tip, but I'm sure Guido knows that. Obviously there's the TV Superspeed and the black-handled flair-tip.

If it's just the standard silver flair-tipped 50's SS, then yeah, that is indeed strange. Easier on the eyes than the 40's SS, but they don't really have much of a following compared to the grand 40's model.

Cheers.

Yeah, the average silver-colored ones. The only reason I noticed is that I am part of that "following". I would snag the shinier '50s flare tips when they sold for a good price in the BST. As AG mentions, somewhere around $20 is where I would price a really clean and shiny one.

Now all of the sudden they are being sold for $35.:eek: On top of that, people are actually buying them!

[scoopster]

You can still get a flare tip off the Bay for $10 shipped if you are mildly patient; A shiny one even, not one you'll have to de-gunk yourself.

[Starfury]

Well, it was the seller(s) that set the price(s).

However it was the buyer(s) that paid the price(s).

So, all in all, everyone was happy :)

Cheers.

[wwoof]

Just got my first silver "flair tip" last week from eBay for under $15. Love it, there really is something to the flair! Feels comfortable and gives just an edge of leverage. :wink:

[scoopster]

I think BST prices tend to be cyclical. Just last week I commented in a thread for a nice but slow moving 40's SuperSpeed that it seemed like prices had calmed down and that is why the razor wasn't selling. Then a week later $35 flare tips are popping up everywhere.

We get new members eveey week that are very trusting and not aware of pricing so it's not surrprising high priced razors still sell. These new folks have no idea they could get the same razor much much less on Ebay if they take on a bit of risk. Heck $35 would probably get you a razor lot full of SuperSpeeds.

One thing to think about is that a vintage Gillette for $35 is still a good value compared to a new Merkur. So it' snot like folks are totally getting raked over the coals from a value proposition.

Also sellers that flip razors for profit (and you foks know you are doing it) say they buy a lot of razors, take some risk in doing that, clean up the razors then only sell the good ones so they should be compensated for that. There is some validity to that point of view.

[AsylumGuido]

I think BST prices tend to be cyclical. Just last week I commented in a thread for a nice but slow moving 40's SuperSpeed that it seemed like prices had calmed down and that is why the razor wasn't selling. Then a week later $35 flare tips are popping up everywhere.

We get new members eveey week that are very trusting and not aware of pricing so it's not surrprising high priced razors still sell. These new folks have no idea they could get the same razor much much less on Ebay if they take on a bit of risk. Heck $35 would probably get you a razor lot full of SuperSpeeds.

One thing to think about is that a vintage Gillette for $35 is still a good value compared to a new Merkur. So it' snot like folks are totally getting raked over the coals from a value proposition.

Also sellers that flip razors for profit (and you foks know you are doing it) say they buy a lot of razors, take some risk in doing that, clean up the razors then only sell the good ones so they should be compensated for that. There is some validity to that point of view.

Nice reply! Yes, the prices and quality blows away the value of these new Merkur products, but still, one would hope that the the source of eBay razors weren't being scarfed up by "flippers" and left to users. I have no problem with "flipping" when done out in the field where razor are not initially available to the mass market.

Please to the newbies on the board ... read, ask and learn ... then buy.

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