Do you guys ever worry...?

[KP16356]

Do you guys ever worry that companies like feather or merkur would run out of business or stopp making blades for razors (esp. for disposable straight razors b/c only those companies make them for their razors like the AC)? then it's all that money and enjoyment thrown right out the window...

[TraderJoe]

Do you guys ever worry that companies like feather or merkur would run out of business or stopp making blades for razors (esp. for disposable straight razors b/c only those companies make them for their razors like the AC)? then it's all that money and enjoyment thrown right out the window...

yes, and the only solution is to start hoarding blades....100-200 at a time. :cool:

[Pete]

It's funny that you mention this, KP16356, as I often find myself worrying about the same thing! I can only assume my fear stems from the fact that many of my first DE razors haven't been available in the U.S. in over a decade. All my initial purchases were limited to eBay, and I think the concept of paying $20+ for a razor that was originally sold for probably pennies on the dollar, has put me into the mindset that I NEED to buy this stuff while it's still available. I suspect this concept, coupled with sheer curiosity, has been the main contributor in acquisition disorders and impulse purchases for many on this site.

I purchased a Merkur HD a couple months ago from Lee's Razors. It's a great razor, and it still looks like it just came out of the box. However, I often find myself wondering, "Should I buy another one of these great razors, just in case Merkur goes out of business, or discontinues the production of the HD?" It's truly sad when this is a major, yet seemingly legitimate concern. I'm with you!

-Pete

[TraderJoe]

I purchased a Merkur HD a couple months ago from Lee's Razors. It's a great razor, and it still looks like it just came out of the box. However, I often find myself wondering, "Should I buy another one of these great razors, just in case Merkur goes out of business, or discontinues the production of the HD?" It's truly sad when this is a major, yet seemingly legitimate concern. I'm with you!

-Pete

Pete, this fear is a generally recognized symptom of a certain Acquisition Disorder....where you feel the need to have a "backup" of stuff. Its common, don't worry. :cool:

[PalmettoB]

Not to worry, gents. Now good ol' Gillette might have stopped making our DE faves and started making those multi-bladed manglers, but a lot of these razor companies have come and gone, and the tradition, as Keith Jackson says, lives on. I have been looking into straights lately, and you start looking at some of those old straight razor companies that were around in the "heyday" of wetshaving which are now gone, one might be tempted to fret, just as with DEs.

But, I think we will still be able to find quality products from quality vendors. Sometimes it isn't always easy, though the web is our shaving "savior." But the tradition of cutlery and knife-making has been around in England and Germany, and even here in the States, for some time, and it isn't going anywhere. Besides, one of own might be the next great entrepreneur! Buck up, folks. :thumbup1:

[joel]

yes, and the only solution is to start hoarding blades....100-200 at a time. :cool:

OR - you could just get/use a straight razor :biggrin:

No worries on DE blades as an FYI - there is too big a market. In india/china, etc - DE blades are the primary blades used (due to cost) so I don't see them going away in our lifetime, as it would be hard to get a cheaper blade....

Feather Artist Club blades however are another story....

[Pete]

Pete, this fear is a generally recognized symptom of a certain Acquisition Disorder....where you feel the need to have a "backup" of stuff. Its common, don't worry. :cool:

I'm glad I'm not alone. What's worse is, these razors are said to, "last a lifetime". Still, I find myself with a strange compulsion to purchase a back-up for a two-month old DE... "just in case", of course! On Friday, I purchased 120 Derby Extra Blades from one of the eBay sellers. I figure, I can use a new blade every week, and still have some left over after two years! Is that enough, or should I buy more, "just in case"!?! Truly a shame!

-Pete

[berzerkeleyan]

What evidence is there that any of these products will be discontinued? Has anyone heard anything of the sort? I guess I'm worried of starting a needless panic.

From what I see, it's venues like this that show there's a real steady increase in wetshaving and all it entails. I can't help but think that everything we've been accumulating will be around for a long time. Am I being naive and misinformed? :001_unsur

If I'm wrong, at least I have enough creams now to last me for the next thirteen years. :biggrin1:

[zachster]

I don't think DE razors and blades will be discontinued soon, but they will become harder to find as the years pass. Right now we have blades coming out of nations that have a large contingent of older men who still use DE razors, but those nations are facing serious "modernization," and it is only a matter of time before their denizens, lemming like, as did the men of Europe and the U.S., fall for the fallacy of the cartridge razor. I don' think we need to hoard right now, but we probably will have to in about 15 years.

[KP16356]

nice to know that many of you have thought about it - i guess it just goes to show that ppl care about sustaining the practice of wetshaving and keeping the tradition alive. i thought i read in another thread that DE and straight shaving is on the rise simply b/c the cost of cartridges are so damn expensive, so i'm thinking (hoping rather) that maybe the trend will shift. i haven't been posting for long, but i'm curious from people who have been in the forum for a while - have you guys seen an increase/decrease/nothing in the level of interest in wetshaving since you joined?

[Joedy]

As Americans and members of the western civilization, it is sometimes hard for us to remember that cartridges are considered an expensive luxury in many countries in the world.

DE blades will be around for a very long time, indeed. Whether they continue to be sold at the local WallyWorld is another story, however.

-joedy

[tim8557]

Frankly, until my curiosity led me to this forum, I didn't think that DE blades even existed anymore. Apparently, the blade side of the business is doing well.

As for the razors, if you avoid the "adjustables and butterfly openers" I think that a good one (mine is a Merkur LH) will last a lifetime. There really isn't anything to wear out (witness the number of 50 year old functioning Gillette's on EBay). Just don't drop it a lot.

[BroJohn]

I think this fear falls into the realm of "imaginary horribles"; it allows you to fret over a non-problem if that's something you want to do.

The only useful aspect of thinking like this is that it allows you to justify numerous acquisitions with SWMBO, which by some measures is a positive thing.

:001_rolle

-- John Gehman

[Leonardo]

Not at all. Worst case I get a bladesmith to forge a straight razor. Or I'll just shave with a really sharp Bowie knife! :001_smile

[vespergo]

i don't worry so much, with so many good products out there and so many more seeming to pop up, i think the niche market will always be there with a selection of good products.

[puros_bran]

62 or 63 new members to the forum this week and theres probably 10 or 20 guys not interested in signing up for every one of us that did...I'm pretty sure wetshaving is on the rise and every new guy just adds to the market force. As long as there is a profit to be had someone will make the products needed. Now where was it I saw personnas by the pallet?????

[MJB]

Like fountain pens, mechanical watches, phonographs, eyeglasses, bowties, there will always be a market for a modern interpretation of more time tested and better way of doing things.

[ouch]

I'm still keeping a bunch of straights handy, just in case.:biggrin:

[PottyDoctor]

:a50: Most who have been forum members here for more than a few months have enough wetshaving tools and supplies on hand to last more than a lifetime. However, the reason for such a vast collection of goods is variety! A pure and simple love for variety! After all, Variety is the spice of life!



It borders on pure heresy to suggest that fear might possibly be the motivating factor for a wetshaver to acquire inordinate amounts of his favorite goodies to further broaden his collection and deepen his knowledge and wisdom of his beloved hobby. :nono: A wetshaver is a collector, pure and simple! :thumbsup:

It must be well understood that "Wetshavers collect...they never, never, never stockpile!" :a29:

:smartass: "Collections are motivated by love...stockpiles are motivated by fear!" :smartass:



:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: "There is a fine line between hobby and mental illness." --Dave Barry :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

[tim8557]

:a50: Most who have been forum members here for more than a few months have enough wetshaving tools and supplies on hand to last more than a lifetime. However, the reason for such a vast collection of goods is variety! A pure and simple love for variety! After all, Variety is the spice of life!



It borders on pure heresy to suggest that fear might possibly be the motivating factor for a wetshaver to acquire inordinate amounts of his favorite goodies to further broaden his collection and deepen his knowledge and wisdom of his beloved hobby. :nono: A wetshaver is a collector, pure and simple! :thumbsup:

It must be well understood that "Wetshavers collect...they never, never, never stockpile!" :a29:

:smartass: "Collections are motivated by love...stockpiles are motivated by fear!" :smartass:



:biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin: "There is a fine line between hobby and mental illness." --Dave Barry :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:

Amen Brotha! It goes along with my 60 pocket knives and 1,000 cigars.

[berzerkeleyan]

Amen Brotha! It goes along with my 60 pocket knives and 1,000 cigars.

1,000 cigars? Wow. I would think that even under the best of conditions (humidor), they couldn't last forever. I know this isn't a cigars & smokin' forum, but I'm curious...how long do cigars last?

[puros_bran]

Amen Brotha! It goes along with my 60 pocket knives and 1,000 cigars.

hmmmmmmmmm 1000 cigars. Thats a good collection...to get ya started anyway





They last til ya smoke em if ya keep em at/around 70deg/70percent

[berzerkeleyan]

hmmmmmmmmm 1000 cigars. Thats a good collection...to get ya started anyway


They last til ya smoke em if ya keep em at/around 70deg/70percent

Good to know. Thanks.

[Joedy]

You know, if you think about it, Gillette's endeavors of making a Loss Leader product with the application of mass marketing the DE blades (remember, Gillette did not "invent" the DE.... only the Loss Leader application thereof), was really just a guise of "improving" something that already worked well.

The cartridges were just another extension of Gillette's endeavors to move Loss Leading into the next level. (Their current Fusion razor is yet another attempt to Loss Lead the market with a newer and more expensive widget.)

I think that aside from other technologies such as laser and chemical removal, that shaving really is already at the epitome of its perfection. (Anyone come up with a better mouse trap, eh?)

The only endeavor that I can foresee that will propel hair removal to the next level will be genetic modification either pre-natal or post-natal.

Whatever the other endeavors may be, they all distract from the essence of danger and thus, the appeal that drives many men to insist on using a sharp instrument for the attainment of having a nice, smooth face.

I am confident that "classic" and traditional activities such as Wet Shaving will always be protected and revered from the onslaught of technology.

In fact, I see a resurgence and revival as many men rebuke these "advances" by harboring and re-learning traditional activities such as Wet Shaving.

A brush, some cream and a razor.... there are few other endeavors that speak for the legacy of our forefathers across the generations that have been torn asunder by the imposition of modern technology.

-joedy

[DLK]

Thanks for all the valuable information and the welcoming atmosphere. This is a fun list!

I'm looking at getting a DE razor. As I was in the WalMart today, I looked to see what they had. I actually found one brand of DE blades - Personna (US made). I am ignorant about the quality of these blades, but at least even WalMart has something to offer amongst the mountain of products from the Gillette/P&G marketing juggernaut. I appreciate the availabilty of the sampler pack, of which I'll take advantage when I get a real razor.

I'm currently using Gillette "custom plus" NON pivot things. My brush (Ever-Ready K40) is old and in serious need of replacement. I'm currently using unscented Neutogena bar soap in the mug, which has been most satisfactory.

-Dan