Why didn't I wetshave sooner?

**warrewp** · 09-22-2010, 06:52 PM

This is merely my first week wet shaving, my safety razor only came in the mail a little while ago... so I asked myself why didn't I try this sooner? And I actually realized that when I was about 16 (not too long ago, I'm 22 now, and will be 23 in December) Gillette sent me a Mach 3 in the mail. This was really strange, I hadn't solicited them, and my parents didn't know why I'd received it - but it did correspond pretty well with me suddenly needing one. The following year, when my brother turned 16, he got a Mach 3 in the mail as well. Ever since starting with the Mach 3 I've had a very difficult time moving over to anything else. It hasn't performed well at all over the years, but it is what I've built my habits around for almost seven years now.

I'm just curious, did anyone else have this same experience?

**GDCarrington** · 09-22-2010, 07:00 PM

Some of us for many more years because that is what the market provided.
Get ready for a change!

BTW, welcome to the good ship B&B. Take a stroll on the promenade deck and enjoy the voyage.

Always remember, relax but be vigilant when you shave!

**DE Shaver** · 09-22-2010, 07:05 PM

Welcome to the B&B. Better late than never when it comes to wet shaving.

**DunEdinRanger** · 09-22-2010, 07:05 PM

Welcome to B&B, but at least consider yourself lucky, that you didn't have to put up with over 30 years of lousy shaves.

**ackvil** · 09-22-2010, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by DunEdinRanger

Welcome to B&B, but at least consider yourself lucky, that you didn't have to put up with over 30 years of lousy shaves.

+1. Welcome.

**shecky** · 09-22-2010, 07:45 PM

You were using a Mach 3 dry?!?!

**Granaura** · 09-22-2010, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by warrewp

This is merely my first week wet shaving, my safety razor only came in the mail a little while ago... so I asked myself why didn't I try this sooner? And I actually realized that when I was about 16 (not too long ago, I'm 22 now, and will be 23 in December) Gillette sent me a Mach 3 in the mail. This was really strange, I hadn't solicited them, and my parents didn't know why I'd received it - but it did correspond pretty well with me suddenly needing one. The following year, when my brother turned 16, he got a Mach 3 in the mail as well. Ever since starting with the Mach 3 I've had a very difficult time moving over to anything else. It hasn't performed well at all over the years, but it is what I've built my habits around for almost seven years now.

I'm just curious, did anyone else have this same experience?

I don't remember how I got roped into my first "razor", but I'm sure it came in the mail...

You are lucky you only got a mach 3, and not a vibrating fusion..

Welcome!

**Mike'sWorld** · 09-22-2010, 08:11 PM

This sort of marketing has been going on for quite some time now. I was a freshman in college in the fall of 1971 and was given a white disposable plastic razor during freshman orientation. It came in a plastic bag with instructions and an explanation of how the plastic bar stretched the skin. I laughed about it at the time with my friends, but I shaved with razor like it until last summer.

**_MementoMori_** · 09-22-2010, 08:33 PM

I used to think all the mainstream Gillette offerings were awesome. I was all about buying the newest razor because the newest one always looked just a little bit cooler than the preceding razor on its way out the door. It's funny, because now I think they're all horribly garish and over-designed.

**Ophidian** · 09-22-2010, 08:42 PM

Sometimes, great things come to those who wait. Also, you could look at it as you went through Hell to get to where you're at now. Oh, and welcome to B&B. Hope you enjoy.

**Luc** · 09-22-2010, 08:43 PM

Welcome to B&B!

It took me a bit longer than you but I don't regret anything since I started...

**roboboticus** · 09-22-2010, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by _MementoMori_

...It's funny, because now I think they're all horribly garish and over-designed.

I'm with you. I came of age in the time of the Sensor, which I liked fine. Aesthetically, the Mach 3 started going a bit overboard, but the Fusion is just ridiculous. Looks like an over-designed sneaker that fell out an alien's vajayjay. Pardon my french.

**chjome** · 09-22-2010, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by roboboticus

Looks like an over-designed sneaker that fell out an alien's vajayjay. Pardon my french.

**BladeDE40** · 09-23-2010, 12:34 AM

Welcome to B&B...I'm sure many of us have asked ourselves the same question...all that matters is that we are here now.

**Brandon** · 09-23-2010, 01:46 AM

Welcome! I was going to ask the same question just earlier today. I am 22 as well and received a Gillette razor in the mail when I was 16 just like you did. How did they know our age and address? Bizarre.

I just finished up my first week of DE/wetshaving and it's been a wonderful transition.

**franstjohn** · 09-23-2010, 03:05 AM

Welcome to B&B!

Marketing is what Gillette does best.

**americanarmsdealer** · 09-23-2010, 03:17 AM

Welcome to B&B! I think most of us were roped into the cartridge world in the same manner you were. I got a free Sensor in the mail when I was about 16, as well. Used it and other crappy carts/disposables with canned goo until this past February. Started using a DE, and I'm never going back!

**FL shaver** · 09-23-2010, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by Mike'sWorld

This sort of marketing has been going on for quite some time now. I was a freshman in college in the fall of 1971 and was given a white disposable plastic razor during freshman orientation. It came in a plastic bag with instructions and an explanation of how the plastic bar stretched the skin. I laughed about it at the time with my friends, but I shaved with razor like it until last summer.

Same here. Freshman year at Boston University resident assistants were giving out Gillette razors and cream on orientation weekend. That's how I shaved until about 5 years ago when I changed to a brush and soap. I used a razor and cartridge until this February, 25 years later. Their marketing is pretty effective. Or I was bamboozled! I did stop at 2 blades, however. Do I get points for that?

**bovikw** · 09-23-2010, 06:22 AM

Gillette has always been on the forefront of social brainwashing, i mean marketing. I know I got caught up in that tangle for 20 something years with their cartridge razors.

**warrewp** · 09-23-2010, 07:04 AM

Thank you all for the welcomes!
GDCarrington - I certainly will, I like what I've seen thus far!

shecky - Well... I suppose it was 'dry' because I was just rubbing some 99 cent cream on my face, but I mean, it was 'wet'

_MementoMori_ & roboboticus - I actually upgraded when I got to college to the Mach 3 battery model, and even tried the Fusion battery powered model, I had some notion that because I was modern I should get these 'modern' razors. Looking back, it does seem rather funny, faddish, and garish.

All - Thank you for the welcomes. I'm glad to know their are a lot of other who went through the same ordeal. I'm going to start a personal campaign to bring my friends over to the DE. It's been one week, and I'm already seeing at 360 degree difference.