Question on Sampler packs...

**katz** · 03-22-2011, 02:26 PM

I was reading a review on Amazon (I think) in regards to a sampler pack purchase, & the buyer stated that all the blades he received were "knock offs" or "re-badged"...something like that...

If this is the case, I suppose we don't know what we are really getting unless we make a purchase from WCS or someplace like that...

I don't want to plunk down cash for a mega-sampler pack from some Amazon/ebay seller if I can't verify the authenticity of the blades...

Your thoughts/comments?

**Go West Young Man** · 03-22-2011, 03:11 PM

I can't believe there's any money in creating knock-off blades.

**Osborn Cox** · 03-22-2011, 03:11 PM

I've bought sampler packs off of the bay, with no problems. I would feel confident buying a sampler from a seller with good feedback history.

**katz** · 03-22-2011, 04:40 PM

I'll try to find the review again & paste what he said...maybe it was just a case of a disgruntled buyer...

**nortac** · 03-23-2011, 07:41 AM

No problems with my sampler from Amazon. You don't always know exactly what you will get. The included KAI blades were loose in a ziplock bag, but were individually wrapped.

**Osborn Cox** · 03-23-2011, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by nortac

The included KAI blades were loose in a ziplock bag, but were individually wrapped.

Not unexpected, as I was the under the impression that Kai blades only came in bulk packs of 100 or more blades, no 5 or 10 packs. I could be wrong though, it wouldn't be the first time, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

**haiti222** · 03-23-2011, 08:25 AM

Yes, I have only seen KAI blades in that form as well.

**JBagKY** · 03-23-2011, 08:38 AM

If you are worried, I would go with one of the supporting vendors here at B&B. I used Bullgooseshaving for my first sampler and the service was great. It was about 20 after shipping for 50 blades. I would think that most of the supporting vendors would be about the same.

**Big Jay** · 03-23-2011, 09:12 AM

I bought a sampler off Amazon. The sampler had:

Feather
Big Ben
Asco
Super-Max (Brown and blue)
Trig
Treet
Blue Bird
Sharks (Both types)

It was definitely legit. The Feather was sharp as a lazer. Left my face looking like chewed beef. I would think if anyone would fake a blade it would be a feather.

**katz** · 03-23-2011, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by nortac

No problems with my sampler from Amazon. You don't always know exactly what you will get. The included KAI blades were loose in a ziplock bag, but were individually wrapped.

I got that sampler pack too. The blades are sealed in their wrappers though. Are they a good blade? I haven't tried one of them yet.

**Osborn Cox** · 03-23-2011, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by katz

I got that sampler pack too. The blades are sealed in their wrappers thoguht. Are they a good blade? I haven't tried one of them yet.

Kai's are good very sharp blades that are often compared to feathers. I didn't care for them as much as feathers but they are sharp no doubt, but I found them to be a little irritating.

**goby** · 03-23-2011, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Go West Young Man

I can't believe there's any money in creating knock-off blades.

I didn't think so either until I tried the Counterfeit Lords. Wow!! I can shave with virtually anything, and I love Lords, but these were terrible! Whitesandmoutain gave away a bunch to a few people and we all agreed that they were fake and bad.

I agree with you.... why the heck would you counterfeit Lord (or other cheap brand) blades? It makes no sense, but it happened.

**Big Jay** · 03-23-2011, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by goby

I didn't think so either until I tried the Counterfeit Lords. Wow!! I can shave with virtually anything, and I love Lords, but these were terrible! Whitesandmoutain gave away a bunch to a few people and we all agreed that they were fake and bad.

I agree with you.... why the heck would you counterfeit Lord (or other cheap brand) blades? It makes no sense, but it happened.

That's pretty ridiculous. I guess people will do anything to make a buck. Someone must have had a offset printing business. It's NOT easy to set up the press to print those things. I was in printing for a while.

**insomniac** · 03-23-2011, 12:58 PM

There were counterfeit Super Iridiums as well.

**npsarros** · 03-23-2011, 01:03 PM

Maybe what the reviewer meant was that in a sampler one brand may be replaced by another if there is no availability.

I can't see why someone would counter-fit a razor blade.

To be safe, use a B&B vendor.....

**nortac** · 03-23-2011, 01:17 PM

I suspect the 100 count blades are divided up into 5 or 10 blade portions and made into sampler packs.

**Big Jay** · 03-23-2011, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by insomniac

There were counterfeit Super Iridiums as well.

Beginning to wonder if these "counterfeits" are just a bad run of blades.

It just doesn't make sense to counterfeit the stuff. You have a profit margin of what? .10 a blade on counterfeits?

Sell/make 1000 blades to make $100?

A lot of work goes into setting up an offset printer. Let alone to set up one that prints on the blades.

**insomniac** · 03-23-2011, 02:06 PM

Originally Posted by Big Jay

Beginning to wonder if these "counterfeits" are just a bad run of blades.

It just doesn't make sense to counterfeit the stuff. You have a profit margin of what? .10 a blade on counterfeits?

Sell/make 1000 blades to make $100?

A lot of work goes into setting up an offset printer. Let alone to set up one that prints on the blades.

Well, the SI were counterfeit - even said "Broctor and Gamble" on the packaging.

**Go West Young Man** · 03-23-2011, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by Big Jay

Beginning to wonder if these "counterfeits" are just a bad run of blades.

It just doesn't make sense to counterfeit the stuff. You have a profit margin of what? .10 a blade on counterfeits?

Sell/make 1000 blades to make $100?

A lot of work goes into setting up an offset printer. Let alone to set up one that prints on the blades.

I'm guessing that someone in the factory decided to cash in by taking some defictive/seconds blades and release them into the grey market.

**katz** · 03-24-2011, 03:02 PM

You guys with the KAI blades -

Do your blades have any printing on the blade itself?

I just opened one from my sampler pack & the wrapper has KAI printed on it, but nothing on the blade...