Kansas City get together

**bakerbarber** · 06-10-2012, 12:04 PM

I went into the AOS store and had a little chat with the man inside. He had a vest and tie on and looked like he may be in place next to the barber chair prominently displayed in the front window.

The air of nostalgia ended quickly when I chatted him up. He was quick to show me the new seaweed line of products and gave me some samples. He showed me some brushes and even let me play around with the Power brush they have for sale. It only shakes. No swirl or spin. It only shakes like their razors do when you turn it on. An odd and puzzling addition to badger brush.

Then he showed me some cartridge razors with varying degrees of opulent handles. When I asked about double edge razors he directed my attention to some Merkur razors. All nicely displayed and seriously over priced. I pointed at the VISION and he excitedly pulled it out to show how it opens and closes. He started to tell me how it was Titanium. (it's plated zamak- we all saw so on How it's Made..) I didn't argue the details since he had a glimmer of excitement in his eye. Especially when he told me that an item could be mine for the princely sum of $220 or so.. Just the VISION, no stand of accessories. I sighed, and asked what kind of blades to use it such a razor.

He showed me a small drawer with a glass lid that had three packs of double edge blades. Merkur and two Gillette branded blades. I didn't look closely as he continued to spew pricing and told me the Merkur blades were such a great deal compared to Fusion carts at $15 for a ten pack and the Gillette DE blades, which I think were Russian packs, were available for $10 per pack.

I politely thanked him for showing me around the very small shop. It was about the size of my living room. As I turned to leave he stopped me to look at the AOS starter kit that they had in a leather travel case. He surely thought I'd see the value it that. "The brush," he said with enthusiasm, "it is the travel size that costs $60 over here, but comes for free with the little travel set that costs $75." I said, "that's nice."

I bought an AOS starter set last Christmas online, without a leather pouch, for $25 for my brother. The brush is badger, but it is one of the smallest brushes that could possibly be practical for shaving.

Again I thanked him for the samples and strolled across the street to have lunch at Houston's.

I was surprised by the barber chair and the wide variety of creams, lotions, and cartridge handles on display. The store was clean and well kept with a sink and various products and brushes out for smelling and test lathering. I was most surprised by the clerks total lack of perspective and understanding of the different grades of brushes and the relative prices of the DE gear.

The fact that he claimed the Merkur VISION was Titanium was enough to remind me that I was not in an actual shaving gear store. I was in a branded re-education center that had Fusion and Mach III prominently displayed all around.

The soaps are very nice and the wide range of options is nice. There seems to be a disconnect though to sell Power Cartridge handles to be used with them.

I did ask if any of the beautiful, and they really were very nice, handles were available with Sensor or Atra heads. He held back a giggle and with a little smirk told me that those products are not really used any more and were not for sale.

The had straights and shavettes as well. I saw some strops and very nice DOPP kits. Alas, I did not see much I could afford, and saw nothing I could not live without.

Like every store I visited, the salesman was very cordial and happy to help.

At Diebl's I was happy to see they had plenty of soaps and creams available. A somewhat limited selection compared to any online vendor, but they did have Edwin Jagger products and others that I found familiar. Their selection of DE razors and other hardware is limited and priced above what it is available for online as well, but not to the extent that the AOS store had priced everything to a premium.

The guy I was with at Diebel's picked up some Sea Buckthorn and a few cigars. I just enjoyed strolling around and looking at the pens and pipes they have.

I did have one regret. I didn't make it to Arthur Bryant's while I was in KC...

**KcHighLife** · 08-19-2012, 05:00 PM

I have yet to go into the AOS Store here.

**jay67212** · 08-19-2012, 05:04 PM

Oh man, I'm glad I missed going to the AOS store. What am I more sad about... is that my buddy who bought dinner for the entire family insisted upon going to Applebee's... and we drove right by Arthur Bryant's to get there!

**KcHighLife** · 08-19-2012, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by jay67212

Oh man, I'm glad I missed going to the AOS store. What am I more sad about... is that my buddy who bought dinner for the entire family insisted upon going to Applebee's... and we drove right by Arthur Bryant's to get there!

I did not just hear that!
I knew this thread had been running pretty good for a while and just wanted to give it a bump.

**Icemanxxxv** · 11-07-2012, 05:51 AM

Anyone good with a hone in the KAnsas City Area? I live up in Smithville have hones kind of know how to use them? Looking for some instruction and pointers.

**KcHighLife** · 01-11-2013, 04:54 PM

Anybody in the area want to try to get together?

**ChiefBroom** · 01-11-2013, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by KcHighLife

Anybody in the area want to try to get together?

Yes!

**KcHighLife** · 01-11-2013, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by ChiefBroom

Yes!

Ok then! We should start kicking around ideas. Any thoughts? Downtown for lunch? Or Plaza for lunch and Diebel's?

**Rockminer** · 01-11-2013, 05:49 PM

I'm in the big city to the south. I wouldn't mind driving up, don't know if it's feasible or not but I will try.

**ChiefBroom** · 01-11-2013, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by KcHighLife

Ok then! We should start kicking around ideas. Any thoughts? Downtown for lunch? Or Plaza for lunch and Diebel's?

Both sound good. Do you have a rough sense of how many of us there are?

**KcHighLife** · 01-11-2013, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by ChiefBroom

Both sound good. Do you have a rough sense of how many of us there are?

No, I do not. Since you are also interested, I think we should try to keep this thread active to draw attention. As well as direct anyone we see with a KC Area Location to here.
We could even try something like tour Boulevard and hit something...who know's if that will be everyones cup of tea though.

**ChiefBroom** · 01-11-2013, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by KcHighLife

No, I do not. Since you are also interested, I think we should try to keep this thread active to draw attention. As well as direct anyone we see with a KC Area Location to here.
We could even try something like tour Boulevard and hit something...who know's if that will be everyones cup of tea though.

Good ideas. I was wondering about trying to steer others from the area to this thread, but I'd guess there are some who don't specify it in their profiles. I didn't -- don't clearly still.

What do you think about including something in our sigs for a while after we get a little more lined out?

**KcHighLife** · 01-11-2013, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by ChiefBroom

What do you think about including something in our sigs for a while after we get a little more lined out?

Hey, I think that's a great idea! I am thinking it might be good to do it now to help line things out. What do you think?
B&B used to have a map section but, I can't seem to find it now. I think it may have been something that was dropped from the old site.

**KcHighLife** · 01-12-2013, 11:46 AM

I'd like to keep this in the forefront. Hey, what else is there to do on a cold Winter day?

**ChiefBroom** · 01-12-2013, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by KcHighLife

I'd like to keep this in the forefront. Hey, what else is there to do on a cold Winter day?

I haven't had a reply from either agbill or texaninkc yet, but I'll email Jose. I will add a sig like "If you're in the KC area, please check out the "Kansas City get together" thread in Gatherings and Get-Togethers and declare your interest!"

**KcHighLife** · 01-12-2013, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by ChiefBroom

I haven't had a reply from either agbill or texaninkc yet, but I'll email Jose. I will add a sig like "If you're in the KC area, please check out the "Kansas City get together" thread in Gatherings and Get-Togethers and declare your interest!"

I like it. I added something to mine already.

**ChiefBroom** · 01-12-2013, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by KcHighLife

I like it. I added something to mine already.

Just modified mine to include the link.

**KcHighLife** · 01-12-2013, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by ChiefBroom

Just modified mine to include the link.

I didn't know that could be done. I'm going to play around and find out how to do that.

**ChiefBroom** · 01-12-2013, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by KcHighLife

I didn't know that could be done. I'm going to play around and find out how to do that.

Copy the url onto your clipboard, highlight what text you want to hyperlink, click on the little globe icon with a chain-link in front (to the left of the one with a red "x"), and then paste the url into the field in the dialog box that opens up. The icon with the red "x" will remove the link from highlighted hyperlink text.

**KcHighLife** · 01-12-2013, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by ChiefBroom

Copy the url onto your clipboard, highlight what text you want to hyperlink, click on the little globe icon with a chain-link in front (to the left of the one with a red "x"), and then paste the url into the field in the dialog box that opens up. The icon with the red "x" will remove the link from highlighted hyperlink text.

Thanks for your help, I actually knew how to do it. The problem is that I am not at a high enough contributor level to allow html into my signature. No biggie!