Why isn't this done?

[pipskicks]

Well while looking through blades I usually am faced with one of two options:
1. Spend about the cost of 50 blades (if you were to buy a 100-pack) and get 5-10 blades to try out
or
2. Buy 100 blades and risk not liking them and having to figure out what to do with the rest



So what I'm wondering is instead of throwing money at 5-10 packs and buying small variety packs that could get your 100 blades+, why don't any members gather together to buy some 100-packs to try and split them up?
I would think if you got 2-4 members, the shipping would be a bit annoying, but I bet you'd spend a little more than you would buying 100 blades and get to try 2-4 different types of blades...


I have seen there are group buys, but it just seems like as long as people seem trustworthy enough (maybe even past Ebay feedback if people are very new), it just seems like a great way to save money.

For example: I have no clue how to get a small amount of Astras or Rapiras for a decent price, however 100 of both are ~$10, for $12-14 I figure you can get 50 of each if you split it with someone. Obviously there are many more variations you can do, but I just figure if you go to just about any site attempting to sample those two blades you'll likely spend the same amount for much less than 100 blades...



Just a thought I had to save money and not be stuck with as many unwanted blades. I personally would have no problem chipping in to try some blades that didn't come with my sample pack, and although I get offered blades by members more times than I can count, I would feel better actually paying for them myself, and if we did something in this manner I would assume the price would be pretty good for how many blades we would get.


Are any other newbies, or perhaps even veterans who want to try more blades/rare blades interested in this? I have no real "plan" just seeing what people thought about this more. Any feedback/opinions would be appreciated, I haven't participated in any group buys so I don't know if I'm the best person to actually attempt this, but I was curious to hear what people though.


Thanks to all those who offer me blades, the gesture is not unappreciated, I just end up feeling guilty taking blades from members and would feel a lot better if it would be mutually beneficial.

[AABCDS]

Ask and you shall receive.

The Great Blade Exchange

[maxzoran]

Bingo!

ask and you shall receive.

the great blade exchange

[Osborn Cox]

There is nothing from stopping you from buying the ones you want to try in 100 blade packs, saving 25 of each for yourself and then splitting the rest into 3 "bulk sampler packs" and selling them on BST. That's what I would do anyway.

[pipskicks]

Ask and you shall receive.

The Great Blade Exchange

I do know of that one, I guess it's not a "bad method" I just am more of a newbie with either very few blades (especially rare that the list needs) and the few that I have I sometimes don't care as much about them right now, but since they are usually 5-10 max of a type of blade, I sort of thought it would be more beneficial to keep them and try them in new razors when I eventually start trying more.

I guess getting 25-50 blades would be less risky even if I paid the 100-pack price + shipping, and it would give me a decent amount of extra blades to PIF. As it is I have extra Astra only really which isn't the rarest of blades. I also find being new it helps to try quite a few blades before making up my mind, that's another reason a lot at once would help, especially for a newbie. I feel like if I keep swapping blades I can't tell what I like, so getting an amount to last a few weeks would give me more than ample time to form an opinion vs. the 5-blades people normally get which may be enough most of the time, but I find myself questioning if it was the blade or technique many times and find I really benefit off consistent use of the same blade to form a better opinion.


Again, that blade trade is very good, I think amazing for rare blades that would be very expensive to get. But being a newbie I was thinking of blades in the $10-20 range or so, maybe a bit over, and more common blades that I haven't tried yet are readily available for decent 100-pack prices (for example I've never seen a Rapira in a sample pack, and it's only around $12 for 100, but I'd much rather get less, just not 5-10 blades for $10....).

Maybe it's partially me being new and wanting to give the blades more than a few tries since it can be hard to form an opinion on a blade used only a few times, and I've changed my mind about blades only used a few times...

[pipskicks]

There is nothing from stopping you from buying the ones you want to try in 100 blade packs, saving 25 of each for yourself and then splitting the rest into 3 "bulk sampler packs" and selling them on BST. That's what I would do anyway.

This is a good idea, I was just thinking maybe there were some other people eyeing some blades that had competitive 100-packs but didn't want to risk the full amount...would be nice to come up with a few blades to try and have it all worked out first, going through the BST isn't out of the question, just thought I'd feel out what people thought though. I see blades sell there, but they seem to be the slowest sellers. And when I'm thinking about trying non-rare blades (like Astra/Rapira) I would expect those to sell much slower...


Just wanted to feel it out, the BST is definitely a good idea and I've thought about getting 100 and selling the rest if I didn't like it, just seems like it would be cool to work it out before buying them so that I wouldn't need to worry about unloading them on the BST if I didn't like them, and with 25-50, if I didn't like them it isn't as much money, plus I have a decent amount of friends near me (no shipping) who are new to wet shaving and I think they would also appreciate being able to try some new blades.

[AABCDS]

I bought a whole bunch of blades when I first started and I haven't even used any of them. I've only used a few blades: Feathers, one Astra blade, one Derby blade, Polsilvers, Personna Medical Preps, and one Personna Lab Blue.

I guess I've never really wanted to try different blades because the ones that I've tried have worked for me.

[pipskicks]

I bought a whole bunch of blades when I first started and I haven't even used any of them. I've only used a few blades: Feathers, one Astra blade, one Derby blade, Polsilvers, Personna Medical Preps, and one Personna Lab Blue.

I guess I've never really wanted to try different blades because the ones that I've tried have worked for me.

I guess since I like Astras and people basically compare Rapiras to them, and claim Super Iridiums and Polisilvers are like the sane but better, I guess I figure it would be worth a try, but at the 100-pack price it's a decent bargain and the whole $0.10/blade or whatever the cost is works out, when it is 5-10 blades you're buying, I find the cost to be extremely high...

[Oblique Human]

You can always sell the rest at BST. Someone always wants a large supply of a particular blade.

[pipskicks]

You can always sell the rest at BST. Someone always wants a large supply of a particular blade.

I don't doubt that I'll be able to sell them, but I have to admit in the small amount of time I've been watching the BST I've mostly seen razors and soaps and very rarely see blades...especially any kind of common blades like Astra...

[Mike'sWorld]

I never buy more than about 25 or 30 blades at a time. It's lots more expensive this way, but twice a minor expense is still a minor expense. I am always on the lookout for a better blade and don't want to get stuck with a hundred blades that are longer the best for me. I shave with straights, injectors, single edge and double edges, so even 20 or 30 blades are a year's supply for me.

[pipskicks]

I never buy more than about 25 or 30 blades at a time. It's lots more expensive this way, but twice a minor expense is still a minor expense. I am always on the lookout for a better blade and don't want to get stuck with a hundred blades that are longer the best for me. I shave with straights, injectors, single edge and double edges, so even 20 or 30 blades are a year's supply for me.

When I look at the price of 20-30 usually it's very close to, or at the price of 100...I guess sometimes you can find sellers that deal in other quantities, but I usually see 5, 10 or 100 packs.

[Oblique Human]

I don't doubt that I'll be able to sell them, but I have to admit in the small amount of time I've been watching the BST I've mostly seen razors and soaps and very rarely see blades...especially any kind of common blades like Astra...

True but when offered, they sell fast. A lot of members also offer them via PM when they remember someone inquiring about them in the past. I recently sold about 14 tucks of Derby + 6 of Supermax Super Plats in this manner.