Best guess: Which is the next Gillette DE blade to "disappear"??

[raisindot]

But what is the idea behind stopping the produce of best selling blades like SI and Polsilver?

We don't know if these are or ever were best-selling blades in the countries for which they were intended. We may love them over here, but how do our collective purchases of several thousand blades compare to millions of other less-exalted blades sold under the Gillette Blue/Black/Yellow/Green label? It makes no sense for a company like Gillette to continue to produce higher-priced, lower-selling boutique blades under non-Gillette names when it can sell higher volumes selling cheaper blades under its own brand.

[Maxime D.]

I want to make a comparison on another scale.

Each year, the Fiat group sell thousands of vehiculs under several brands, their best seller is the 'Uno' about 9 millions car sold for about 8000$ each. However, Fiat is owner of Ferrari, and even if the global profit is less important, they still keep the brand.

[bladegap]

I want to make a comparison on another scale.

Each year, the Fiat group sell thousands of vehiculs under several brands, their best seller is the 'Uno' about 9 millions car sold for about 8000$ each. However, Fiat is owner of Ferrari, and even if the global profit is less important, they still keep the brand.

Right, because Ferrari is both profitable and burnishes the brand. But if the luxury market shifted from sports cars to hovercraft, then Fiat might phase out the Ferrari sports car in favor of the Ferrari hovercraft. The Ferrari of the razor blade market is cartridges, not DE blades, so the question become whether Gillette wants to keep the Gillette trademark associated with DE blades at all.

[Maxime D.]

If the carts are Ferrari...than I consider my DE as a Duesenberg SJ 'Mormon Meteor'. ^.^

[iamdarkangel2005]

When did Gillette discontinue the Rubies? I had viewed these (along with the Indian Blacks) as a good back up to the Silver Blues when those finally disappear. Sad news if the Rubies are disappearing too.

I don't know the exact date they were discontinued , but it was luck that I found a the last remaining ones.

[danpass]

............ and also interesting that, while AoS is a P&G subsidiary, it does not carry Gillette DE shaving products.

I'd wondered about that for a while till I discovered that Gillette doesn't make DE razors anymore. Heck the store carries Merkur and the blades. Also some straights.

And AoS sells those cart handles for a pretty penny too lol

[jwilock]

I don't know the exact date they were discontinued , but it was luck that I found a the last remaining ones.

Someone I know found these in a market in Kiev back around christmas-time. Don't know if they were NOS, or whether they are still making them for that market. Oh, and he found Sputniks too.

[Kramerica]

The $150 Fusion handles in AoS stores just kill me. Basically it's burlwood trim in a Yugo.

[Jopo]

A friend of mine's family owns a Pharmacy in S. America and they stocked Gillette Super Thin Mejorada (made by Gillette Brazil, distributed throughout Latin America) but upon my friends request for a pack, he was told they have just been discontinued. A shame, as by all accounts they were a good blade but were never widely available to B&Bers.

[Borotva Penge]

I want to make a comparison on another scale.

Each year, the Fiat group sell thousands of vehiculs under several brands, their best seller is the 'Uno' about 9 millions car sold for about 8000$ each. However, Fiat is owner of Ferrari, and even if the global profit is less important, they still keep the brand.

I would think that this...............

brings in a boat load more cash for FIAT than

Right, because Ferrari is both profitable and burnishes the brand. But if the luxury market shifted from sports cars to hovercraft, then Fiat might phase out the Ferrari sports car in favor of the Ferrari hovercraft. The Ferrari of the razor blade market is cartridges, not DE blades, so the question become whether Gillette wants to keep the Gillette trademark associated with DE blades at all.

Even if there was Scuderia Ferrari Hovercraft Racing it would just be another thing Ferrari slaps it's logo on to make it an "exclusive" or one of a kind product. I highly doubt that throngs of folks watching Formula 1 are thinking, "Hmm. This makes me want to buy that 500 right now.". No kid who worships at the altar of Enzo has a poster of the FIAT 500 on his/her wall, even if the Abarth version is mildly cool looking.

Ferrari would survive just fine without FIAT. There wouldn't be a lack of punters who would give their left (you know what) to purchase the Ferrari brand if it ever was up for sale. Not so much the other way around.




Me, I am a Senna man all the way. Senna > Schumacher.

[nannahill]

There was talk last year of Ferrari going public, if memory serves. I'd like to see JL drive the Fiat with those heels.

I miss being able to get GBE's but have small stashes on various continents. Personna Reds seem to be on par with GBE's. I've not tried any of the other Gillettes, perhaps a sample pack might be in order.

[Maxime D.]

The numbers will talk for themselves.

Ferrari revenue

€2.2 Billion

Fiat group total revenue

€37.4 Billion

So Ferrari represent 6% of their sales.

As a comparison, If Gillette was owner of both Fiat and Ferrari, they would sell 'Ferrari 500' instead loll...unless they dare rename it 'Gillette automobil' nahhh...:-/

[Gamad]

FIAT is a mega-concern, like Siemens or Samsung. They also produce military jets, etc'.