Get friends/family to try DE

**Rorpen86** · 07-01-2012, 08:55 PM

I would love to share my new found love with all of my friends and family but most of them look at me like I am crazy when I show them my razor. I know they would enjoy it and get much better shaves from it. Any tips to get the unwilling to see the light ?

**KipNoxzema** · 07-01-2012, 09:20 PM

I just tell them 10 cents a blade beats $4 a cartridge. That gets their attention really quick. I have my son and father intrigued now.

**Pasha** · 07-01-2012, 11:24 PM

Give them a brush and an easy to lather soap or cream, one that's got a great scent. Very few people prefer the canned stuff to this and hopefully makes them want to go the extra step and see if a DE razor is good for them.

**Bluebriz** · 07-01-2012, 11:35 PM

If they're stubborn and stuck in their ways I wouldn't even waste my breath on them. If you talk about what you like about it and they express an interest then you could get them a cheap starter set.

**Mick R** · 07-01-2012, 11:52 PM

Go up to their wives/girlfriends and say, "Feel my face. Now feel your husband/boyfriends." That might help start the ball rolling...

Mick

**bakerbk73** · 07-02-2012, 01:09 AM

I've bought brushes for people, but honestly I've gotten the strangest looks when I tell them what I shave with. The brushes catch on pretty easily, but there is fear in their eyes when they look at that big, scary super-speed. The learning curve is intimidating for people I think, the risk of injury seems much bigger than it really is. As far as your question on how to overcome that, I really don't know. I don't think it works for people who are scared by really sharp things... which is most people.

**Mick R** · 07-02-2012, 02:26 AM

Originally Posted by bakerbk73

I've bought brushes for people, but honestly I've gotten the strangest looks when I tell them what I shave with. The brushes catch on pretty easily, but there is fear in their eyes when they look at that big, scary super-speed. The learning curve is intimidating for people I think, the risk of injury seems much bigger than it really is. As far as your question on how to overcome that, I really don't know. I don't think it works for people who are scared by really sharp things... which is most people.

Could be worse scary than that...

Click image for larger version.

Name: IMG_2681.jpg
Views: 133
Size: 18.6 KB
ID: 255054

Mick

**PugslyCat** · 07-02-2012, 02:23 PM

There seems to be a tendency of guys fairly new to DE razors wanting to evangelize about the merits of our hobby. We realize that we get a benefit from better, potentially cheaper shaves. We realize that the multi-bladed shaving industrial complex has been lying to us. We realize that we alone have seen the light and feel compelled to help others to also see truth and beauty. Google "Plato cave prisoner" and you'll get the idea.

I have had mixed results. The secret is to be able to make a passing reference to traditional wet shaving and determine from body language whether the subject believes the conversation has devolved into weirdness. If so, you don't actually have to say "We shall never speak of this again" as that is implied by your quickly transitioning to another topic. Only if they demonstrate any form of interest should you attempt to set the hook by going on. Even then, don't go on and on if interest wanes.

There are some people who will never be interested in our kind of shaving. My brother and I shared a bathroom back when I first transitioned to multi-blade disposable razors. Multiple weepers per shave were not uncommon for me. He's not going to be putting any sharpened steel to his throat ever! He's fine with his electric razor even if he does have to use it a couple of times a day to stay clean shaven. At least it doesn't make him bleed.

In stark contrast, both of his sons were using cartridge razors. The younger son was already using a brush and mug instead of canned goo and had expressed an interest to his brother in getting a straight razor. The older son was watching with keen interest, and seemed game to try it. I've been giving them gifts of razors, blades, and soaps for a year now, and both are very happy conversions to DE shaving.

I've talked shaving with a couple of co-workers, but all of them are pleased with their current regimens and have no interest in changing for any reason I might give.

**bakerbk73** · 07-04-2012, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by Mick R

Could be worse scary than that...

Mick

Good Lord Man! I'd have people running for the hills if I suggested such a thing! I get it, I don't bother most folks with my hobbies, I have mentioned it to a few friends and relatives and bought a few brushes here and there if they seemed interested. My point is only that while the brush/soap thing is an easy sell, a razor that doesn't pivot or have more than one blade in it seems like I'm trying to get them to use a sharpened clamshell or something. There's a learning curve with older shave gear that most people just don't care about and that's fine with me, the fewer people I have looking for razors in my local antique stores the better I like it.

**Mike_P** · 07-04-2012, 05:52 PM

As others have said, the quickest ways I've gotten family and others to try it is to tell them how I'm able to shave every single day without irritation or any negative at all for that matter. Then I add on the fact that blades are insanely cheap, and that I can customize my shave to the point where it's enjoyable and different each day.

They eventually realize there's no true negative outside of the learning curve, and come over to our side of things.

**Mick R** · 07-04-2012, 05:52 PM

That's the spirit, but it is a bit of a catch 22. We really do want people to try it for themselves, but we just know that, if successful, we've just mandaged to add 1000% to any gear that we want to buy in the future.
For the record, the pictured razor is an OCD Custom 8/8 razor and is amongst my rotation. I love the beastie. A fantastic shaver.

Mick

**duokun** · 07-04-2012, 06:48 PM

I have managed to convert a couple friends and I just gave my cousin a Gillette Tech yesterday. Just gotta test the waters. Some people just aren't interested and there isnt too much you can do then.

**Tekka** · 07-04-2012, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Mick R

Could be worse scary than that...

Mick

I have one straight razor and that thing scares the crap out of me.

**wurls** · 07-04-2012, 07:29 PM

I think that for the most part, our society has become very lazy, and as a result, we as consumers are most inclined to do anything the easiest way possible...even if it means spending $4.00 a blade for a cart vs .15 for a DE blade.
It just means to me that we are amongst the few in society that aren't lazy and want to take pride in doing something that might take a little longer, but offers a much better end result.

**LazycatEB** · 07-04-2012, 09:31 PM

Originally Posted by Pasha

Give them a brush and an easy to lather soap or cream, one that's got a great scent. Very few people prefer the canned stuff to this and hopefully makes them want to go the extra step and see if a DE razor is good for them.

+1

I gave my dad – and Edge gel user who is usually doesn't break from his routines – a brush and a tub of Proraso for Father's Day, and he really seems to be enjoying it. The brush and soap gift seems to be a great way to get your foot in the door.

**bakerbk73** · 07-04-2012, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by wurls

I think that for the most part, our society has become very lazy, and as a result, we as consumers are most inclined to do anything the easiest way possible...even if it means spending $4.00 a blade for a cart vs .15 for a DE blade.
It just means to me that we are amongst the few in society that aren't lazy and want to take pride in doing something that might take a little longer, but offers a much better end result.

I think it's just a case of "different strokes..." there are lots of areas of my life that could be done with more care and concern; I don't work out like I should, my car needs a wash, I buy most of my clothes from wal-mart... you could easily look down on my lack of interest in any one of those areas if you happen to be a workout, car or clothes guru. I just think that shaving appeals to me for some strange reason. I hated it before I discovered the joys of vintage gear and I guess I'm mostly impressed with the difference in my daily shave. I read the parts of the forums where guys spend hundreds of various colognes and I honestly don't get it, but they do. Apparently there are things that these guys are getting out of their colognes that I'm not getting out of mine and that's ok. I'm not missing what I don't know anything about, and they're happy with spending what they have to spend on that one of a kind smell. Nothing wrong with either approach I guess.

**bvance554** · 07-04-2012, 10:13 PM

Most people will think that its odd. They have to be open to it, and I wouldn't waste too much time trying to 'convert' anyone.

**BallisticBurrito** · 07-04-2012, 10:23 PM

Yeah I tend to only get odd looks when I bring it up.

Oh well, their loss.

**Mick R** · 07-05-2012, 02:20 AM

Originally Posted by Tekka

I have one straight razor and that thing scares the crap out of me.

Even though I no longer think of myself as one, I'm pretty much still a minimalist, with just eight cut-throats in my rotation (and three DE's and one Rolls), but that particular razor is in my top three go to razors. It's an 8/8 OCD Custom Razor made by Bob Allman. A fantastic shaver, and great for scaring the bejingo's out of visiting friends and family, who come into the bathroom to clean their teeth while I'm shaving.