Thoughts on new Gillette Flexball

I was reading the Boston Globe this morning and noticed an article about the new Flexball Fusion.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business...t-not-cheap/QfgCpZ4EIpFAO5TL4vv4FI/story.html

Any thoughts on this? I've been a Mach3 user for a while and am waiting on my first DE razor (will be here Friday from West Coast Shaving). I've been looking forward to going to the DE, so I don't think I want a cartridge anymore.
But, the article is stating that the shave is as or almost as close as a straight blade.

I'm curious about this new razor too.

I'm holding out for a pivoting head straight

It's on my wishlist. However, I shall wait until it's 50% off. That 200 million launch budget cannot just be for commercials.

Here are my thoughts:

I could spend $50 on the handle & carts and have enough to last a year (assuming one cart per month, buying a dozen on Amazon at $37...the new handles will retail for around $13, I read).

OR

I could spend $42 on a razor and 100 blades (assuming a $30 razor budget, and Israeli Personnas with UK packaging from WCS [my preferred blade] at $12 for 100). This would be enough blades to last for at least 2 years, if you use one blade per week.

Why would I essentially spend twice as much to get a shave that's the same, or slightly worse?

I'm not personally interested in buying one but I will be interested to see what the general concensus on the new swivel is.

I have no desire to ever use a cart razor again. I'm still curious if this will be some major improvement or not.

Yawn.

A Dyson multiblade razor. Couldn't care less. Haven't even tried the ProGlide yet, so I'm already behind.

sdpike53 said:

But, the article is stating that the shave is as or almost as close as a straight blade.

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Don't they say that about every new razor cartridge "shaving system" they come out with?

Galaktus said:

Don't they say that about every new razor cartridge "shaving system" they come out with?

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You just have to Youtube the old commercials. Of course, I would say that some people can get a SR close shave with them just not me.

I think I'll pass. I already have two Proglides. I don't need a third, just because it has a swivel. If Gillette's marketing department decides to send me one, I'll use it, and I'd expect good results, but not significantly better than the Proglide. The cart is still the same.

sdpike53 said:

But, the article is stating that the shave is as or almost as close as a straight blade.

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Then, why settle for spending on replaceable carts to get that when you can just go and get a straight?

Not interested at all. I gave away my Gillette mach 3 and sensor excel when I started this whole thing and I am not going back...

Maul555 said:

Not interested at all. I gave away my Gillette mach 3 and sensor excel when I started this whole thing and I am not going back...

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+1. I won't go back, not because of the money, but because it is so much more enjoyable using a DE razor. In fact, most people here have spent way more on this lifestyle than they would on any cart system. Plus, you get a better quality shave with way less irritation.

No-brainer...

Wonder if it bounces...

Shave_Rat said:

Then, why settle for spending on replaceable carts to get that when you can just go and get a straight?

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Keeping the blade dry or stored in oil, stropping, honing - buying paste, a stone, a strop. With a good chance it will become rusty even if it cost $400.00...
Or sending it away? It could possibly be the convenience and all the reasons why other razors were invented?

Sabre said:

Keeping the blade dry or stored in oil, stropping, honing - buying paste, a stone, a strop. With a good chance it will become rusty even if it cost $400.00...
Or sending it away? It could possibly be the convenience and all the reasons why other razors were invented?

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Do you talk about anything other than defending carts?

Rockminer said:

Do you talk about anything other than defending carts?

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Where are carts mentioned in my post?

Sabre said:

Where are carts mentioned in my post?

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Not hard to figure out. You are entitled to your opinion. But I think you have made your point............in more than one thread.

Sabre said:

Keeping the blade dry or stored in oil, stropping, honing - buying paste, a stone, a strop. With a good chance it will become rusty even if it cost $400.00...
Or sending it away? It could possibly be the convenience and all the reasons why other razors were invented?

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Sure that or making money off of selling people something they do not need at a higher profit margin.
After the patent expired.