2025 Shave Purchase Sabbatical - The Battlestar Galactica Year

[Goblin]

1 - Buy stuff because others really like said stuff. Whatever that stuff is.

2 - Figure out what works well for someone else doesn't work well for me.

3 - Goto line one.

It's a tale as old as time and I still do it.

In the past I have shot myself in the foot by being budget conscious and exercising my ADs by buying cheaper options. I am finally learning not to do this.

If you buy an expensive razor and don't like it, chances are you can sell it for a decent used price. If you buy budget stuff, you save on the initial purchase, but there is no resale market so you eventually end up with a box of cheap shave gear that is perfectly usable but which you can't sell even if you don't really want it anymore.

Engage whining Brit mode: It's particularly difficult in the UK and that's one reason why I consider purchases really carefully at the moment. Whatever I buy I am probably stuck with it. The domestic demand for used wet shaving stuff has definitely taken a hit the past 18 months. I have listed pristine, barely used £110 razors on eBay and struggled to make £50 on them, but what with shipping and tax everything is so expensive that it's equally difficult to offer a competitive used price to international buyers without sucking up nearly at least a 60% loss on a razor you may only have used a couple of times. When I see the US members able to list things on the BST for >80% of the purchase price and make the sale, I envy you, and of course it's easier to justify an expensive acquisition if you know the resale market is there.

 

[sylbub]

It's a tale as old as time and I still do it.

In the past I have shot myself in the foot by being budget conscious and exercising my ADs by buying cheaper options. I am finally learning not to do this.

If you buy an expensive razor and don't like it, chances are you can sell it for a decent used price. If you buy budget stuff, you save on the initial purchase, but there is no resale market so you eventually end up with a box of cheap shave gear that is perfectly usable but which you can't sell even if you don't really want it anymore.

Engage whining Brit mode: It's particularly difficult in the UK and that's one reason why I consider purchases really carefully at the moment. Whatever I buy I am probably stuck with it. The domestic demand for used wet shaving stuff has definitely taken a hit the past 18 months. I have listed pristine, barely used £110 razors on eBay and struggled to make £50 on them, but what with shipping and tax everything is so expensive that it's equally difficult to offer a competitive used price to international buyers without sucking up nearly at least a 60% loss on a razor you may only have used a couple of times. When I see the US members able to list things on the BST for >80% of the purchase price and make the sale, I envy you, and of course it's easier to justify an expensive acquisition if you know the resale market is there.

Interesting. What do you think drove demand down in the UK? Cost of living crisis?

 

[Goblin]

Interesting. What do you think drove demand down in the UK? Cost of living crisis?

Bingo.

I just wrote a huge post outlining additional detailed concerns following the budget but that’s probably too political even if it is UK rather than US politics. Suffice to say I expect things to get worse, possibly much worse, rather than better.

Edit: No need for sad face emoji's guys. It's just a difficult time to be British for economic reasons. Most B&B members worked out this was a bad idea in 1776!

 

[sylbub]

- woah! Welcome to B&B!

Usually new joiners check in with the newbie check in section, not here! Are you sure? We also have monthly restraints called GRUME to get into the habit of not spending. Or are you saying you are so far off the charts you really need to commit to the year? Everything packed what you need for a full year?

Welcome aboard the Galactica!

Best of luck!

Guido

Thanks! I am afraid this is the best course of action - FOMO hit hard after I learnt that the PPI plant was closing down, so I have enough blades for many GRUYEREs... not to mention the Hampshire Wool Fat/PdP/SV/Maison du Savon de Marseille soaps that just arrived in the mail (Black Friday and all...)

 

[midwestshaver71]

Oh what the hey, I might as well join this merry band of misfits . You guys have been more than understanding this past year, and the fact remains I have enough stuff to shave a small army. I am going to allow one exception of a razor, with the goal to not even need to take that option.


1) @Guido75 - exception: a shave soap
2) @KQY61 - Commander Adama - no exceptions
3) @Rico Suave - exception: a razor
4) @ewk - NO EXCEPTIONS
5) @hopper_64 - exception: Razor
6) @Bsamps - No Exceptions
7) @ChriWilson - exceptions: Kamisori Razor, Stirling’s Glacial Unscented splash
8) @cryhavoc - exception: Brush
9) @awk_m4 - exception: Henson v3
10) @TOVT - no exceptions
11) @Berwick12 - "Bruce" synthetic brush
12) @JWCowboy - no exceptions
13) @Lurking_Grue - exception: one SV aftershave (70th or Opuntia) and/or one Captain's Choice Shave Bowl/Scuttle
14) @Kaldane - no exceptions
15) @reformedshavr - no exceptions
16) @ShavingPanda - exception tbd (might be a brush knot)
17) @JAHE - exception tbd
18) @blethenstrom - exception: shave soap making supply (oil/fat/fragrance)
19) @Balin - exception Brush
20) @dave1269 - exception: 2 MdC shaving soaps
21) @Shaun asleep - don't need no exceptions
22) @spookmeister
23) @JKaboom - an advised gift from family
24) @Calyshaver - no exceptions
25) @WThomas0814 - exception: Captain's Choice Commander
26) @deaffifianado - exception razor
27) @InkStainedWretch - no exceptions
28) @Cafebarian - no exceptions
29) @JeffJ - no exceptions
30) @Goblin - exception: razor
31) @Zynn - exception: A Silvertip.
32) @Trollky - no exception
33) @sylbub - exception: a pre-shave
34) @midwestshaver71 -exception:razor

 

[Guido75]

Thanks! I am afraid this is the best course of action - FOMO hit hard after I learnt that the PPI plant was closing down, so I have enough blades for many GRUYEREs... not to mention the Hampshire Wool Fat/PdP/SV/Maison du Savon de Marseille soaps that just arrived in the mail (Black Friday and all...)

Hampshire Wool Fat?? Am I deducting correctly that you are from the UK then? HWF is not freely available everywhere.

 

[tropic]

I'm in with an exception (razor), contingent upon being permitted to purchase wet-shaving stuff for others.

 

[Guido75]

I'm in with an exception (razor), contingent upon being permitted to purchase wet-shaving stuff for others.

Hi and welcome. Yes you are permitted to buy stuff for others permitted they are not in this particular restraint with you (unless unsolicited and unasked for, but PIFs can be dodgy in their definitions).

Guido

 

[sylbub]

Hampshire Wool Fat?? Am I deducting correctly that you are from the UK then? HWF is not freely available everywhere.

Indeed
PdP isn't available on this side of the pond, so I was excited to get my hands on some (I want to test the hypothesis that it is the same as Maison du Savon de Marseille - something to look forward to in the new year!)

 

[Goblin]

Indeed

Oh, another UK person!

Welcome aboard!

 

[BradWorld]

1) @Guido75 - exception: a shave soap
2) @KQY61 - Commander Adama - no exceptions
3) @Rico Suave - exception: a razor
4) @ewk - NO EXCEPTIONS
5) @hopper_64 - exception: Razor
6) @Bsamps - No Exceptions
7) @ChriWilson - exceptions: Kamisori Razor, Stirling’s Glacial Unscented splash
8) @cryhavoc - exception: Brush
9) @awk_m4 - exception: Henson v3
10) @TOVT - no exceptions
11) @Berwick12 - "Bruce" synthetic brush
12) @JWCowboy - no exceptions
13) @Lurking_Grue - exception: one SV aftershave (70th or Opuntia) and/or one Captain's Choice Shave Bowl/Scuttle
14) @Kaldane - no exceptions
15) @reformedshavr - no exceptions
16) @ShavingPanda - exception tbd (might be a brush knot)
17) @JAHE - exception tbd
18) @blethenstrom - exception: shave soap making supply (oil/fat/fragrance)
19) @Balin - exception Brush
20) @dave1269 - exception: 2 MdC shaving soaps
21) @Shaun asleep - don't need no exceptions
22) @spookmeister
23) @JKaboom - an advised gift from family
24) @Calyshaver - no exceptions
25) @WThomas0814 - exception: Captain's Choice Commander
26) @deaffifianado - exception razor
27) @InkStainedWretch - no exceptions
28) @Cafebarian - no exceptions
29) @JeffJ - no exceptions
30) @Goblin - exception: razor
31) @Zynn - exception: A Silvertip.
32) @Trollky - no exception
33) @sylbub - exception: a pre-shave
34) @midwestshaver71 -exception:razor
35) @BradWorld - no exceptions

 

[BradWorld]

So three years ago and beyond, I would have never even considered a sabbatical. Never. I am a serial collector and enjoyed the hunt as much or more than the kill. But the boss and me have been enjoying a very minimalistic nomadic lifestyle for the past couple of years. It's the RV lifestyle. And when I saw this post I realized that I probably haven't bought any shave gear in at least a year. So why not. Here I am. Let's see how I do.

But I just want to make sure I can still sell shaving items, right? I still have a bit of downsizing to do. I can't imagine that would be an issue as trading seems to be okay.

 

[Goblin]

But I just want to make sure I can still sell shaving items, right?

You could set a B&B record and become the first non-vendor ever to finish the year having made more from this hobby than they spent on it!

 

[tropic]

Hi and welcome. Yes you are permitted to buy stuff for others permitted they are not in this particular restraint with you (unless unsolicited and unasked for, but PIFs can be dodgy in their definitions).

Guido

Thank you kindly. Black Friday was a blast, so I'm set for a few years. I think it'll be fun to just enjoy the shave.

 

[Guido75]

But I just want to make sure I can still sell shaving items, right? I still have a bit of downsizing to do. I can't imagine that would be an issue as trading seems to be okay.

That is absolutely allowed Brad.

 

[BradWorld]

How about 3D printing shave stuff? Is that allowed?

 

[flask28]

1) @Guido75 - exception: a shave soap
2) @KQY61 - Commander Adama - no exceptions
3) @Rico Suave - exception: a razor
4) @ewk - NO EXCEPTIONS
5) @hopper_64 - exception: Razor
6) @Bsamps - No Exceptions
7) @ChriWilson - exceptions: Kamisori Razor, Stirling’s Glacial Unscented splash
8) @cryhavoc - exception: Brush
9) @awk_m4 - exception: Henson v3
10) @TOVT - no exceptions
11) @Berwick12 - "Bruce" synthetic brush
12) @JWCowboy - no exceptions
13) @Lurking_Grue - exception: one SV aftershave (70th or Opuntia) and/or one Captain's Choice Shave Bowl/Scuttle
14) @Kaldane - no exceptions
15) @reformedshavr - no exceptions
16) @ShavingPanda - exception tbd (might be a brush knot)
17) @JAHE - exception tbd
18) @blethenstrom - exception: shave soap making supply (oil/fat/fragrance)
19) @Balin - exception Brush
20) @dave1269 - exception: 2 MdC shaving soaps
21) @Shaun asleep - don't need no exceptions
22) @spookmeister
23) @JKaboom - an advised gift from family
24) @Calyshaver - no exceptions
25) @WThomas0814 - exception: Captain's Choice Commander
26) @deaffifianado - exception razor
27) @InkStainedWretch - no exceptions
28) @Cafebarian - no exceptions
29) @JeffJ - no exceptions
30) @Goblin - exception: razor
31) @Zynn - exception: A Silvertip.
32) @Trollky - no exception
33) @sylbub - exception: a pre-shave
34) @midwestshaver71 -exception:razor
35) @BradWorld - no exceptions
36) @flask28 - no exceptions


My first year of absence was an excellent experience, although I'm embarrassed how little of a dent a year put in my soap rotation. Let's keep whittling away at it.

 

[Guido75]

How about 3D printing shave stuff? Is that allowed?

If you have the supplies available already then I would say yes. If you need to go out and buy it, it becomes more grey. Yes you can have many uses for 3D raw materials of course, so are you spending it on shaving (alone0? Perhaps not. But in that case ai will just refer to rule 14

 

[blethenstrom]

If you have the supplies available already then I would say yes. If you need to go out and buy it, it becomes more grey. Yes you can have many uses for 3D raw materials of course, so are you spending it on shaving (alone0? Perhaps not. But in that case ai will just refer to rule 14

@BradWorld sounds like a 10kg filament order is in place before the end of the year.

 

[BradWorld]

If you have the supplies available already then I would say yes. If you need to go out and buy it, it becomes more grey. Yes you can have many uses for 3D raw materials of course, so are you spending it on shaving (alone0? Perhaps not. But in that case ai will just refer to rule 14

Sounds good. I have the supplies readily available. If I buy more filament, it would be for other projects, and the surplus goes towards fun stuff like razors, baseplates, and stands, etc .. So I think I’d be safe in that case. I haven’t printed anything for shaving in well over a year anyway. But I thought I’d clarify before we get going. Thank you!