Please Welcome Rowen Razor to Badger and Blade

[ASR]

I am curious what the plan is with returned razors. (Not like I know what the standard is there)

Also, from JL52 pictures of the brochure - recommend you do away with that entirely if you cannot have it in real English. That just screams dropshipped to me.

 

[spacemonkey42]

Let's all continue to be kind to @rowenrazor, they are putting themselves out there and that is so hard. I don't think I could do that, cheers to you! This is their passion project, be gentle, nobody likes their heart stomped on. Plus they surely have huge amounts of time and money invested already. You all have shared may constructive things above, which is absolutely wonderful! Keep that up, just balance how your feedback lands on someone's passion.

Looking at the head from the side, it has some differences from the Henson, as mentioned. It appears like it may have a more shallow neutral blade angle. Am I eyeballing that right? That could have advantages. I usually prefer razors that are designed for a shallow angle.

The blade exposure you noted does not seem to be in line with what the picture shows or the shave report from @JL 52. You said you must be measuring it differently, you must be right on that. You may want to get a more standard measurement or not share that artificially large exposure, which would be a bit scary to many.

If there is drag, are you thinking about strategies to reduce that? There are a couple of common approaches, both which work to decrease the surface area contact to lower drag. One is to put vertical grooves on the face. Another is to angle the face so that it doesn't present as large of a flat surface. I attach a diagram of what I noticed on the RR Cyber, the orange line is one's skin, the head is on the right.

 

[brucered]

China produces it's own aliminium so the only issues here are shipping and excise duty additions.
Currently you (in the UK) will also pay 20% VAT plus shipping; the value of the razor is under the value for additional excise duty.
The Rowen razor is only shipping to the USA at the moment so I see no plans for dropshipping to other parts of the world.
The razor is still in version 1 mode so I see more alterations on the horizon.

That curve in the blade looks even greater than the Henson so that higher bending moment over a very small cross sectional area may be a problem.

Are you speaking as a representative of @rowenrazor ?

 

[Invicta]

Are you speaking as a representative of @rowenrazor or just making assumptions?

I am not speaking for Rowen razors and I am certainly not making assumptions.

1. I tried to order a razor but the only option was shipping to the USA, no options for anywhere else in the world.
2. I am in the UK so the excise duty is factual. I was able to advise a fellow UK resident who asked the question.
3. The razors are manufactured in China as confirmed by Rowen. I deduce that they are not going to ship stock to the USA and incur tariffs and then ship globally from there; not at present anyway. They may eventually shift production to the USA and that has been posted.
4. If there is to be worldwide sales, dropshipping may be possible; no possibility of ordering other than to the USA at the moment though.
5. I see the USA as the test market for the product; that was a deduction and I see that as beta testing with the 14 day free trial.
6. The finish has been discussed in the thread and Rowen will look at that.
7. The company is offering a 14 day trial as standard at checkout. I see this as beta testing and other versions to follow.
8. The blade curvature is my observation. It is a lot of bending stress on the blade.
9. I thought I was being helpful and possibly a few thoughts for @rowenrazor .

 

[Dave himself]

Thank you for your quick reply. I also want to wish you the very best in your new business, I hope you have great success

Oops talking to the wrong person.

 

[JL 52]

If there is drag, are you thinking about strategies to reduce that? There are a couple of common approaches, both which work to decrease the surface area contact to lower drag. One is to put vertical grooves on the face. Another is to angle the face so that it doesn't present as large of a flat surface. I attach a diagram of what I noticed on the RR Cyber, the orange line is one's skin, the head is on the right.

I think you’re spot on in identifying some drag solutions. Vertical grooves or slits on the top cap was the first idea that came to mind during my shave with the Rowen; this would maintain the integrity of the current shave geometry. A smoother finish would help quite a bit with the drag as well.

All-in-all, still a very solid first attempt by @rowenrazor

 

[brucered]

Oops talking to the wrong person.

@Invicta Your detailed reply about their manufacturing and shipping, combined with the response to you from Dave (above) threw me for a loop.

Sorry for adding to the confusion and for cleaning it up.

 

[JL 52]

I revisited the Rowen 24 hours later with a sharper blade (Feather instead of the FlyDear) and had a much better experience. There was still a ton of drag that I wasn’t a fan of, but it overall it still delivered a decent shave.

Here are a few more close-up photos with the blade loaded.

 

[Zora]

I think you’re spot on in identifying some drag solutions. Vertical grooves or slits on the top cap was the first idea that came to mind during my shave with the Rowen; this would maintain the integrity of the current shave geometry. A smoother finish would help quite a bit with the drag as well.

All-in-all, still a very solid first attempt by @rowenrazor

I have never understood why companies like Henson haven’t used scallops on their blade heads. I like Henson razors, but that “suction” feeling during the shave always feels weird.

 

[Odinarcade00]

Since everyone seems to be brutally honest and not holding back.....

That thing looks terrible and I don't see anyone on B&B stepping up to pay for that razor when other options are our there with better handles, additional plates, better materials, better finish (horrible) and have already been beta tested by members around the world.

And before anyone says "what would you change or how would you improve it?". I'm not going to post my ideas for R&D on an open, public forum. That's what small beta testing programs are for.

Good luck though. Competition is good for the consumer.

and yet there are clones everywhere on B&B from china and america and people are like "this is the most amazing razor ever" so if it shaves good who cares? Why are yall ragging on them for using a similar design to the henson when there are SEVERAL razors that people love that copy the EXACT head designs as some other well known razors. Its almost like people on here pick and choose who to go after and who gets a pass.

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

There is a lot of great feedback here already, I had a few thoughts as a fellow vendor - some may apply and others not.

When I started Captain's Choice fifteen years ago I spent over four months - every day - working on a bay rum aftershave formula. During that time I would often get feedback from the First Mate and her nose would wrinkle and her head would shake. But after four months and for the first time it was, "Hey, I like that one..." Then I turned to B&B essentially saying, "Hey, I'm new here but I wanted to get some feedback on this aftershave I developed." We shipped forty samples to members and thirty-five gave it a thumbs up. When I shipped the samples I included a note saying that I need their candid feedback, that their opinions will give me valuable information.

Customer feedback did not alter the formula but here is what it changed: They wanted an opaque bottle not the clear one. They didn't like the way it dispensed and asked for a reducer in the neck. They helped me to know how many ounces the bottle should hold. They also were the ones responsible for our second aftershave. Most guys loved it just as it was but several kept asking if I could make it have more sting to it when applied. No way I was going to mess with a winning formula so I started in on a second one and that is Cat O' Nine Tails, a customer favorite. So customer feedback was critical.

My beta testing I guess was one person, then members here confirmed they liked it. After that it was time to figure out how to launch a website, do product photography, set up retailers and all the rest. None of this did I have any prior experience in. One personality trait that helps is to be comfortable learning by doing. That means a lot of failure. But you keep at it and will end up with something.

The very real difference here is upfront cost. For me it was my time and modest cost of materials. (Bonus was the garbage smelled outstanding during those four months.) In the scenario of machine tooling and overseas manufacturing, that will run you a good deal more. And this before you sell the first razor.

One approach would be that of, hey I have a razor that I have spent some time developing. It will have a retail price of $59.00. As part of my development cost we are selling these for just $29.95 with the intent that customers will reply to the included request for feedback. This is for a limited time only / this only applies to the first 200 razors / or some other constraint.

Then the design is refined based on feedback, you keep those customers appraised, develop a community of those who first helped make it better. A final thought is having something tangible that makes your product distinctive in the marketplace.

I hope some of that is helpful and do wish you luck on your new venture.

 

[spacemonkey42]

I revisited the Rowen 24 hours later with a sharper blade (Feather instead of the FlyDear) and had a much better experience. There was still a ton of drag that I wasn’t a fan of, but it overall it still delivered a decent shave.

Here are a few more close-up photos with the blade loaded.

It looks like the head is not fully clamped together, or is it just an illusion? I'd expect the top cap and base to be only a blade thickness apart.

 

[walpan]

Welcome @rowenrazor to the best forum for shaving enthusiasts and vendor supporters. Best of luck to you.

 

[brucered]

and yet there are clones everywhere on B&B from china and america and people are like "this is the most amazing razor ever" so if it shaves good who cares? Why are yall ragging on them for using a similar design to the henson when there are SEVERAL razors that people love that copy the EXACT head designs as some other well known razors. Its almost like people on here pick and choose who to go after and who gets a pass.

Nothing in my comment was related to it being a Henson clone.

 

[JL 52]

It looks like the head is not fully clamped together, or is it just an illusion? I'd expect the top cap and base to be only a blade thickness apart.

Must be a bit of an illusion. The top cap and base plate do have some space between them in the middle of the head razor but I’ve circled the parts of the sit flush together.

 

[helicopter]

@JL 52 can you see if that curve will snap a brittle blade like Bic CP or Kai?

 

[JL 52]

@JL 52 can you see if that curve will snap a brittle blade like Bic CP or Kai?

Happy to report no issues

 

[helicopter]

Happy to report no issues

That was quick. I doubt the curve is going to be a huge problem, then. Though it might occasionally snap something.

 

[spacemonkey42]

That was quick. I doubt the curve is going to be a huge problem, then. Though it might occasionally snap something.

Most of the snapped blades reported have been when people leave them in the clamped-down head and wet. Releasing the tension and letting them dry properly helps a lot.

 

[helicopter]

The two blade I have snapped were both in use. One cutting paper and one shaving. People were teasing me about my beard for it.