Gillette Takes Off The Gloves

Yes, those £300.00 stainless steel DE razors are such good value. Can you really not afford a 23p shave? It's strange people think that a pack of Mach3 disposables are a rip off then buy overpriced brushes from China for a lot of money. But each to their own.

...this is a first for me...advocacy on behalf of Gillette's good value carts! they may shave well, and suit the majority of western shavers, but a purported near 4-figure mark-up is taking the biscuit; which is why DollarShaveClub adverts hit home with so many, I suspect...and yes, for me, there were times when I could not afford Gillette cart prices. For many, sadly, in today's economic climate, every penny really does count...

 
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Yes, those £300.00 stainless steel DE razors are such good value. Can you really not afford a 23p shave? It's strange people think that a pack of Mach3 disposables are a rip off then buy overpriced brushes from China for a lot of money. But each to their own.
I own 7 razors 3 of which are second hand (pre owned). In total they cost about 140 pounds. My shaving brush is from Bodyshop about 10 pounds. I use Palmolive Shaving cream and Nivea after shave balm.
I guess I am a cheapskate!
 
The Gillette 3 and 5 have not been released in the UK. In the UK for less expensive Mach3 carts it's best to buy disposables.
They are £3.49 for 3 in Savers, and often on promotion in the Supermarkets and Wilko. Tesco will often do a 5 pack for £5.00. How cheap do you want a shave to be? The reason that DE's are so cheap is that you are generally importing them from the developing world.
This is one of the reasons, loss of exclusivity is the main issue.
 
Yes, those £300.00 stainless steel DE razors are such good value. Can you really not afford a 23p shave? It's strange people think that a pack of Mach3 disposables are a rip off then buy overpriced brushes from China for a lot of money. But each to their own.

I initially looked into the switch to DE because of cost, but quickly realised there are other advantages.

The stash of DE blades, accumulated inside an aluminium can, can be recycled.

I don't buy new handles in those starter packs with new blades anymore, so I'm not throwing away old ones. I firmly believe of people refused to keep buying new handles eventually Gillette would stop packaging them in blade pack deals.

The handles I now have, I hope to have in 50 years time. Still working and used frequently.

So yeah... ive bought a couple of expensive DE's and straights but that's a personal choice on how to spend my money. If I wanted to I could have stuck with my dad's tech and an omega 49 brush. My Tabac refill cost £7(?) And will last a lot longer than a can of Gillette gel.

I would have had no choice in paying between £50-75 a year for Gillette cartridges. Which I didn't enjoy using in the first place.

In summary - you are correct, I have spent a reasonable amount since making the switch. But it was a choice, not a necessity.

And one more that I forgot - my skin has improved a lot since I stopped using cartridges. I don't have breakouts of spots every day after shaving
 
I initially looked into the switch to DE because of cost, but quickly realised there are other advantages.

The stash of DE blades, accumulated inside an aluminium can, can be recycled.

I don't buy new handles in those starter packs with new blades anymore, so I'm not throwing away old ones. I firmly believe of people refused to keep buying new handles eventually Gillette would stop packaging them in blade pack deals.

The handles I now have, I hope to have in 50 years time. Still working and used frequently.

So yeah... ive bought a couple of expensive DE's and straights but that's a personal choice on how to spend my money. If I wanted to I could have stuck with my dad's tech and an omega 49 brush. My Tabac refill cost £7(?) And will last a lot longer than a can of Gillette gel.

I would have had no choice in paying between £50-75 a year for Gillette cartridges. Which I didn't enjoy using in the first place.

In summary - you are correct, I have spent a reasonable amount since making the switch. But it was a choice, not a necessity.

And one more that I forgot - my skin has improved a lot since I stopped using cartridges. I don't have breakouts of spots every day after shaving
When did you start DE shaving? Carts don't have to be expensive. I bought a years supply for £6.00 last night, to add to the thousands I have already.
 
When did you start DE shaving? Carts don't have to be expensive. I bought a years supply for £6.00 last night, to add to the thousands I have already.
I only started DE shaving about August last year, so about 9 months.

I appreciate I'm basing my estimate on fusion cartridges, as that's what I was last using, and I could get something cheaper.

Each to their own. Cart shaving just wasn't for me - just for 12 years I didn't know it haha
 
Well I started DE shaving in 1991, I have shaved with all types razors, the final type being Gem's only earlier in the year. If you read the forums you will find many are happy with carts when they return after learning the technique of shaving, and using the correct software.
 
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When did you start DE shaving? Carts don't have to be expensive. I bought a years supply for £6.00 last night, to add to the thousands I have already.

Well I started DE shaving in 1991, I have shaved with all types razors, the final type being Gem's only earlier in the year. If you read the forums you will find many are happy with carts when they return after learning the technique of shaving, and using the correct software.

That may be, but I can't see myself going back to it. I just wish I'd tried out alternatives years ago when my skin really needed it
 
Well it appears you are making judgements without the experience to back it up.
I don't think that's the case - I'm 31, not a teenager haha. I spent more than a decade with cartridges and I appreciate the change.

Not trying to say thay DE shaving is better - cartridges are definitely faster. Just they didn't work as well for me.
 
I don't think that's the case - I'm 31, not a teenager haha. I spent more than a decade with cartridges and I appreciate the change.

Not trying to say thay DE shaving is better - cartridges are definitely faster. Just they didn't work as well for me.
Did you try a twin, three or four blade with a preshave or oil, using a traditional shaving soap or cream with a brush? Followed by an aftershave, astringent, alum block, and afrer shave balm or in multiple permutations there of?
 
Did you try a twin, three or four blade with a preshave or oil, using a traditional shaving soap or cream with a brush? Followed by an aftershave, astringent, alum block, and afrer shave balm or in multiple permutations there of?

I understand your point - I had never used alum. Most of the other stuff I'd attempted at various points. Including more than one type of cartridge. Different numbers of blades, Gillette, Wilkinson Sword, king of shaves...

It could very well be the soap/brush combo. I'd never done that either before switching to DE.

Personally I'm perfectly happy with the shaves I'm getting from a DE, although recently I've spent more time learning straights.
 
That may be, but I can't see myself going back to it. I just wish I'd tried out alternatives years ago when my skin really needed it

This, yes this a million times +!!!! Years ago, before I discovered DE shaving, I tried the Bic Sensitive razors recommended by a dermatologist to prevent ingrown hairs and even those were not a complete "cure". DE shaving (and injector) cured that for me. I ain't going back. No way. No how. ;)
 
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