Rant: Cost of razor blades

[Hitro]

I have a "normal" Gilette thing. I thought about getting Mach 3 but it's simply too expensive.
But the electrical ones never do the job well. Every trace of hair can be seen on someone as white as me.

 

[Switch625]

Originally posted by Hamlet


Which leads to your face feeling like you've run a lawnmower over it, and looking like you've attempted suicide.

I've used an electric razor for many years for just this reason. Good razor blades are too expensive, and cheap razor blades are just too painful. True, I always look like I've got 5 O'Clock shadow, but it's a small price to pay for not being a bloody mess.

 

[Cunobelin Of Hippo]

See this is why I've put off shaving for as long as possible...

 

[Furry Spatula]

Well i'm in trouble. I was planning on "bic"ing my head because hair just pissess me off. Hmmm maybe I'll have to reconsider and just not shave or cut my hair at all.

 

[ApocalypseKurtz]

Originally posted by PaleHorse76
This in particular has to do with a brand called Gillette and a model called Mach3 or Mach3 Turbo.

Has anyone noticed the price on these bad boys lately? I just paid $15.49 for a package of 8 Mach3 Turbo blades. The non-turbo Mach3 blades weren't much better, costing $13.49. Now I will admit these are the best razor blades I have ever used before, and I don't know if I could ever go back to someting "lesser" but to spend this much on shaving?!?! I don't even like shaving! God thing I am out of the Army now because when I was in I would go through 1 blade in 3 days. 5 days if I wanted to push it and be economical, but it started to hurt then. That means I would use 1 package of these a month. I would be spending about 15$ a month on razors alone. I think it costs les than that to feed a starving child in Kersplakinova, according to those tear jerking TV adverts. Now that I am out I shave about 1 to 2 tmes a week because I am cheap and because I work night shift and hardly anyone looks at my ugly mug anyways.

I am buying these razors at WalMart which is about as cheap as you can get without going to Sam's Club...which I might start doing for these darn things. I could probably get a 500 pack there for a reasonable $200! That would save me $67 of the WalMart price.

My Location: Bensalem PA, USA

Same thing happens to me. For my 18th birthday Gilette actually sent me a "happy birthday" package complete with a Mach 3 razor but NO replacement blades. I loved the mach 3, but unfortunately I was not so pleased when I had to pay $16.00 for EIGHT replacement blades. Nonetheless it is a great razor and I recommend it to everyone.

 

[gonzo_for_civ]

I too use the gilette mach 3. It works great but the replacement blades are a pain in the ass to buy. I am now on a streak of about 200 days without nicking myself

 

[King of Camelot]

Wow, with all this talk of cutting your face and spending all your money on replacement blades I can be glad I don't have to shave yet! I think you should all just grow bereads. You'll get used to it eventually.

 

[starlifter]

Good electric is cheaper and less hassle in the long run . Gotta find your own personal electric preference, though, cause they can vary quite a bit for each person. Remington DA-307 for me at the moment.

 

[Furry Spatula]

How often do you guys use your blades for? I've been on my last blade for about 1 month now. I'm too lazy to go out and by more mach 3's. But i must admit, they are a nice shave. I'm contemplating giving the turbo a try.

 

[ainwood]

I got a whole lot of cheap razor blades when I was in Thailand. Not that that helps you though.....

I have noticed that the prices vary a lot in different parts of the world. Eg. In New Zealand the normal mach 3 blades are $9.63, and in England they are $12.38, both for 8 blades.

 

[Rodgers]

The best combination has got to be an average electric razor (about £40) followed by a bit of tidying up with a disposable wet razor (£2 for 8) to deal with any stragglers.

I've had my current electric razor for about 6 months now and the original pack of disposables for the same length of time (on my last one now).

If you get a sore face from an electric razor - are you using a microscreen or a rotating head type? I've used a microscreen type since I started electric shaving years back (good results no irritation) but tried a rotating head one last year - OUCH! they're rubbish AND shave really badly!

 

[Dralix]

For me it's the Norelco Advantage. Good performance, and a lotion dispenser to eliminate irritation.

 

[Zwelgje]

My electric shaver is a Philishave with three of those rotating thingies , they're good: no irritation whatsoever. The point is that your skin has to get used to it and you must be aware that your skin must be completely dry to get the best shaving comfort (just my experience in this matter )

 

[JohnnyReb]

Palehorse, I sympathise entirely. I have a very bad combination of tough as barb-wire whiskers that grow fast as bunnies reproduce, and very sensitive skin. This unfortunately rules out cheaper disposables, and even electrics. Neither can do the job well without butchering my face.

I used to use the the "Sensor" series, and before that the Atra, as they were the best of their times. But when Mach3 came out I finally found a blade that worked without making my face look like I had been peppered with flying glass every morning.

For me, I have no choice but to bite the bullet and get the pricey bastards

 

[floppa21]

Must say this is an entertaining thread. A straight razor? I don't use the Mach 3 but the one step down with two blades? Yah blades are expensive, but like Palehorse, I shave twice a week, three times max. I'm not too concerned with my appearance at work... HERE at least... Hey, Tom Clancy says razor blades are made out of old navy ships and subs so since we are in a "war state" maybe the price on these things skyrocketed... I've thought about electric, I might actually shave every day then.

 

[Wolfe Tone]

Originally posted by civ1-addict
My electric shaver is a Philishave with three of those rotating thingies , they're good: no irritation whatsoever. The point is that your skin has to get used to it and you must be aware that your skin must be completely dry to get the best shaving comfort (just my experience in this matter )

Yeah that's like the one I've got. Which one do you have? I have the 4000. I really wish now I had paid a little extra and went for the 5000 now though. It could be charged but the one I've got now has to be connected all the time.

 

[andyo]

mach 3 blades rule - and yes while they are expensive - i think they are worth it- i have supper-sensitive skin - so the cheapo blades tear up my face - mach 3's last me a while, so it is worth it
i tried a good electric before, but always ended up forgetting little random areas around my face - at least with the lotion and mach 3 i know i am covering my whole face

 

[Furry Spatula]

How long does it take to learn how to use the old school straight edge barber blade?

 

[Sanaz]

Electrics make me look pink and goofy, and disposables cut me up. I use the Mach 3 exclusively - it's the first time I can shave and not look like a wanker. I've gone years just using my Wahl head trimmer - not close, but it doesn't hurt. Now for the first time I can shave for real. I only shave twice a week (Monday/Thursday), and change blades every two weeks. They're expensive, but it's better than my previous choices of "aging hippie" or "freckles with pink splotches". I just don't look at prices of things I like enough, and I don't shave enough to worry too much about it.

 

[floppa21]

Originally posted by Furry Spatula
How long does it take to learn how to use the old school straight edge barber blade?

I would think the learning on that one is REALLY short... I wouldn't even consider that crap personally.