Why the crazy markups?

People suggesting paying $40.00 dollars for a junk razor to learn to hone with? No name razors selling for $30.00 in BST? I bought 6 razors 4 of which were Henckles one of which was ivory handled and a leather roll case on Ebay for $90.00 shipped to Sweden! After about five to six hours on the sandpaper all were looking like new. Hell, I know I'm in Sweden but I payed 1 euro for a heljestrand in good condition! I could turn around and sell all of these in the BST for probably 3x what I payed for them. :rant:

Can someone please explain to me why some people who are purchasing razors on Ebay turn around and sell them for exorbitant prices on srp? There are certianly deals to be had in BST, but often times things just seem over priced.

Whats with the greed of some folks?:confused:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stupidyank

People suggesting paying $40.00 dollars for a junk razor to learn to hone with? No name razors selling for $30.00 in BST? I bought 6 razors 4 of which were Henckles one of which was ivory handled and a leather roll case on Ebay for $90.00 shipped to Sweden! After about five to six hours on the sandpaper all were looking like new. Hell, I know I'm in Sweden but I payed 1 euro for a heljestrand in good condition! I could turn around and sell all of these in the BST for probably 3x what I payed for them. :rant:

Can someone please explain to me why some people who are purchasing razors on Ebay turn around and sell them for exorbitant prices on srp? There are certianly deals to be had in BST, but often times things just seem over priced.

Whats with the greed of some folks?:confused:

---

I wouldn't call it greed! Most of the members here take time to restore the razor to tip top condition before selling it, and none of these members get any real compensation for their work! Also, if they got it from ebay, they take a risk that the blade will not be good for restoration! and lastly, you can not sell an item for more than someone else is willing to spend!
if you found a diamond for pennies on the dollar would you turn around and sell it at that price? not likely!

Honing service alone is worth $15 or $20, plus any kind of rust removal/restoration work is worth $20 minimum. There are skills involved that take time to develop and are out of reach for many people, so the price reflects the time and monetary investment that the seller has in his skills, as well as the physical razor.

Nobody here is greedy.

Well, what can I say - I'd offer you 5x what you paid for your helje :)
Mark and Russel already explained the economics behind it. Is there greed - perhaps - as we know it all depends on your definition.

As far as paying 30 for a razor on ebay to practice honing, I think it's a bit much, but if you look on ebay you will notice that it's not that easy to find one for much less money with good enough pictures that you know you won't need to sand. Of course when you're prepared to pay more and get several the price per razor will be cheaper, but most people are not in that category. In fact I would say that for 90% of the people (me included) the most cost effective way is to not go on ebay at all.
I do it because it's a hobby, not because it's saving me money - to me it's a loss.

But yes, people are bidding higher on ebay, so the prices are at least 15-30 more than they used to be several months ago. You can still find nice deals, but it's always a gamble, so the average is higher than your best deals.

Not to mention regional differences in the value of a razor. I'm not going to sell a razor for one euro just because some guys in Sweden haven't caught on yet. They are selling for $50+ in the antique shops around here in unrestored condition. If you can get them cheap and sell them higher go for it.

If the roll case you talk about had been better pictured and each razor well shown that guy would have gotten twice what you paid or more. You took a greater risk and got lucky. If you want lower risk you pay a higher price.

"No name razors selling for $30.00 in BST?"

I kind of agree with that one. Unless there is a 'I honed it and used it for a couple months and found it be a great shaver' endorsement then that ALMOST rings of greed or at least 'I bought this razor and now I've got too many so here, someone buy it'.

At the same time, its also buyer beware. Do the research, its all here in the threads somewhere. Check out the buyers. You can see how many posts they have. You can 'stalk' them and see how they interact with others in the threads.

My two cents about a slightly tabooish grey area.

Mark

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

Honing service alone is worth $15 or $20, plus any kind of rust removal/restoration work is worth $20 minimum. There are skills involved that take time to develop and are out of reach for many people, so the price reflects the time and monetary investment that the seller has in his skills, as well as the physical razor.

Nobody here is greedy.

---

I think Russel's post pretty much covers it. The only thing I'd add is that you take a chance on an ebay razor. There are a lot of $5 razors on ebay, but you might buy three ho-hum razors for every superb five-dollar gem. Ho-hum because they've got a warp you couldn't see in the picture, or because what looked like minor spots are in fact little black squiggles of death (microscopic corrosion going all the way through a hollow-ground razor), or a half-dozen other things. Then take all those finds – the gem and the three B-'s – and add shipping and handling...

The $30 no-name razors on BST represent vetted finds.

This vetting is even more important when you consider how many superb "no-name" razors there are out there. My two top shavers are brands you've probably never heard of. I bought them for five bucks each. If I ever put them up on BST for thirty bucks someone will get a great deal.

If you are in this razor thing long enough you will notice the prices of decent razors (even no name brands) slowly going up, also conceder there are a finite number of vintage razors on the planet.
There are a few bargains are out there, your 6 name brand razors is a good example… more power to you!

Buy a $20 razor on ebay, spend 6 hours restoring, oh and let’s not mention the incidentals like sandpaper, polish, hones or lacerations, then sell for $40… would be making way below minimum wage… that’s $3+/hour… you know this must be a hobby.

Remember many buy razors for its shavreadyness, so even a vintage no name brand in good condition would be worth the purchase at $40.

But I agree $40 for a practice blade is be a bit high, considering a ready razor would be at or below the same price. Less than $10 is the norm… and there are plenty out there.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stupidyank

I bought 6 razors 4 of which were Henckles one of which was ivory handled and a leather roll case on Ebay for $90.00 shipped to Sweden!...

Whats with the greed of some folks?:confused:

---

Send them a pm :shrug:

I don't think 6 rusty razors on B/S/T for a hundred bucks would be a steal

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stupidyank

People suggesting paying $40.00 dollars for a junk razor to learn to hone with? No name razors selling for $30.00 in BST? I bought 6 razors 4 of which were Henckles one of which was ivory handled and a leather roll case on Ebay for $90.00 shipped to Sweden! After about five to six hours on the sandpaper all were looking like new. Hell, I know I'm in Sweden but I payed 1 euro for a heljestrand in good condition! I could turn around and sell all of these in the BST for probably 3x what I payed for them. :rant:

Can someone please explain to me why some people who are purchasing razors on Ebay turn around and sell them for exorbitant prices on srp? There are certianly deals to be had in BST, but often times things just seem over priced.

Whats with the greed of some folks?:confused:

---

Well, five to six hours of grunt work isn't something we are all willing to do. Not to mention, you still have to hone each razor to a shave-ready state. You're talking at least 8+ hours of total work to shave with those razors. Many people would rather pay a higher price for a razor in shave-ready condition.

I have been selling some of my Henckels razors on eBay. At the same time, I offer them for a discounted price to forum members. I sold two Friodurs on SRP recently for $135 shipped and $130 shipped, respectively, even though in between I had one sell for $190 shipped on eBay. I can't speak about people who buy to resell but I haven't seen any unreasonable prices on SRP.

So how do we value razors anyway. No name razors? I don't think I ever saw a razor with "no name" on it. maybe its not a henckels or a Puma or a DD but that doesn't mean its not of equal quality to one of those. Like others have said if you think a razor is being sold at a rip off price don't buy it and if everyone does that eventually the price will go down but i would guess that will never happen. personally i think razors are valued much less than other knife related items and the word is catching on. That no name special for $30 you might be lucky to get for $130 in a few years.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

No name razors? I don't think I ever saw a razor with "no name" on it.

---

My "no name" I purchased from JoshEarl is one of my 2 best shavers. I bought it for virtually nothing if you count the shave readiness and shipping. Had I paid twice that I would still be happy. Value is based on what the market will bear. Right now the market is favorable. I don't blame folks for charging prices that the market will support.

sorry but I respectfully disagree,

I think that honing is not something that should cost 15-20 dollars per razor, in some exceptional cases it should cost this. From what I've seen it takes about 15 minutes for an experienced honer to set a bevel and bring up an average Ebay razor to shaving sharp, and I doubt the average SRP member is making $80.00 per hour. Reference http://video.google.nl/videoplay?doc...94301842672864. I have paid for honing and have recived prices much lower then that for honing razors (7 euro in fact)

As far as me getting an exceptional deal and costs of "restoring" a razor, I just don't feel that in general it takes that much time to get a razor cleaned up unless it is a rust bucket. Get a no name dremel some sandpaper and a little polish and your pretty much set unless there is major pitting.

But perhaps it is just that I am cheap. Or maybe the fact that I enjoy scrubbing off a bit of gunk off my razors to find the treasure beneath.

How much do you think these Ducks will go for on SRP once the new owner has cleaned them up and sharpened them?
http://cgi.ebay.com/FOUR-VINTAGE-DOU...ayphotohosting

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stupidyank

sorry but I respectfully disagree,

I think that honing is not something that should cost 15-20 dollars per razor, in some exceptional cases it should cost this. From what I've seen it takes about 15 minutes for an experienced honer to set a bevel and bring up an average Ebay razor to shaving sharp, and I doubt the average SRP member is making $80.00 per hour. Reference http://video.google.nl/videoplay?doc...94301842672864. I have paid for honing and have recived prices much lower then that for honing razors (7 euro in fact)

As far as me getting an exceptional deal and costs of "restoring" a razor, I just don't feel that in general it takes that much time to get a razor cleaned up unless it is a rust bucket. Get a no name dremel some sandpaper and a little polish and your pretty much set unless there is major pitting.

But perhaps it is just that I am cheap. Or maybe the fact that I enjoy scrubbing off a bit of gunk off my razors to find the treasure beneath.

How much do you think these Ducks will go for on SRP once the new owner has cleaned them up and sharpened them?
http://cgi.ebay.com/FOUR-VINTAGE-DOU...ayphotohosting

---

Those won't be for sale on SRP I won that auction today, figure I paid about $26 per razor which I didn't think was too bad. I'm not counting the one that looks like a toothpick that one is already sorted as just junk. I plan on cleaning them up and using them to practice honing and adding them to my rotation.

Edit: I do pretty much agree on the prices, though, seems razor prices are a bit ridiculous lately ... personally I'm just not going to spend money on razors I think are overpriced, if more would do that and not pay ridiculous amounts for razors prices would be forced down.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stupidyank

I doubt the average SRP member is making $80.00 per hour.

---

I doubt that as well. The 6 hours of sanding is what caught my eye. Isn't that worth something? Especially when it's a service - you must be more careful when you are spending several manual hours on someone else's thin piece of metal lest ye break it and have to replace it.

In real estate, there is a distinction among cost, price, and value. Cost is the amount you paid for the property. Price is the amount you want for the property. Value is the highest amount someone is willing to pay you for the property.

To me, the cost of a razor is irrelevant if the price is consistent with current market trends. I shouldn't have to sell my item for a cheap price just because I bought it for a cheap price. If I locate a mint, vintage TI at an antique shop for $20, I shouldn't have to sell it for $20 even though it's worth $150. If someone prices a razor too high, then the value will dictate that. Obviously, enough people have been buying razors at these higher prices to justify their continued existance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stupidyank

sorry but I respectfully disagree,

I think that honing is not something that should cost 15-20 dollars per razor, in some exceptional cases it should cost this. From what I've seen it takes about 15 minutes for an experienced honer to set a bevel and bring up an average Ebay razor to shaving sharp, and I doubt the average SRP member is making $80.00 per hour. Reference http://video.google.nl/videoplay?doc...94301842672864. I have paid for honing and have recived prices much lower then that for honing razors (7 euro in fact)

As far as me getting an exceptional deal and costs of "restoring" a razor, I just don't feel that in general it takes that much time to get a razor cleaned up unless it is a rust bucket. Get a no name dremel some sandpaper and a little polish and your pretty much set unless there is major pitting.

But perhaps it is just that I am cheap. Or maybe the fact that I enjoy scrubbing off a bit of gunk off my razors to find the treasure beneath.

How much do you think these Ducks will go for on SRP once the new owner has cleaned them up and sharpened them?
http://cgi.ebay.com/FOUR-VINTAGE-DOUBLE-DUCK-STRAIGHT-RAZORS-3-DWARFS_W0QQitemZ310050029508QQihZ021QQcategoryZ475 QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohos ting

---

I would argue that at $15-$20 for honing from an experienced person, you're paying for their experience. I'm sorry, but someone who may have years of honing experience and as a result can hone a razor much faster that most others should charge less than others? Does that mean someone who takes 2 hours to hone a razor should charge $120?

I believe that if you personally started honing razors for others for a fee and started restoring and selling razors to other members on SRP over an extended period of time, you would quickly see that charging nothing or almost nothing for your time would get old very quickly.

I would also argue that most members that hone or restore as a hobby take any "profit" from their sales or services and put them back directly into their hobby. A self funded hobby. What could be better?

Chris L

I think the numbers of people sending razors to Lynn, etc....for honing easily shows that most think $15-25 to be a very fair price.
Not ever razor is honed in 15 minutes, some can take twice that, some require a few sessions.

So what is your time worth that would make you sit all evening honing razors for other vs. spending time with your family or maybe doing another activity with billable time?

There are plenty of services out there I would not spend a nickle on but that does not mean they are charging too much.

Tony

I'm afraid I have to agree with the others, razors in the BST here tend to go for a little too much money for my blood... But I don't consider them overpriced. I buy vintage razors at flea markets and antique stores and fix them up myself for use. I know I'm going to get burned for the price of a razor eventually... plus everyone of my razors has a good amount of blood, sweat and tears equity. I would not sell them for even double what I paid for them.

Also, I agree they are a finite resource. I'm lucky enough to live in an area with three towns within a twenty minute drive that were all big going concerns already in 1850 or earlier. Also, it appears some local buisiness or salesman once dealt exclusively in H. Boker razors, I've seen twenty or more for sale and every razor box I have ever gotten has always been a Boker box. Even so, however, between me and one other fellow I've never met (I have about five antique shops/flea markets I hit, I sometimes hear about his purchases) have managed to fairly pick clean the razors that don't need new scales.

So, would I sell a razor I bought for 15 dollars? No, because I may not be able to find another to replace it that doesn't require a larger investment of money to put in to my rotation. It's like commodity pricing, like gas, it's not only what you paid to get the commodity but the cost of replacing it as well. That's why the same gas that was in the stations tank yesterday at 1.10 a liter may cost 1.15 today, they need to adjust the price to ensure they can buy the gas back without losing their profits (which, by the way, for the gas station it's self is pretty meager, here it's around two cents a liter pumped).

So, long story short... You're paying not just for the fact that the person selling took a risk, or for their efforts but also for the increasing rarity and increasing price of razors themselves.

And this is from someone with a bad case of RAD. :P

[quote=stupidyank;212669]sorry but I respectfully disagree,

I think that honing is not something that should cost 15-20 dollars per razor, in some exceptional cases it should cost this. From what I've seen it takes about 15 minutes for an experienced honer to set a bevel and bring up an average Ebay razor to shaving sharp, and I doubt the average SRP member is making $80.00 per hour.


I'm sorry but that is just wrong, 15 minutes ????? you shave with it, not I, nor any razor I would put my reputation behind... I just honed up a C-MON this morning, which I considered a fairly straight forward honing, and that took just over 1 1/2 hours from start to finish... If you add a warp of any little bit, that can double the time... Just to qualify "Shave Ready" I mean honed, polished and stropped, to a point that I would put that blade on my face and shave.... JMHO of course and quite a few satisfied faces including my own..... then again perhaps, I am the one who is wrong, and I take way to much time to make sure that the edge is as perfect as I can make it... But when somebody pays me to hone a razor for them, I am going to do the best job that I can possibly accomplish, and I am not going to be watching the clock.....

Oh! In addition to my previous post...

The other thing about prices going up a bit is this... With the price going up a bit, maybe I'll eventually take the plunge and start doing scale work on razors to bring them back in to decent condition. As much as I love razors, I can only afford to lose so much money on them. To keep buying them, I'm eventually going to have to start selling some. If I'm reasonably sure I can recoup my money for the rescale after I've used the razor for a couple months or couple years, then maybe I'll take the plunge...

What does this have to do with anything? Well, if I'm thinking so, then maybe others are as well. With more people willing to do more work or razors currently in poorer condition then that means more razors that would have just been left to rot away will be given life again, which certainly can't seem like a bad thing in the eyes of those with the passion.

Maybe someday every old rust bucket out there will be in someone's rotation. :)

In the Western World we are all fortunate that we have a freedom of choice.

If the price is in your opinion high, don't buy the razor or the service. Simple.

But if you are envious of the price somebody else achieves don't carp about it, that's life in our capitalist society.

It's called supply and demand.

The second hand razor market is not going to make anybody a millionaire.

But if some guys earn a beer or two out of it, good luck to them I say.

If they can earn a living out of it, I doubt it.

I've watched SRP closely now for a couple of months and I've seen a couple of prices I would not pay. But I have not seen anybody ripped off. I have also seen some outstandingly high quality razors sold at what can only be described as very reasonable prices.

I tip my hat to the SRP buy and sell section as a credit to the membership.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by English

In the Western World we are all fortunate that we have a freedom of choice.

If the price is in your opinion high, don't buy the razor or the service. Simple.

But if you are envious of the price somebody else achieves don't carp about it, that's life in our capitalist society.

---

That's might be the greed that stupidyank is referring to :shrug:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by English

I tip my hat to the SRP buy and sell section as a credit to the membership.

---

Hear hear! :tu

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stupidyank

I think that honing is not something that should cost 15-20 dollars per razor, in some exceptional cases it should cost this. From what I've seen it takes about 15 minutes for an experienced honer to set a bevel and bring up an average Ebay razor to shaving sharp, and I doubt the average SRP member is making $80.00 per hour. I have paid for honing and have recived prices much lower then that for honing razors (7 euro in fact)

---

Others before me have put it quite well, but I suspect you just earned a special rate from SRP members for honing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stupidyank

As far as me getting an exceptional deal and costs of "restoring" a razor, I just don't feel that in general it takes that much time to get a razor cleaned up unless it is a rust bucket. Get a no name dremel some sandpaper and a little polish and your pretty much set unless there is major pitting.

---

Ineed why don't you just follow through and post the razor in B/S/T. I will buy your first razor, honed please.
Oh and while we're doing business I'd also take that combo belgian stone of yours - you paid $75 - I'll pay you the same. I'm sure it won't take you that much time to find a better one for cheaper.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gugi

Others before me have put it quite well, but I suspect you just earned a special rate from SRP members for honing.


Ineed why don't you just follow through and post the razor in B/S/T. I will buy your first razor, honed please.
Oh and while we're doing business I'd also take that combo belgian stone of yours - you paid $75 - I'll pay you the same. I'm sure it won't take you that much time to find a better one for cheaper.

---

My man Gugi!:tu

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gugi

Others before me have put it quite well, but I suspect you just earned a special rate from SRP members for honing.


Ineed why don't you just follow through and post the razor in B/S/T. I will buy your first razor, honed please.
Oh and while we're doing business I'd also take that combo belgian stone of yours - you paid $75 - I'll pay you the same. I'm sure it won't take you that much time to find a better one for cheaper.

---

Tell it like it is! Owww!:)

I also second what Glen said; I would be hard pressed to put a vintage razor to my face if the person who honed it said they did it from start to finish to as sharp and as comfortable (a precarious balance to be sure) as I like my razors in 15 minutes. My first thought was: "I'd like to meet that speedmeister". Quickly, my second thought was. "Naw....I'm cool.".

I realize this next statement is only partially related to honing services; One of the main things I enjoy about honing my own razors (or trying to in some cases!) is drawing it out and taking..........my..........time......! Some razors I futz with over a weeks time. Get it shaving sharp, but then tweak it ever so slightly, then tweak it some more and more until I say it can't be tweaked any more and the edge I put on it is probably the best that razor's steel can give. I would never have a desire to even try to hone a razor in 15 minutes. Any razor.

Chris L

Chris L

If you ever find yourself in a hospital facing surgery do you want an M.D doing the job who can do it in 15 minutes and charge less or one who takes 2 hours and charges you more? Or if you ever have a plumber or electrician come to your house to do a job argue with him that you could have done the 2 hour job in less than half the time and he should charge less. If you don't want to pay a honemeister the simple solution is learn to do it all yourself.

I have about 50 or so vintage razors I got off of Eboy and some just needed light honing and some need major restoration but I never spent 15 minutes on any razor. Probably about an hour is the least I ever spent on the best of them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chrisl

main things I enjoy about honing my own razors (or trying to in some cases!) is drawing it out and taking..........my..........time......! Some razors I futz with over a weeks time.
Chris L

---

Hell yeah. :)

When I buy a new razor, I'm usually very excited to start work on it. Then I to tend to drag it out a bit. It's a hobby, something to keep me busy. I'm glad I'm not the only one silly enough to make things harder on themselves than need be in some strange form of entertainment. :P

I'll be the odd man out here. I've been perfectly willing to shave with a razor I honed in only about tweny minutes, its not fifteen but......

There are also those that take a lot longer.

Then there is being able to tell the difference between the two, and being able to get either equaly as sharp. A pretty priceless skill as I still haven't managed to aquire it. Those guys who have hones thousands of razors have. and they charge for it just like any other skilled tradesman.

By the way I'm in the skilled trades, and while you could hire me to do grunt work on one of your projects for less than $80 per hour, if you contract the project out to me to complete to my best level of skill you will be paying close to that for my knowledge and abilities and warrenty of a job well done.

First off: Sorry if I offended anyone with the greed comment, I realized that was offensive after I wrote it. I intended on removing that but people responded prior to me coming to the decision to take it off.


Well I suppose the difference is that for me this is a hobby, I enjoy trying to find a deal, I'm not out to make money on my hobby. As for my hone yeah sure when I'm done using it or outgrow it I would be more than happy to give it to you at that price, personally I would rather feel good knowing that I have helped someone with something or given someone who is interested in the hobby an awesome deal rather than making a bit of money. If that means selling something for the same price or less that I bought it for so be it. (I've already given away one of my razors to a friend).

I personally would feel guilty selling the 7/8 Henckles I bought for ~$15 on E-bay for $50 on SRP. I spent one hour with sandpaper on it, even if I spent several hours on it I would feel this way. I got that from restoring cars. I fixed them up as a labor of love, simply because I enjoyed it, I knew I would lose money on restoring them but I did it anyhow simply for the pure joy of it.

I suppose I see that BST as a place to trade among friends not to make much of a profit. In my opinion if you are looking to make some money post your restored razor on E-bay. I don't have an issue with people doing that but I consider BST to be a sort of trading between friends, and personally I don't try to make a profit off my friends.

Perhaps it is a cultural difference.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by stupidyank

I suppose I see that BST as a place to trade among friends not to make much of a profit. In my opinion if you are looking to make some money post your restored razor on E-bay. I don't have an issue with people doing that but I consider BST to be a sort of trading between friends, and personally I don't try to make a profit off my friends.

Perhaps it is a cultural difference.

---

I agree with your thoughts above. I venture to say that a great percentage of the razors sold here on B/S/T are sold at cost or at a loss just because the seller wants to pass the razors along in the most helpful way they can. When I am given something gratis, and I find I no longer have use for it, I re-gift it. If I got a great deal on something and am done with it, I will pass along the same deal - I think that happens everyday in the B/S/T. But even people who spend dozens of hours on one razor to turn it from a $5 junker to a $150 eye-catching hair-splitting shaver will not be taking a monetary profit. Most of the profits generated here are a great sense of achievement, satisfaction, and generosity

I think everyone realizes and it has been much discussed that razor prices have gone through the roof over the past year on ebay - maybe blame Sweeney Todd? :p Because of the prices being fetched on ebay, I think we are seeing some increase here on the BST.

StupidYank, I understand what you are saying about not wanting to profit - I'm the same way. When I sell here, I usually ask for a little less than I paid for a razor (I don't do restoration work).

That said, I don't think anyone is making much profit if they ask for $20-$40 or so for the work they've put into a razor - especially when you consider the time to also package and mail the blade. I also give them the benefit of the doubt that they are going to take that money and "rescue" more razors to be sold here in the community. I'd rather they they sell them here at a reasonable market price. That way we know we are getting a solid razor. Just my two cents. :D

Jordan

OK I am going to try explaining this as simply as possible.

I buy razor "A" on ebay or at an antique store last year for $20, ($5 usable razor are a thing of that past) it sits in my restore drawer for 6 months... I take out razor "A", and spend the normal 10 hours required for a full restore... I shave with razor "A" a few times, and say to self, Hmmmmm nice razor but razor "B" is coming up on ebay in 4 days and I really have been wanting to try one of those, (RAD is bad) So I put razor "A" on BST for ?????? How MUCH????
In your case I would sell razor "A" for $20, which won't buy razor "B"...Why because razor "B" is now going to sell for real money, because the used razor market is NUTZ right now... So razor "B" is out of my reach because, I can't afford to.... 1.) restore any more.... 2.) acquire more razors for restore.... 3.) acquire more supplies for restores.... But in your perfect little world, I should use money from my real job to pay for razor "B", and restore it with money from my real job, and resell it down the road, at what price????? oh yeah!!!!! according to you for the same, or less than what I bought it for... And let's not forget that I should also absorb the cost of razor "C" you know that one, with the warp that couldn't be fixed well enough to ever sell to any member on BST.... In your scenario there would be no BST within 1 year... (Or there would be no Glen in my case, because the wife would kill me)
I am not trying to be offensive here, I am trying to explain how we as restorers keep nice razors coming into SRP...

Let me know if you figure out how to keep razors being restored, and purchasing the next ones, without, selling them for more than what you bought them for,,,, I would love to know that trick..... And please don't answer if yer Daddy Warbucks and have more money than God himself.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gssixgun

OK I am going to try explaining this as simply as possible.

I buy razor "A" on ebay or at an antique store last year for $20, ($5 usable razor are a thing of that past) it sits in my restore drawer for 6 months... I take out razor "A", and spend the normal 10 hours required for a full restore... I shave with razor "A" a few times, and say to self, Hmmmmm nice razor but razor "B" is coming up on ebay in 4 days and I really have been wanting to try one of those, (RAD is bad) So I put razor "A" on BST for ?????? How MUCH????
In your case I would sell razor "A" for $20, which won't buy razor "B"...Why because razor "B" is now going to sell for real money, because the used razor market is NUTZ right now... So razor "B" is out of my reach because, I can't afford to.... 1.) restore any more.... 2.) acquire more razors for restore.... 3.) acquire more supplies for restores.... But in your perfect little world, I should use money from my real job to pay for razor "B", and restore it with money from my real job, and resell it down the road, at what price????? oh yeah!!!!! according to you for the same, or less than what I bought it for... And let's not forget that I should also absorb the cost of razor "C" you know that one, with the warp that couldn't be fixed well enough to ever sell to any member on BST.

---

That's exactly what I was trying to explain about commodity pricing. The price has slightly less to do with what you paid and more to do with what you will pay in order to purchase the next razor.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cobo

That's exactly what I was trying to explain about commodity pricing. The price has slightly less to do with what you paid and more to do with what you will pay in order to purchase the next razor.

---

Ah, commodity pricing. So that's the name for it. Then I can say without a doubt, you can count me in on commodity pricing being the only means for me to be able to continue to enjoy this hobby. I'm not ashamed to say that I can't afford to pay for my razor related equipment out of my own pocket (OK a few little things here and there and now and then out of pocket, but rarely). Commodity pricing allows me to have a small amount of razor stuff as a self funded hobby.

So..I guess you could count Glen out as a retorer and you could count me out as a member if I weren't finding the occasional great deal on a vintage stone that I would sell, etc.

Chris L

I am not a seller I am a buyer. I don't generally sell anything. I don't "restore" razors I buy stuff that can be cleaned and honed then used. some of my blades are a little rough some are really nice but each has a story to go with it. As for the cost of honing I have over 400.00 in stuff to hone with not counting strops and don't own a Shapton (yet). That would be twenty razors @ 20.00 each before shipping, time, and hone wear. Count time, skill, postage, and equipment wear and the count goes up.
My point is for the casual shaver not into restoration, beval setting ect. 20.00 and a barber hone to keep the edge fresh would be a good deal. I payed it a couple of times and would do it again with a problem razor that I felt exceded my level of skill.

Don