Thread: Do you ever attempt to tell people...

I don't usually bother. Price and value are very subjective matters. Occasionally have I recommended vendors to correct false information in their listings.

Originally Posted by Sandcounty

I was tempted to PM this guy.

AMAZING ONE DAY AUCTION 7 RARE BOXES AND 2 RARE BLADES - eBay (item 150410068867 end time Jan-31-10 22:16:04 PST)

FOR REAL?

Now, I know *nothing* about restoration. Nothing at all. I've never even honed a razor. Even my stropping is amateur at best.

But even someone as clueless as me took one look at that first razor and all I could think was "HOLY HONE WEAR, BATMAN!"

Even if they were in reasonable shape, $200 bucks would be a touch ambitious. But like that? Seriously, I'm not even sure a couple of those could be saved. WTF.

I haven't really searched Ebay for razors - I'm happy with what I got for now. But some of the links you guys put up... geez. Who the hell in their right mind would see razors that look like that, with that price tag, and think "Yeah, that sounds fair?" Even if they knew *nothing* about razors, it doesn't take a genius to see when a given object has some serious problems.

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

FOR REAL?

Now, I know *nothing* about restoration. Nothing at all. I've never even honed a razor. Even my stropping is amateur at best.

But even someone as clueless as me took one look at that first razor and all I could think was "HOLY HONE WEAR, BATMAN!"

Even if they were in reasonable shape, $200 bucks would be a touch ambitious. But like that? Seriously, I'm not even sure a couple of those could be saved. WTF.

I haven't really searched Ebay for razors - I'm happy with what I got for now. But some of the links you guys put up... geez. Who the hell in their right mind would see razors that look like that, with that price tag, and think "Yeah, that sounds fair?" Even if they knew *nothing* about razors, it doesn't take a genius to see when a given object has some serious problems.

Well, probably some of the idiot (no offense) Sweeney Todd fans. I'll fully admit I am a fan, but have taken the time to research and learn. Some of the other ones I've met really have no idea about the art of a straight razor and will pay outrageous fees for some of the items. At one convention I attended I was offered nearly three hundred dollars for my Electric Cutlery Co razor.

I know with the razors I'm selling I just slap ten dollars on and hope it's a fair starting price.

"THIS BOX IS VERY NICE
A FOR CUTLERY CO BOX IN POOR CONDITION"

I've never seen Sweeney Todd. It looks really interesting, and I can appreciate the bro-mance that Depp and Burton have going on in their collaborations.

But why is it that the fandom of so many movies melts the brains of many of their fans? Strange phenomenon...

You can get a mock prop razor for, what, $10-$20? Sure, it'll never shave, but neither will a lot of the junk razors people are buying for stupid amounts of money. Somehow I think shave-ability isn't really at the forefront of the mind of someone buying a razor that looks like that.

I think these silly eBay prices come about for a few reasons.

- People milking the success of movies like Sweeney Todd and thinking people will pay silly prices, and then asking some daft reserve price.

- People seeing what some good quality razors are going for and thinking that their rusted no name butter knife will sell for the same price as a Filly.

- People thinking "Old = $$$", whereas its actually "Old + good condition = $$$" and setting a silly reserve price

- Hype of a particular make.

- People getting caught up in the excitement of winning an auction and over paying.

- People not doing their homework and over paying.

A corollary of this is sellers not knowing anything about razors and describing things as being in good nick when they're not, or just plain dodgy dealing and hoping to make a few quid by hocking junk to a clueless buyer.

Just my two cents..!

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

I've never seen Sweeney Todd. It looks really interesting, and I can appreciate the bro-mance that Depp and Burton have going on in their collaborations.

But why is it that the fandom of so many movies melts the brains of many of their fans? Strange phenomenon...

You can get a mock prop razor for, what, $10-$20? Sure, it'll never shave, but neither will a lot of the junk razors people are buying for stupid amounts of money. Somehow I think shave-ability isn't really at the forefront of the mind of someone buying a razor that looks like that.

It's a good movie in my opinion, shot well, good singing, just a generally good movie. I appreciate the fact Sasha Baron Cohen got lessons from his barber about shaving with a straight. Though to be honest I just watch for Helena Bonham Carter... mmmm... sorry getting of topic.

I don't know it is a strange but interesting phenomenon. Some of these fandoms litterally eat peoples souls.

I'm kind of on the fence with that being in the fandom myself. Some of the people I know have bought some under the assumption the line about "the closest shave you ever got" as it being shave ready. Either way it seems the movie has been both a blessing and a curse to people who truly appreciate straight razors.

A couple of weeks before Christmas I was in Carlsbad, NM.

First I broke into an old ladys car, then I walked in to the store right next to it and told the owner that the razor behind her dest was more like $10 than $40. I walked out from the store with a nice $10 razor.

The whole story is a bit less criminal than it sounds, the owner had an old lady visiting her, the old lady locked her keys in the car, I helped her, the owner gave me a discount because she wanted to give me something back.
But regardless: I got it for less than asking price

It does all come done to the fact that we all buy users here, and to most of us a razors value is based on performance. sure rarity is a part of it, but as near as I can tell you guys with Red Injuns get better shaves than I do with my Sanssouci. Mine may well be the more rare one, but it will only have a high value to a collector who wants that razor. I've looked at a lot of 25$ razors that may well have been worth the cost, but to me, heavy hone wear and edge chips made them worth less to me, so I didn't buy them. when someone wants the razor for the collectible sake the 15$ faux ivory with Minneapolis Min. on the scale would be worth much more. But as a razor, it stayed in the dealers cabinet.
meh, I'm happy with what I have, and some day if I have the coin in my pocket and I see a razor I like, I'll buy it, but right now they are shave tools, and I have enough.

In reply to the original thread . . Yes, I sometimes do it when the seller is way off on their description because of lack of knowledge on the subject. I figure they probably don't want to look foolish and can change their write-up to make a more accurate description. For instance, I just emailed this guy to
let him know his write-up was all wrong. I try to be nice about it and they generally thank me for setting them straight.

Regards - Walt