eBay is evil and is going to do me in!

[bmf2001]

I have been straight razor shaving for a couple months now and already have an extensive list of razors I'd like for my collection that I plan on starting.

I thought a budget of around $150 a razor was pretty good with the knowledge that some on my list would go for close to $200 or higher.

What I am finding with eBay is that the razors in excellent shave ready condition sold by reputable sellers tend to always pass my budget just before the auction ends or even days before the auctions end. I've never understood why people bid up an item (any item) way before the auctions end but it seems razor collectors/users have deep pockets when it comes to something they want. Or maybe my budget is just too low.

I was told that the price of razors is down right now too but what would be helpfull is knowing when the price is a deal, fair, and when it is too high. It is very frustrating not knowing!

I find the classifieds to be impossible because razors are sold within minutes of being listed. I can't monitor the classifieds 24/7 which seems to be what is necessary. Thought I had finally scored a razor on my list but the seller replied that it had already sold.

Yes I would like some cheese with my wine. Thanks for listening to me vent a little. : )

[gugi]

There are always more razors to come, so just be patient.

I was told that the price of razors is down right now too but what would be helpfull is knowing when the price is a deal, fair, and when it is too high. It is very frustrating not knowing!

It's almost impossible to determine such thing. The market is too small, the variables too many, and the fluctuations too large. I think at one point I saw a website that was archiving ebay listings so you could search the history. It's a paid service, but the alternative of doing it yourself is likely going to be more expensive.

Then everybody's appraisal formula is a bit different. For example the other day I sold one of my favorite razors (a duplicate or quintiplicate if you count the other very similar ones). Most people thought my asking price at about 2x middle of the road Dovo was really high, so it took several days before it found a buyer.
One way to look at it is that a used razor should cost less than a new razor. Another way to look at it is that a razor with a better workmanship, better shaver (sharper&smoother), more embelishments, and more rarity should cost more. A third way to look at it is that a razor with the similar luxury elements (and lower quality of workmanship) costs over 2x more new. A fourth way to look at it is that similarly shaving razors with cheaper materials that are hyped up sell for at least that much and often 1.5x-2x more. A fifth way is that whenever they get listed on ebay they end up going for 30%-50% more....
I know what a razor is worth to me, and I like razors a lot, so if nobody wants them as much as I do I'm usually happy to keep them for myself.

And everytime I've ran the experiment of posting two razors at the exact same price point, one better than the other, the one that sells first is the worse one, just because they are readily available and the buyers make quick price comparison.

Last week I saw a great razor in the classifieds that was there at least a couple of days. I think was around $120 and if I didn't have a couple of them already I'd have bought it on the spot.

I think the problem you're having is that you're evaluating razors the exact same way most other people are evaluating them (i.e. hyped up names get a huge premium) and somebody else with deeper pockets wants them more. You can do more homework and dig through the forum archives the names of excellent brands that are not filarmonica, or wonderedge.
Or you can buy razors in not that hot of a condition for cheaper, and discover the ones you like before shelling out for a mint copy of them.

Or may be the WTB section in the classifieds could help (although at the moment it seems it's down.)

Here's one more example - the other week I ventured on ebay and picked up a razor to replace one that I sold some time ago that I've been missing. I paid $60, it is in excellent condition which was noted in the ad and the photographs were very good. You cannot buy new razor that good for under $200-$250. Of course at the same time I bought another razor for $100 that was supposed to be in very good condition and it looked well on the pictures. But it arrived with a rust all along the edge and the seller is telling me he described it well and would've given me more pictures had I asked... So, ebay is always a bit of a gamble but in the long run it averages out (but you may end up like me with hundreds of razors)

[bmf2001]

gugi - You are exactly correct regarding the way I am evaluating razors. I have been an avid collector and seller of many different things and I always want the best for my collection. #1 who doesn't want the best and #2 the best tends to hold or increase in value which is always good.

I am sure that if I just learned how to restore and hone I would find a lot more deals but for now if I bought a razor that needed restoring and/or honing I would have to send it to someone and then pay that much more. Or maybe it's not that much more, I just assume it isn't cheap. Not to mention the cost of the equipment and materials needed to be able to restore and hone myself.

You mentioned Filarmonica and Wonderedge which are both on my list with about 16 or 17 others. Some are new razors but most are vintage or antique razors.

I really just have to look at it as preventing me from spending thousands of dollars in a few weeks/months (credit card) and forcing myself to obtain my collection over years instead. I know that would make the wife happier if that's putting it correctly. She already doesn't understand why I need more than one razor so when she see's what I pay for more she's going to loose it!

[gugi]

Well, I've been there too. I was lucky to get some of my best razors within a month of starting (wasn't cheap, but was something quite hard to find so it was an easy decision to grab it). That made it relatively easier. Then I wanted filarmonica (not the CS one) before everybody was into them, but back then they would show up only rarely and I didn't want to pay $100 unless it was in excellent condition. So I was filarmonicaless for a long time, and I still have only one or two because I don't like round points and the no.14 is too big for my taste.
I wish I had picked a Boker or Friodur earlier - they just didn't appeal to me, but eventually I made a trade and almost cursed myself for not trying them out earlier. I didn't think I'll get a nice wonderedge, but eventually I did - a friend of mine saw it and didn't want it for himself so I grabbed it quickly for the subaverage BIN price they had it listed.
And as I learned from my mistakes and started to recognize good razors on bad photos I've got some real treasures like that ancient carved ivory one that I have in the razor database. Usually there are others who notice these too, so you have to bid real money and quite a bit of the time I've gotten outbid, or pushed to or very near to my max bid.
Or I've splurged in the custom razors price range for cool things like the Mappin's Lancet (a couple of months ago somebody bought one on ebay for the ridiculous price of under $30, but I'm just as happy with mine even though they've cost me a lot more).

But at the end of the day there are always more razors to come, which helps me part with some really nice ones because I know if I really miss it sooner or later I'll find a replacement.

I'm sure eventually you'll get all of the razors you want to get, I've been at this for less than 4 years and I really can't think of any razor that is a must have. There are some I'd pick up the second I see them, but even if I never do at this point it doesn't matter to me all that much.

[AntiqueHoosier]

Sir Gugi has given you very learned advice.

My advice is to attempt to focus on a particular area... I prefer the narrow and deep concept.

[sharptonn]

Well, I've been there too. There are some I'd pick up the second I see them, but even if I never do at this point it doesn't matter to me all that much.

Well Said!

[bmf2001]

I just watched a Puma Special go for $258 and a DD Satinedge go for $287.

Straight razor shaving is awesome, I absolutely love it. I'll start collecting razors to use. I'm going to buy a case right away for my collection.

The case is going to be empty for a long time!

[peg20]

The case is going to be empty for a long time!

We'll see...

[Kees]

@ bmf2001,

Try foreign language ebays. I got a lot of good razors and hones from ebay.de, ebay.fr and tradera.

[bmf2001]

Peg20 - Good call!

I just spent $470 on two razors. Put it on the credit card so now I have 3 in my rotation.

The wife is mad but that's nothing new. I'll be surprised when she isn't mad at me for something!