Thread: Too Good to be true

Hi Gents what do you think of this, the word soligen and the price, made me think this is too good to be true.

Elegant Solingen Cut Throat Straight Razor Shaver - NEW | eBay

Anyone heard of these or tried one before.

Interested in your thoughts
Cheers

Look at the sellers feedback.

If something seems too good to be true, it usually IS. I wouldn't touch a seller that responded to customers like that with a barge pole!

Originally Posted by MickRussell

If something seems too good to be true, it usually IS. I wouldn't touch a seller that responded to customers like that with a barge pole!

That sums its up for me - regardless of whether or not the item in this case is what he says, which seems doubtful at best, I wouldn't deal with someone that rude!

Ok I hear what your all saying about the seller, but I have seen these on Amazon for roughly the same price from a different sellers.

There are no product reviews on Amazon, so im not sure what they are like.I know there is one guy on ebay saying it does'nt shave but its not uncommon for new razors not to be shave ready that require honing.

I suppose my main question is have any of you heard of them and what are they like?

Yes, it sounds like customers were placed on earth because he is entitled to an income. Some of his feedback refers to scissors not being German, and his spirited response said they were made by Elegant in Germany. Another says a razor wasn't made in Germany or by Dovo - the latter not being mentioned in the auction, but perhaps it has been sanitised.

I believe I've heard of parts from Pakistan (I think) being assembled in Germany, which gives an approximate right to be called made in Germany. Another has a curious shoulder shape which is strongly reminiscent of the much-maligned Chinese Gold Dollar. I bought a couple of the latter, mainly to find out whether important straight razors would get through the Saudi Arabian customs, which they did - and I found those examples not at all bad, and well worth $7 or so. But I wasn't paying eight times as much because they were made in Germany.

There doesn't appear to be a tang stamp, which leads me to believe these things aren't actually made in Germany. Maybe assembled there, maybe the steel was purchased there, but most likely not actually made there.
Generally speaking, avoid stuff w/o a tang stamp (unless its a custom, etc.). If the price is what is appealing, holli4pirating has a few vintage, shave ready pieces up right now that are not much more, plus you know it's good steel. And sharp.

Originally Posted by mowfow71

Ok I hear what your all saying about the seller, but I have seen these on Amazon for roughly the same price from a different sellers.

There are no product reviews on Amazon, so im not sure what they are like.I know there is one guy on ebay saying it does'nt shave but its not uncommon for new razors not to be shave ready that require honing.

I suppose my main question is have any of you heard of them and what are they like?

I currently have a similar ebay purchase on it's way to me that 'claims' to be German steel (same 'brand' as this but not this item:Straight Shave Razor Wooden Handle Sealed Packing new | eBay UK)
I plan to use this as a learning razor, to teach myself first stropping properly and eventually honing.
I can hope that it is reasonable steel, but I don't hold out great hope. I won't be disappointed if it's a bit, how shall I put this, lacking, on the quality side

I believe I've heard of parts from Pakistan (I think) being assembled in Germany

This is mentioned in the wiki somewhere I believe

There is no such thing as cheap quality.
You may be able to find very good cheap deals in local antique stores etc, but not on e-bay.
A quality new straight will cost some money and there is no way around it.
If you check the classifieds you will find many nice vintage razors at very affordable prices.

Keep in mind different countries have wildly varying laws concerning what determines calling a product made in... In some cases you can take a product and manufacture it totally abroad, import it, warehouse it, and perform some perfunctory operation on it and you can call it made in... You have to check to know. As far as buying goes the watchphrase is "Buy the seller then the product".