Thread: NOS Premium vs Value

I've gotten a couple of razors off Ebay (Pritzlaff Cactus 5/8, Griffon 60 Carbo-Magnetic 5/8, etc) that are euphemistically referred to as good shavers. Not collectors items but any means but after a good honing (thank you Lynn) are good working shavers which is fine by me. Plus a new Dovo 5/8 and others.

As I get a little deeper in the the hobby (well, a lot deeper) I want to expand my rotation. As I look at the SRP classified ads and Ebay, I'll spot razors listed as NOS and depending on the manufacturers reputation, they will be at a premium. There's a WB Bow on auction now, for example, that's listed as NOS. Way out of my price range so I'm just watching this one.

NOS! WADE & BUTCHER BOW STRAIGHT RAZOR ( FACTORY GRIND, ORIGINAL SCALES, COFFIN) | eBay

My question is this. How does one determine whether the premium one pays for NOS is worth the value? I'm looking at them as tools that will last decades and it's been my painful experience that a used tool generally won't last as long as a new tool with a solid reputation. What I don't know is if NOS should be considered a new tool or a collectors item.

Certainly how the razor shaves is the key determinant but at what point does a razor pass from a being a tool to being, as in old cars, a garage queen and purchsed for that reason?

This may be way overthinking this but I would like to get some opinions from more experienced members about razor values.

The value is entirely up to you. They are tools and are meant to be used

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-too-late.html

or they are rare, unique, and will appreciate in value so you want to invest
with an expectation of future value so stop thinking of them as tools.

It seems you want to shave with them. Buy what fits your wallet and enjoy.
Trying to anticipate which razors will attract enough attention to be collectable
is frustrating at best and likely not the best investment.

Here's my opinion and I don't know if it will help at all. There are 200 year old razors that have been well used and nameless that still shave great and will probably continue to do so for at least 200 more years. Quality is quality, no matter how old, how used or what name is on it.

Also realize that N.O.S. in no way means Mint.

A part of the problem with our beloved straight razors and locating and purchasing same is, imho, is no specific
definition of "NOS" and lacking that allows way to much leeway in condition. And of course unsrupulous sellers will take advantage of the use of NOS for their own ends.
I have to think a lot of us have our own interpretation of what NOS should mean but we may not all agree on what that is.
I would love to see/find and have the razor community agree on the terminology by definition which would enable us to
readily point out misrepresentations of the definition when we encounter them.
Of course I day dream alot as well.

I've made more than a few razor purchases on EBay and I have as yet to buy a NOS straight razor. I agree with you, typically they come at a high premium and I am not willing to buy something on EBay that I can't turn for a slight profit. In other words, I don't want to buy something above market value which is somewhat recognizable. If you look at the date the item was put up on EBay originally, then if it has been relisted several times, that is a good indication that what is being charged for the item is more than the market will bear. For example, I have seen a couple NOS TIs on EBay that have been listed over and over again since around December of last year. Such can be a decent indicator that the prices being asked are just too high for the products.

I don't take "NOS" to be a new tool unless I can verify that it really is "new old stock." I had an EBayer reveal to me, after several rounds of questions about his so-called "NOS" razors, that his "new" razors were in his daily shaving rotation. Sorry, but that means the razors are now USED and are not new. Again, unless you can verify with the seller that the item being sold really is new, then I wouldn't put any stock into the item being NOS and would treat it as used in whatever condition it appears to be... even if in mint condition. Another thought is that NOS items can be both collectors items and a "new tool." Once you start shaving with it, though, it is no longer "new old stock." But, that doesn't mean it won't increase in value over time. Just look at the W&B 8/8 razors! WOW! Those razors get amazingly pricey and if I were to buy one, I wouldn't worry too much about being able to turn it over and make a little money or at least get all my money back from one. They seem to be holding value pretty well. But, still, there is risk there, since the market might go a different direction and the prices could fall down.

— Jim

Originally Posted by DGilloon

I've gotten a couple of razors off Ebay (Pritzlaff Cactus 5/8, Griffon 60 Carbo-Magnetic 5/8, etc) that are euphemistically referred to as good shavers. Not collectors items but any means but after a good honing (thank you Lynn) are good working shavers which is fine by me. Plus a new Dovo 5/8 and others.

As I get a little deeper in the the hobby (well, a lot deeper) I want to expand my rotation. As I look at the SRP classified ads and Ebay, I'll spot razors listed as NOS and depending on the manufacturers reputation, they will be at a premium. There's a WB Bow on auction now, for example, that's listed as NOS. Way out of my price range so I'm just watching this one.

NOS! WADE & BUTCHER BOW STRAIGHT RAZOR ( FACTORY GRIND, ORIGINAL SCALES, COFFIN) | eBay

My question is this. How does one determine whether the premium one pays for NOS is worth the value? I'm looking at them as tools that will last decades and it's been my painful experience that a used tool generally won't last as long as a new tool with a solid reputation. What I don't know is if NOS should be considered a new tool or a collectors item.

Certainly how the razor shaves is the key determinant but at what point does a razor pass from a being a tool to being, as in old cars, a garage queen and purchsed for that reason?

This may be way overthinking this but I would like to get some opinions from more experienced members about razor values.

NOS has absolutely nothing to do with 'value' as a shaver. After all, a razor shaves just as well if it has been used before.
It is mostly a factor regarding collectibility. And as someone already mentioned: NOS does not mean mint.
It just means it hasn't been used before and (usually) comes in original packaging.

Originally Posted by DGilloon

My question is this. How does one determine whether the premium one pays for NOS is worth the value?

It's very simple - your money, your call. If you don't know what something is worth to you you're gambling so the value is in the enjoyment you derive from this kind of entertainment.

As others have mentioned, it's very much a personal issue. For me, most times it's not. That being said, maybe I'm missing out because I don't have a Filharmonica or a new/old razor over 8/8, but that's the thing, I don't know. I'd rather spend the money on a Hart or a lower priced custom than what I've seen some of these 'NOS' razors going for. I'd rather save the money and spend it on a truely shave ready razor to use than have a 'trailer Queen or Garage Queen' that is just there to show.

Did anyone check out the linked razor?
There is no way that thing is NOS, same goes with all the sellers other listed razors IMO.