In efforts to get a straight blade experience I left with disappointment

So... I've become infatuated with straight blades and am wanting to get one. However, I figured an excellent means of seeing how serious I am, was going to a barber shop and experiencing a shave with one -- since I never have.

Well.. A buddy of mine told me about a place locally he goes, and recommended them. So I went in, talked to the people (was more of a barber shop themed salon, to be honest) at the front desk and made it VERY clear I wanted a straight blade shave. She said they start with a mach blade (like, mach3) to get rid of bulk, then clean up with a straight blade... So, I sat and watched everyone getting their shave -- not a single straight blade came out anywhere.

So, it was my turn. I asked again to make sure I wasnt about to shell out some $$ for what I could do. They put on steam, hot towels, oil, cream, and a damn mach3!!!! I was so pissed... I wanted to just walk out. $30 for a freaking shave I could have done at home...

ugh. I am going to my fathers this weekend, and theres a barbershop there (I've been, its the real deal) so I am going to go with my father and try to get a nice shave there, see how it goes.

Talk about a let down :(:td:td:td

Bummer, what a rip!!! I would be mad as well. Welcome, BTW!

Most likely the barber you DO go to won't use a traditional straight razor but will use something similar with replaceable blades (e.g. Shavette). With a skilled hand, you should have a great experience nonetheless.

Keep us posted!

Chris L

Will do! Thank ya :) I look forward to it greatly, and look forward (unfortunately) to my first cuts on my face I give myself, since that ultimately means I'll have purchased my first blade ;D

Shoot, if I made it very clear that I wanted a Straight blade, and they said they would use a Straight blade, and they didn't use a Straight blade....I might Straight up not want to pay for the shave.

I absolutely would have refused to pay for that fraud. If you ordered a steak and got served hamburger, would you pay for the steak? I would try to have their license pulled, but that's because I have a tendency toward being a vindictive ass.

I absolutely would have refused to pay for that shave. Period.
If you asked for a Mercedes and got a Pinto would you have paid?
On the other hand if I asked for a Pinto and got a Mercedes........

I did not know that you could get a Mach3 shave. That's interesting.

$30?!?!?

Maybe Im a cheap bastard....but for $30 I should hope they are throwin in a "happy ending"

Thats what scares me about the idea of going to a barber and asking for a straight razor shave. The last time they saw one was probably in school (if then)

It's much in the way of walking in and asking for a razor haircut versus scissors. They're totally different things and to give one under the pretenses of another is just plain wrong. Of course, it's as many things are these days are ---- cheap, quick, and easy versus quality. I, too, vote there should be a happy ending for a $30 Mach 3 shave (whatever that is.... I could just use my Venus on your face and we could call it a Venus shave!)!

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Originally Posted by Ernie

I did not know that you could get a Mach3 shave. That's interesting.

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:roflmao :roflmao :roflmao

You should probably be thankful he didn't use a straight because if he did he probably would have sliced your face up. There just aren't too many competent barbers who can use a straight any more and of those who can I'd be looking for shaky hands.

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Originally Posted by Viola

I, too, vote there should be a happy ending for a $30 Mach 3 shave (whatever that is.... I could just use my Venus on your face and we could call it a Venus shave!)!

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Gotta love that remark,,,from a newcomer too,,,this will be interesting....Welcome aboard Viola...:nj

Thanks coachmike. Hope I'm not stepping out of bounds here. I'm just pretty frank :o

LOL,,,,,,,,,

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Originally Posted by Ernie

I did not know that you could get a Mach3 shave. That's interesting.

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Same... I had no idea... very strange... thats like ordering food and having it delivered already chewed... ew :gth

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Originally Posted by Viola

Thanks coachmike. Hope I'm not stepping out of bounds here. I'm just pretty frank :o

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Gee, I thought you were Viola ;)

Whoever she is ,I kinda like having her around, seems like good people.:tu BTW, I have never seen a pretty Frank.

I hope they changed Mach 3 blades between customers... I would have been furious, If they stated that they use a straight, and they didn't then you were not given the service you asked or paid for, and I would not have paid.
A Mach 3 could never give you the closeness or comfort that a straight or even a feather could.

Besides which, my old Mach 3 (may it rest in pieces) used to tear my face up, and could never get BBS. That isn't a luxury experience, it's torture. Very poorly done on the part of this "salon"

yea... im thinkin of writing a letter of complaint to them, after i try to find out who the owner is to address it to him.

im pretty sure they change blades, because the lady was complaining about how much they cost (like 1.25 each blade). thats when i said again: uhhhhh well, thats good for you because im going to have a straight blade, right?

lol

god... i hate people sometimes

Maybe it's just me, as I know I'm one cheap so and so, but even for a straight shave doesn't 30 dollars seem like too much? I won't pay more than ten for a hair cut (it takes like, 15 minutes tops, tops to cut my hair) and a shave from a professional can't take much longer than that. I'd go twenty, max, if they were the kind of place to make it a real relaxing affair.

For a mach three shave I might give you a donut and some spit in the eye, but the donut would have to be stale.

I would have refused to pay up until the point where the threatened to phone the cops or something (it's easy for them to say they never claimed it would be a straight razor shave) and then paid, but at least my disgust would have been registered.

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Originally Posted by ctufano

im pretty sure they change blades, because the lady was complaining about how much they cost (like 1.25 each blade).

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$1.25 is cheap!!! I pay at the very least 2.50 a freaking blade for my Mach3, which is one of the many reasons I'm switching to straight.

amen.

unfortunately i dont like to make a scene unless soemthin has been done WAY out of line. i hated when i worked in my dive shop and people would even try to barter, so at flea markets i dont even bother tryin to talk down lol.. i need to get over that and learn to be a grumpy old man i guess

but, if it had been a straight blade the 30 would have been worth it. they did hot towels.... steam... more hot towels.. crappy dispenser "hot foam" blah blah. even give u free beer, except i dont drink.

theres another place in town that actually uses a straight blade i found out. and by in town i mean almost 45 minutes away. and i hear its pricy... but when u go in they cater to u. ask u what kinda music (classical choices) and do all this owkr on u... then they finish ur shave and give u homemade biscotti and a cup of cofee or cappuccino. lol its quite a place i guess

then i went to a barber shop here at my dads lookin for blades, the guy does striagh shaves for i think 25? but he uses the disposable which is fine for sanitation, but... looked like it was a striaght shave and nothin special

live and learn. oh well

I believe it was posted on these boards not too long ago that in many states and provinces it has become illegal to use reusable straight bladed razors in barber shops/salons. Something to do with updated sanitary laws and public health concerns. Unlike scissors, these blades can and often do nick skin and come in direct contact with blood. In order to properly and fully sterilize them regular alcohol won’t do.


Disposable straights are a whole other story, of course.

If you are really keen on getting a straight razor shave by a person who knows what they are doing, check around the Google Map of forum members. Maybe they can direct you, or, if you are lucky, you will find somebody who provides such a service themselves.

As for being utterly ripped off; I would not have sat through the shave. The moment they brought out a M3 I’d have said, “Hold on, that’s not the pony I paid for!” I respect the fact that you were diligent in getting multiple confirmations on what you paid for, but clearly somebody still didn’t get it. I’ve also had to work myself into the mindset of leaving nothing to assumptions when dealing with people I don’t know, and often, even with people I do.

Consider it an expensive lesson learned... and write that letter!

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Originally Posted by Cobo

Maybe it's just me, as I know I'm one cheap so and so, but even for a straight shave doesn't 30 dollars seem like too much? I won't pay more than ten for a hair cut (it takes like, 15 minutes tops, tops to cut my hair) and a shave from a professional can't take much longer than that. I'd go twenty, max, if they were the kind of place to make it a real relaxing affair.

For a mach three shave I might give you a donut and some spit in the eye, but the donut would have to be stale.

I would have refused to pay up until the point where the threatened to phone the cops or something (it's easy for them to say they never claimed it would be a straight razor shave) and then paid, but at least my disgust would have been registered.

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While I generally share this point of view, I've paid more than 30 for a shave before, twice, in fact. One time at a barber in San Diego whose expertise I am to this day still in awe of. I didn't realize it until he was done and my gf (now wife) and I kept touching my face, the shave was so smooth it felt weird. Even my best shaves if I press and go against the grain, I can at least feel where the hair *will* be. Not so with this guy. Turns out he was new in the area, was a master barber who while in Manhattan had even shaved heads of state (which ones, I didn't bother finding out). Worth every cent of the 35 he charged and then some. Shadow didn't develop until late the following day.
Contrast to almost double that price at Truefitt&Hill-which was a good experience, but nowhere near as close, or smooth. Cost my gf 65 bucks as a Xmas present.
Best budget shave I've gotten was at Crown Barber in Coronado. Shave (with hot towels, molle, hot lather, and a shavette) for I think 14 dollars including a haircut.
Anyway I'm rambling. I do believe it is a rip-off to tell someone they will receive a straight shave then lay into their faces with something that can be found in any locker room in the world.

John P.