Thread: Razor Giveaway Ideas

Hey all,

So I have a few razors now, but realized that I really don't use them all. I have a dovo best quality 5/8" that was my first razor and it's shave-ready. I can't post pictures of it now, since I'm away for the weekend, but I will ASAP. I don't use or need it anymore, so I decided that somebody else would appreciate it more than me.

So I would like to give it away to a newbie who's just starting out and could use a decent razor to start out with, or perhaps as a backup razor. I just want to help someone out, and as a way of giving back to this community.

Does anybody have any ideas of how I could pick whom to give it away to? I was just thinking of having newbies post briefly why they could use a nice razor to help them with inital setup, then do a simple random draw of all the entries.

But I'm open to any and all suggestions.

P.s. I will pay for shipping to wherever it goes.

Edit: To the mods: if this thread would be more appropriately placed in another forum, feel free to move it.

Great gesture. I think you need to set the criteria that qualifies the entrants first. Post count, or membership join date maybe.
You could ask them why they would like it & choose the most deserving, maybe even having a judging panel! It's probably easier to do it like the monthly give aways though, & pick a post number in the thread.

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

Does anybody have any ideas of how I could pick whom to give it away to? I was just thinking of having newbies post briefly why they could use a nice razor to help them with inital setup, then do a simple random draw of all the entries.

I think usually people just do the equivalent of the monthly SRP giveaway and just require some sort of "sign me up please." For a newbie giveaway there is also a post count cut-off or joining date cut-off.

I like your idea requiring a mini essay to justify their need. If you're going to do that, you could just as well base the selection solely on who gives the best sob story!

I think a young fellow who is in school and having a rough time making ends meet and can't afford to buy a decent razor would be my idea of a good candidate......or an old fellow. We don't want to discriminate. Nice of you to do it BTW.

I wish I could remember the name of the guy but I'm sure there's a guy on here who's not 'new' but has been trying to scrape together the cash for a little while - someone like that would be ideal I think.

It's a really nice gesture anyway, and maybe one day they will pass on one of their razors, or even the same one.

I got started on straights with a PIFed dovo best, and I PIFed it to someone else to get them started, so this is a great thing you are doing and it's very rewarding.

I would (as others have said) just start a thread asking people to sign up, but requiring that they not have a straight razor (ie this has to be a first for someone). And set say 2-4 weeks before you randomly pick a winner.

Dang, you are an extremely generous group here. I have been considering getting into shaving with a straight for a couple of months now, but just can't seem to find the funds to get started. I just purchased a Genco Henry X from someone on ebayfor a whopping $11.50. It was pretty pitted when I got it, but I have started trying to clean it up. I still have a lot of work before it will be any where near shave ready, and could really use something to shave with until I get it done.

When you do decide how you would like to give this razor away, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to be placed in the running.

Just in case you are wondering, I have the rust gone, and the whole blade has been polished with a dremel. Not perfect, but a whole lot better than when I got it. I kinda cracked the scales trying to remove blade out so I could properly clean the tang. I fugured that I might as well have some fun while I was fixing things, so I bought some purple heartwood and plan to make a valiant effort at making scales for my razor while I have it apart.

Hal

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

Does anybody have any ideas of how I could pick whom to give it away to? I was just thinking of having newbies post briefly why they could use a nice razor to help them with inital setup, then do a simple random draw of all the entries.

I'm in a similar situation.

I received a PIF'ed Dovo Renaissance when I got started, and was grateful for the opprotunity to use such a nice razor. I've now managed to acquire a few other razors and it's time to keep this one moving, as it was a PIF to the previous owner. I don't want to hang on to it any longer and risk getting a case of bad shave/razor karma.

The two things slowing me down are (1) finding a way to determine the next person to get it and (2) getting the razor re-honed. The edge is close but not quite *there* yet, and I want to be sure to have it in shave-ready condtion when it's passed on. I've been slowly working on it with lapping films in the hope of getting it ready, but I am NOT a honemeister by any stratch of the imagination. I just haven't gotten the hang of working with stainless yet.

Would it be best to offer it up as one of the prizes for a future monthly drawing, with a caveat that it need to be honed? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

- Mark (S-4-C)

Just from reading the posts above, I like the idea of giving it to someone who doesn't have a razor yet but might need some help in getting one. Someone who's still in school or just having trouble getting the money for a decent razor would be an excellent candidate in my books, and is exactly the kind of person I would like to help out.

I think having people post why they could use a new razor would be an excellent condition for submission. I'm still undecided if I will choose the winner amongst the candidates by a random draw or by judging.

I assure you that the razor is shave-ready, but this is obviously subjective since I have only tested it on my face. I will offer mailing it to a honemeister of the winner's choice with no extra charge if they wish.

I will leave the contest open for several days to give people the oppourtunity to enter. Does that seem fair?

Btw, I'm not used to organizing things like this, hence why I'm open to suggestions.

Originally Posted by joker75

I have been considering getting into shaving with a straight for a couple of months now, but just can't seem to find the funds to get started.

You sound like a perfect candidate.