Thread: The Art of Shaving products

The Sandalwood cream was one of my firsts and is still a favorite of mine.

The real test is easy enough: Get yourself some samples and have at it!

The brushes and razors are over priced but do a good job if you have money to burn.

-Rob

They want to sell good products and TI is reputable. Overall, I think they do Ok with people unaware of SRP. Pricewise, I think the vendors on SRP are savvy and they are fellow straight shavers.

Take your time and read on SRP and SRP classified.

Good Luck,

Pabster

The TI rebadged by AOS is... a TI rebadged by AOS. You pay for the AOS badge. I have the one with wood scales, and it's a mightly fine razor. I view AOS as a brick and mortar store to help you get your foot in the door with a high quality product. Are there better products out there? Yes. Are there worse products? Most definetely. Do you pay more for AOS products? Yes. Does that have something to do with the overhead of brick and mortar stores? Probably.

I still think they make the best cartridge razor handles, and their brushes are very nice. I plan on having mine for some time to come. Their creams are good, but not my style. They also tend to irritate some people. Their soaps are good, but I've come to not like their scents at all. (I used to love the sandalwood, now I can't stand it.) I've tried the pre-shave oil, and it is a good one. I have just come to find that I don't care for pre-shave oils. The balms are good, but they tend to irritate the same people that are irritated by the creams. I don't have this issue, just stating what friends have reported.

All in all, I wouldn't steer anyone away from AOS. I think they are a high quality product, just priced beyond the quality of the product. AOS helped me get started, and I can't complain about that. FWIW, they recently got purchased by Proctor and Gamble.

I think their soaps and creams are about as good as anyone's. Their brushes are good, but I think you can do better for the money if you research a bit on the boards. I don't know what they are charging for their straight razors these days. I'd compare with the online vendors who sell TIs and see how they stack up. Be skeptical of anything their sales staff tells you.

Jordan

I'm very new at this, so my personal opinion is worth little. However, one of our highly regarded, senior SRP members recommended I get the cheaper AOS TI over most other new razors in that price range (ie Dovo) as a potential first razor. It's actually priced well, but I believe it does not come shave ready (so add $15-20). I got something else on ebay instead.

Originally Posted by jeremaw

I'm very new at this, so my personal opinion is worth little. However, one of our highly regarded, senior SRP members recommended I get the cheaper AOS TI over most other new razors in that price range (ie Dovo) as a potential first razor. It's actually priced well, but I believe it does not come shave ready (so add $15-20). I got something else on ebay instead.

Yep, Dovo and TI raised their prices over the past couple of years and I don't think AOS has caught up with the increase yet. So some of them might well be a good deal at the moment.

Jordan

Originally Posted by jnich67

Be skeptical of anything their sales staff tells you.

It has been my experience that this is the absolute weak point in their entire business. I have been argued with, spoken down to, and downright given BAD information (I know, I know, it's all what works for you, there is not one single "Right" answer...but there ARE a ton of flat out wrong ones.) and generally not had a good time in their stores more than once. I have, I must admit, also had wonderful experiences there (great chat and shave in NYC in late 2001).

As to the products, as has been said above, I've had great luck with their soaps and creams, though I do beleive there are better, both for the money, and if cost is no object. The razor is a fine TI...with the "extra" AOS badge...it's just a slightly overpriced TI. It will serve you quite well if you do your part.

Here is on of Mantic'59's videos. He has some awesome videos on traditional shaving.

YouTube - Dealing With Ingrown Hairs