Thread: My opinion of Cartridge shaving

Originally Posted by nickedNsliced

they're just like everything else. here's a question for you. have you ever counted the number of items in a grocery store that are labeled "new and improved", "reformulated", and "contains 10% more ingredient x"?

the object of marketing is to make a luxery a necessity and some people will fall for it every time.

Yes, I agree. They are artificial needs.
The "new and improved with 10% more..." is marketing in it's purest and cruellest form. I really doubt that the men in white coats - presuming that they exist... - working for, say, Gilette look at their creations and think "yes, this will trully be an improvement in shaving". That sort of thing only comes out of the the mouths of men in sheds doing something out of passion. The white coats simply do what they are told. Imagine: "ok, guys! Wilkinson has released a new 4 bladed cartridge and that means that we will loose buyers and, thus, lose profits. Get something together that is brash and orange and blue, give it a 2001 space odissey name and start selling". And they add another blade, and another in the back for precision and the rest is... well... junk! There is no real craftsmanship in a mass produced item. And buyers, who are very susceptible to advertising because we live in a consumerist world of savage capitalism, will buy anything...
Yes, straight shaving is not for everyone. But I too look at the guy in the supermarket buying canned-goo and cartridges and I feel sorry for him... I have no doubt in my mind that for him, shaving is a chore to do in the morning, not a pleasure to indulge in every day.
But how many people you know are willing to hear you explain why one blade is better than two and why shaving cream and soap is better than a chemistry lesson in a can?... What we do is old fashioned. If you are "into techy" stuff and believe that progress is... well... made out of plastic in China and vibrates and has little lights and beeps, then wet shaving is not for you. Let alone with a straight... Now, if you're the sort of guy that has a bit of nostalgia for the time when things were made to last and purpose built to be good - not cheap: good! -, well, this sort of thing may appeal to you.
"Snap out of it, Zombie-man!" And how many are willing to snap out of it?...
And here we are, gathered together and indulging in creams, soaps and exquisite blades.