I just got my new razor :(

wish I could put a happy face there but I can't even try and use it yet because when I opened my razor it was actually broken.. I didn't even knew it was possible to sort of have the blade ripped, I figured steel to be stronger than that.


I don't have a camera here yet but I'm going to my mother tomorrow to see if she still has her digital one but the damage is like this

------~~~---------------

with ~~~ being a sort of strip of metal going towards the side with a serrated tear seperating it from the rest of the metal (does that make sense for you?) How is this sort of damage caused in the first place? The razor was in closed state and packaged in 2 envelopes when I got it, is that not enough maybe?

Can this be fixed? What should be done with it?

Harold, who did you buy it from, and how much did you pay for it?

I aks these questions because if you bought it from a store or vendor most likely they will replace it. If you bought it from Ebay chances are the repair would cost more than the razor itself. If the latter is the case (and I suspect it is), I would recommend that:

1. You contact the vendor and see if he/she will make things right
2. you look through the buy/sell/trade forum or vendors forum and find one of our members who is selling a good razor at a great price.

If you need help finding a new razor PM me with what you are looking for and your price range, and I will find one of our vendors who has something to fit the bill.

Sorry for your loss :(

I bought it from mr john crowley(99.95$ razor + honing), I already contacted him and I'm sure we can sort it out amicably, I'm just very disappointed because it's such a thing of beauty: a 4/8 french point revisor razor.

I guess it needs a better mode of transportation because of the careless mailservices. :|

Harold,

I can tell you I know John personally, and he will make things right. I have ordered quite a few razors and I have never had anything like this happen, (I have even had some shipped from him accross the world). But don't you worry one bit, John will make sure he makes things right. ;)

I'm not worried, just disappointed for both me and him, at its largest the tear is 2-3 mm 'high' and about 2-2.5 cm long and that does seem quite large into the flimsier part of the razor for me. I just hope it can be repaired.

These things are quite a thing of beauty, it's very sad to see one damaged.

Harold, sorry to hear about your razor.
This type of damage does not seem possible with the way it was packaged.
And since John honed the razor he would've noticed the damage.

Is it possible somebody opened it (post office, customs, etc) and played around with the razor before you got it?

Redwoood

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Redwoood

Harold, sorry to hear about your razor.
This type of damage does not seem possible with the way it was packaged.
And since John honed the razor he would've noticed the damage.

Is it possible somebody opened it (post office, customs, etc) and played around with the razor before you got it?

Redwoood

---

That's what I'm thinking - e.g. customs inspection dropped it or used it to sharpen a pencil or something!

This is so bad!

Ivo

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Redwoood

Is it possible somebody opened it (post office, customs, etc) and played around with the razor before you got it?

Redwoood

---

That was my thought also. Maybe he got cut, and had a revenge on the razor...

I guess :/ it does pass customs and I did have to pay extra before I got the package. it's hard to tell wether it was opened already since it has clear duct-tape over it. AFAIK the second envelope doesn't seem like it was pre-opened (I open my envelopes from the top with the tip of a sharp knife) but the envelope did have a 'dent' in it.

well I inspected the razor again and it does have sort of black specs on top of the blade (on the round side) like flaked off paint and finger prints on it (and I don't think I ever took it by anything other than the handle, maybe touched the round top but certainly not the blade, only took it out of the packaging twice now, a print is right next to/top off that tear and I didn't get near that, that's way too near to the blade for my comfort)

In any case I'll try to post pictures tomorrow. I certainly hope this is not usual at customs to take your stuff and abuse it. :(

Now you can catch the criminal! Take a high res pic of the print and then this can be used to find who did it!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by harold

well I inspected the razor again and it does have sort of black specs on top of the blade (on the round side) like flaked off paint and finger prints on it (and I don't think I ever took it by anything other than the handle, maybe touched the round top but certainly not the blade, only took it out of the packaging twice now, a print is right next to/top off that tear and I didn't get near that, that's way too near to the blade for my comfort)

In any case I'll try to post pictures tomorrow. I certainly hope this is not usual at customs to take your stuff and abuse it. :(

---

I wish :)

but given that our local .gov can't even keep tabs on a caught terrorist (erdahl) I doubt they'll be capable and willing to go after that. In any case I want my enthusiasm back. I was looking forward to try and shave with a straight and now that's ruined.

I kind of wonder wether there is a place where I can complain though. The different postal services will probably just keep pointing the finger to each other.

well, I tried (even had to install a windows 98 in a vmware to get to the pictures because this camera is not supported under linux) but I fail at it. I guess the stupid cam sucks too much (it's a cheap one anyway: trust familycam 500, says it has 3.3 megapixels but it seems to be insufficient) no matter what I try I can never take a picture sharp enough so that it actually shows the fracture. I'll try if I can find someone with a better cam though. :rant:

But isn't Linux supposed to support it as a USB drive? Worst case scenario, try running an update with the camera plugged in and turned on.

it's messily supported via the spca5xx driver (not as usb drive though, that would've been nice) but I have gotten the pictures off it (via the windows install, oh the shame) and it's too blurry up close to a razor like that, you can't discern anything and from further away the fracture doesn't show because it's small of course. :|

I've never been one for taking pictures so I never bothered to buy a camera myself and my mother's new good one is an older analog one (she didn't like the digital experiment). Quite annoying.

Which distro are you using?

ubuntu. why? :)

Ahh it's Debian-based, so there should be plenty of support for it. I'm surprised the USB driver isn't doing the trick.

Time for pictures! I finally bought myself a digital camera. It's a big zip file so I uploaded it on one of those storage sites.

it seems there where problems with the rapidshare link so I've uploaded it to a new location which allows you to download directly. :)

Man, that is wicked... I hope that all gets sorted out

I'm still mulling this over! I really don't understand how a razor I honed and wrapped in a plastic sandwich bag, placed inside a bubble wrap envelope and then into a small tag board Global Priority envelope I reinforced with heavy packaging tape; could have the edge damaged inside the scales? I am also trying to understand how I am to blame and therefore financially responsible.

Since insurance isn't available on Global Priority letter post I will no longer be able to ship a razor like this to anyone else - at least to people who don't specifically absolve me of responsibility prior to shipment. Just to make this clear; Parcel Post air with insurance on this item going to Belgium would have cost $22.80.

I pride myself on good customer service but, is absorbing all risk involved with international shipping - done to help my customers with cost - my risk? If this was a situation where we jointly assumed risk - since this method of shipment is normally very workable and razor edges don't normally get damaged while inside the scales - we could work something out. Will I assume all risk – no!

Additionally, not the least of my problems with this is, I would have been much more inclined to work something out to make him happier than he probably will be had he not made sure in an email that I knew he is a member of this forum - then started this thread to apply pressure. That insults me and causes me to doubt his integrity. Other than to tell him I could not open the first picture he sent I haven’t even discussed this with him yet.

I'm not getting into the argument of who's right or wrong here, but IMO I would always contact a seller first and try and work things out before going public. I have no idea what discussions have gone on behind the scenes in this case.

But, I was curious to see this blade damage so I've re-sized and hosted the clearest 2 photos of the damage. I've never seen anything like this before, it almost looks like a defect in the metal has caused the edge to peel away. If it was done by an impact or by sharpening a pencil (for example), I'm sure the sliver would be more bent back than it is. It just looks like it's cracked and peeled away - rather than happened from external physical influence.

Any ideas?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/Iwan_P1/rip2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/Iwan_P1/rip1.jpg

I didn't post this to put pressure, I don't see how this would've caused pressure at all.
This is how I got the razor when I opened the package, I did sent an e-mail before posting this thread, but I don't see how being dissappointed you got a damaged razor is in any way pressuring. In no way have I ever pointed the finger towards you Mr. Crowley. In fact this response sort of surprises me. :-/

I always pay for insured shipping but afaik no such option is given on your site? As for what kind of discussion had been going on: none, I've sent an e-mail which got no reply until I was able to come up with pictures (which granted took longer then I hoped) which is prefectly understandable since it's hard to talk about anything of this nature without pictures.

I find your questioning my integrity very insulting, though somewhat understandable given the nature of the damage, I myself do not understand either how I can open 2 envelopes and open up a razor to this kind of damage but that's how it happened.

excerpt from my e-mail, only location that mentions SRP in any form.

Quote:

---

I'm sorry for the delay but it took me some time messing with an old
digital camera (which turned out to be broken s hell) and now buying a
new one to take these pictures. (no doubt you read about it on SRP)

---

I referred to the SRP thread to explain why it took so long for me to come up with pictures (because I sent my first e-mail on the 29th of september), not for any other reason, I don't see why my recent membership on this forum would entitle me any special treatment.

I find it too bad that you didn't quote the $22 price to me since I would've paid it any way, I have to pay customs on it, so that doesn't make a difference and sending a $100 item through regular mail without insurance does seem somewhat risky(at least it does to me, I don't put much faith in postal services, DHL or UPS and the likes).

Anyway, it's unfortunate that this seems to have sparked animosity, it was not my intent is all I can say.

this is the only sign of any damage to the envelopes, since I spoke of that as well(I added the circkels to make the location clear). (this is the inner envelope) The outer envelope was covered with clear tape and I have no idea wether the inner one has been re-sealed (I open envelopes from the side with a knife, so to me it looks like it was sealed as buy the sender)

And this razor was not in a plastic bag, it got to me in a brown duck envelope (inner envelope) which itself was in a priority mail envelope (outer envelope) <-- which for me seems to re&#239;nforce the earlier suggestion that it has been opened (and played with) at customs.

Anyway, what I really want to know is this: can this razor be salvaged? Is there someone who can maybe slice a bit of the bottom to make it usable?

THAT is a crazy rip! The only way I could figure that sort of damage being able to happen, and the scales are not damaged, is if the blade was open. But as to 'how', I have NO idea (not that anyone was asking me). I never thought that metal would show that sort or 'rip', versus a crack or chip in which it's a smooth line. Being a 4/8 edge, and who knows if the crack/rip continues toward the spine, I don't think there is much help for this razor.....

Bizzare. Very Bizzare.

It almost does not look real!

C utz

Is there an alternative to razor coffins that can be bought these days? They protect the razor from damage and prevent it from opening. Therefore, even if some idiot customs inspector would neglect re-wrapping the razor, he would put it back in the box. However that wouldn't stop him from closing it like a buck-knife. I've seen a knucklehead buddy slam my Satinedge shut. Ofcourse he won't be allowed to come within 10ft of my rotation.

I agree with Chris - there is no way this razor is salvagible. I have sent an email to my source for the old Schmidt Revisors and asked if any more of these are available. I only had two to begin with and this was the last one.

Like I said on my post last night I am still mulling this over. What I have come up with as a possability that I think is fair is to offer him a 50% discount on any of the 5/8 razors I have and I will once again put a good edge on it. That helps him and it takes the sting out of a loss I don't consider my fault. Shipping and insurance will be $22.80!

:shrug:The only way I can conceive of a break of this type is if the package was bent around a large diameter object in precisely the correct orientation to flex the blade until it splintered. Maybe triggered by an impact blow after the bending stress was applied? It's certainly hard to imagine this happening w/o visible markings on the package or cracks in the scales, etc. ... maybe the plane hit turbulence at 40k-feet when the cargo bay was at sub-zero temperatures.... maybe all complicated by residual internal stresses from the razor's original heat treating process... maybe... ? :thinking:

Given your previous concession towards shipping as well as the fact that no blame can be placed, I'd find that a very courteous, agreeable and generous offer for which I thank you.

If this razor can be fixed somehow I'd prefer that, since it would by far be the cheapest solution. It's certain that a part can't be taken off? I just measured the 'tear' and at its highest point it's ~2mm(0.0788 inch).

I don't know if you can see it clearly on the photo but the tear goes upwards to that point and therefrom goes downwards again, so it could be seperated from the razor and then be made 2 mm smaller over the whole line?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Is there an alternative to razor coffins that can be bought these days? They protect the razor from damage and prevent it from opening. Therefore, even if some idiot customs inspector would neglect re-wrapping the razor, he would put it back in the box. However that wouldn't stop him from closing it like a buck-knife. I've seen a knucklehead buddy slam my Satinedge shut. Ofcourse he won't be allowed to come within 10ft of my rotation.

---

If I may offer a suggestion. I was thinking about the exact same thing yesterday(well, not those coffins because I don't even know what those are :s) and this is what I thought off. I went to the store and bought a steradent tube (something for cleaning false teeth), cleaned and dried that. I got chirugical cotton swabs (just large cotton swabs), you roll those out for the length of the razor and cut it (first put some cotton on the bottom of the tube) in the right size, then reduce its thickness to about 1/3 of the original size so it pads but doesn't press the razor together.

Next you can first wrap the razor in plastic so it doesn't get 'contamined' by the cotton fibers and it'll stay together, then roll it in the cotton. Finally slide it in the tube and you'll have a nice padded sealed hard package. put the 'lever'(?) on top so you can pull it out gently by that when opening.

As for closing it: I'd close the top extra with something specific like stamps or a sticker, something they don't readily have a customs or anywhere else, that way it'll be clear when someone has tampered with it. I think this whole setup would cost you about $2/razor.

Well, that's my €0.02

But it's fairly labor intensive so it would add more than $2 to the final price. More like the $5-10 range.