Newbie needs assistance with TI vendor correspondence and decision

This week I purchased what I thought would be my second straight razor, but I am uncertain at this point. This is the email reply that I received from the vendor:

“Thank you very much for your purchase. We have 2 units of the razors you ordered in stock. Both, while very nice, have very small imperfections. The blade aligns with the scale; however, not perfectly in the middle up to a fraction of a millimetre. Also, the ground, while excellent is not perfectly even on each side of the blade. Please let us know if you would like to ship you one of these razors or if you would like to cancel the order.”

I let him know that I appreciated his honesty and attention to detail and inquired about the same style of razor with the black horn scales instead of the ebony, which I had initially ordered. This is his reply:

“We can provide a discount for the razor with horn scales. However, we won't be able to open and check the available razors. Many of our customers purchase these items with the expectation of them being un-opened, the same condition they leave the factory and we cannot afford to open more items.

All TI razors will have a slight defect, one way or the other; it's the nature of the product.

If you would like to take the chance at a horn scaled razor, we can offer a discount. However, the normal return terms and conditions will apply in this case:
Also, please keep in mind that horn is much softer material and misalignments are more common with these type of scales, as compared with wood scales.”

My questions are:

Is it true that “All TI razors will have a slight defect, one way or the other; it's the nature of the product.”?

If that is the case, should I stick with the ebony scaled razor, which I prefer?

Do vendors that specialize in these products typically check alignment, etc. or does the purchaser typically “take the chance” as suggested here?

Would someone that is familiar with TI and has experience with purchasing them pass on this or follow through with the order?*

Thank you for your help.

No mass produced razor will be perfect. Some things will be off at least a tad. This would bother some but not bother others. Its the custom razors where the makers really take the time to obtain perfection.

Having said this TI has a reputation for fantastic blades but QC can be a real issue. They have improved over the last few years however I have several TIs and some are really great and some have been embarrassing in the issues they have. To me a slight misalignment in the scales is no issue as long as it is really slight and a not perfectly straight bevel is no issue to me as long as it a purely cosmetic thing and is really slight. For a discount it might be a real bargain.

It's up to you and your standards.

like spendur said, no mass produced item will be perfect every single time. However, it doesn't sound like they hone the razors themselves if they don't open any to check them, unless they do it only after one is paid for. I say go for it, and if they are mis-ground that it's going to cause a problem w/ honing later, send it back. If the blade doesn't sit perfect in the scales, you can always adjust that yourself so no biggie there, you'll have to at some point anyway.

I wonder why they have two razors of the same type in open boxes but will not open any others? You would think they would have none in open boxes if their customers wanted sealed boxes. Just saying. I would generally agree that most mass produced items are not 100% perfect and most will have minor flaws.

Bob

What is TI?

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Originally Posted by ccase39

What is TI?

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Thiers Issard - a French razor maker

I've got quite a few of them. I have a 7/8 with horn scales that had a normal and correct bevel on one side and a double bevel on the other. A lot of elbow grease to correct that but it is a great shaver and a favorite. Another was one of the 'historic series' Rasapur was carrying a few years ago, with a worked spine and horn scales. Perfect except the scales are shorter on the pile side by an 1/8". Not misaligned at the pin, just shorter. Also a good shaver. I've learned to live with these imperfections as the performance of the razor makes up for it.

I bought a NOS Spartacus Dreadnought with bone scales. The scales are warped at the very bottom of the wedge so that you can see light between them. I tried to tighten them and cracked them at the wedge on one side. A stable crack but a crack nonetheless and due to their lack of QC as much as to my heavy handedness. I have other TIs that have no issues. As the French say ...... "C'est la vie." :D

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Originally Posted by BobH

I wonder why they have two razors of the same type in open boxes but will not open any others? You would think they would have none in open boxes if their customers wanted sealed boxes. Just saying. I would generally agree that most mass produced items are not 100% perfect and most will have minor flaws.

Bob

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Right on Bob, I would rather buy from vendors that do their "own" QC before selling me something; versus playing phone and mail tag to straighten a problem out after the fact.

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Originally Posted by tiddle

Right on Bob, I would rather buy from vendors that do their "own" QC before selling me something; versus playing phone and mail tag to straighten a problem out after the fact.

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Yea, there is that too for sure too. I would be wondering if the open stock razors were customer returns because of the slight flaws indicated.

Bob

Off hand I can't think of any vendors who personally examine every item they sell before they are shipped out. Most simply wouldn't have the time to do that. Unless it's a razor and you are specifically getting it honed by the vendor. In that case it should be examined but I'm not sure it really is.

Maybe some of our vendors will speak up as to their policy.