Thread: Looking for a 2 band...is this reasonable?

Originally Posted by rexcarolus

Thanks for the replies everybody. My plan at this point is to see if the retailer can be of a bit more help. Since they picture the 2 band brush on their website, they should understand if a customer wants the item of the same basic kind "as pictured."

Is this reasonable: I'll place the order and drop them a note to cancel it if they don't have the 2 band? It's not about cherrypicking an individual brush--it's about delivering the same basic kind of brush as they show. What do you think?

Candidly it doesn't sound like a transaction I would do as you describe it. I know there are many reputable vendors who are able to answer whether their inventory is as depicted, or even where their inventory stands. It would make more sense to order it and return if not as described rather than rely on their judgement if they can't even answer whether they have an advertised product or not.

I appreciate wanting a good deal. Believe me I get that, but when it comes to seeking this particular item with this particular hair type, it may be safest to pay full retail from Simpsons.

The is a lot of confusion with the banding on brushes. Several years ago a two band brush was a sub type of a super badger and was a type of hair rarely seen and very expensive. You could only buy one from Simpson, Plisson and Rooney as I recall. Then the stuff became universally unavailable and all of a sudden everyone is selling two band. The "new" two band bears no resemblance to the old. From what I read the old two band became unavailable because of Global Warming and the particular animals stopped producing that hair. What replaced it was inferior stuff.

Then the game changed when Simpson started selling the Manchurian and Thater started selling their own two band. Neither of these two brushes have the same characteristics as the old two however they come the closest as any I've seen and are quite nice. Once you hold an old two bander you will never mistake one for anything else ever again. It's like holding Ivory and comparing it to plastic or bone any other substance.

So, before you get all excited over two band you need to be sure on what the brand you are interested in really is. Some outfits trim three band and you have instant two band. It's almost become a two band game in the market.

I'm pretty much set on Simpsons. The "good deal" aspect is compelling: from my understanding, the 2 band brush ordered "custom" is about 50% more expensive than what I see from this retailer.

If I understand thebigspendur correctly, Simpsons current 2 band super is different from that available recently (pre-Vulfix)? Is the current Manchurian equivalent to the pre-Vulfix 2 band?

Correct. The new 2 band is nothing like the old 2 band. The Manchurian is closer but is still quite different.

Originally Posted by rexcarolus

Thanks for the replies everybody. My plan at this point is to see if the retailer can be of a bit more help. Since they picture the 2 band brush on their website, they should understand if a customer wants the item of the same basic kind "as pictured."

Is this reasonable: I'll place the order and drop them a note to cancel it if they don't have the 2 band? It's not about cherrypicking an individual brush--it's about delivering the same basic kind of brush as they show. What do you think?

It seems rather absurd to me. Why would you need to place an order and then have them cancel it?
Just tell them to check if they have a 2 band, and then either you order or not.
You placing an order does not give them any information they don't already have.

Well, Bruno, they basically refused to check and said that 2 and 3 band are the same....If there is any good outcome, I'll be sure to report back.

You can't always get what you want from a retailer. They've already told you they aren't going to sort the brushes. I'd believe them. My guess is they don't know if they have two bands and it would be a ton of work to find out.

I got my simpson emperor 2 in two band 1.5 years ago from the superior shave. It's a little scratchy and firm if you ask me. I have no way to compare it to older variants. I do love it and haven't used anything else since. Perfect brush IMO.

Michael

Originally Posted by Bruno

It seems rather absurd to me. Why would you need to place an order and then have them cancel it?
Just tell them to check if they have a 2 band, and then either you order or not.
You placing an order does not give them any information they don't already have.

Exactly.



Walk away i say.

And start a new thread explaining the situation & naming the vendor.


People need to be of shady practices.

Originally Posted by hedonist222

Exactly.



Walk away i say.

And start a new thread explaining the situation & naming the vendor.


People need to be of shady practices.

The vendor is being pretty up-front about things IMO.

If they lose a sale then it's their loss. However I think they have the right to do business the way they want.

Just go somewhere else. I don't see the reason to bash the vendor. I think the op is doing the right thing by not naming the vendor.

Michael

Update: I placed an order for the brush and followed up with a reply to another customer service person saying that I wanted a brush that looked like the pictured one, i. e. 2 band--after all the previous person did say they occasionally get 2 bands. She replied and said the brush is now out of stock--whether out of stock in 2 band, or completely out of stock, I don't know. I replied saying I was glad to wait or willing to substitute by placing an order for the next larger size of the brush (in case there is stock), which they also carry.

It is admittedly a long shot, but since the retailer is large perhaps they still do have a 2 band lingering around in the larger size or get the odd one mixed into a batch. Thankfully I was able to buy a 2 band Simpsons (though a different model) from another vendor for no upcharge. Will post pics of the score once it is in hand!