What is happening in the SR world?

Yesterday I went to a store in Antwerp to buy a new SR (bought a Dove French Cut).
Of course, when talking to another SR enthusiast things take off very fast :o.
My first choice would have been a TI, but no ram's horn SR where present, the ordered TI weren't there yet.
We got talking about the delivery period of the razors and to be honest I was a bit surprised.
That TI aren't fast deliverers I can understand, in my mind it's a smaller company and more handmade razors than let's say Dovo. (It's possible this is just one of my delusions.)
Dovo is not taking any new customers at the moment because their production isn't able to keep up with orders. 3
There is a 3 month waiting period for Dovo, there was even an order of 21,000 razors.
They didn't take the order because it seems to like to keep things smaller.
Apparently the demand for DE is also higher but are easier to manufacture, sounds logical to me.

So what is happening in the SR world? Who would order about 21,000 razors?
Is this the beginning of the end for the cassette razors?

Just something I find strange. :thinking:

i've heard the same thing about razor shortages. i does seem strange because i have met personally only about 3 SR shavers (not counting my SRP contacts). Must be spread out evenly through out the world. i know of no local shops that sell wet shaving supplies. the closest one i a hour away.

Everytime I am in the city, about twice a year, it's a long way, I run into wet shavers at the stores that sell supplies. What always surprises me is that most of the stores that I have been to that sell straight razors all say they are not shave ready and they have no idea where to get them sharpened. I have no idea how this business plan can unfold in such a way that they have increased sales. House of knives is a good example of that. I have encountered straight razor shavers most times I have been to a House of Knives. They have all claimed that they send them to someone in the US for sharpening. The business plan logic of this product line escapes me. It must somehow work for them. I think there are a lot of people that purchase as an impulse but never go forward because they are lost on the what is next process. I also think that only a small percentage of those buyers wind up here and in similar places.

Yes, there must be a lot more owners than actual serious users.

Bob

I think there are a likely a fair number of guys who will buy a Straight for the "cool" factor and not ask too many questions about it at places like AoS or House of Knives. They will assume it is ready to go right out of the box (I mean, why wouldn't it be?) and, when they have a bad first experience, they will shelve it and go back to their safety razor or carts. We're kind of dumb that way . . .

I believe the SR producers are their own worse enemies. SR shaving is a pretty niche market. Have you ever seen an advert on tv for SRs? There are dozens upon dozens of adverts on tv for cartridge type razors, declaring that particular razor to be the best shave ever that you can't live without. That is, until they alter is slightly and then declare that the new one is better than the last, almost identical razor. Yes, they will shave you, but the best shave ever? I don't think so.

So, until the SR producers market their creations more effectively, we SR users are doomed to remain in the shadows.

I am fine with that . . . if everyone could do it, then it wouldn't be as much fun.

It's probably like 9 guys on a RAD bender...

It's a niche market and always has been and the "big" makers aren't too far removed from being a cottage industry so the slightest bump in demand and they fall behind. Add to that the fact these "big" makers are small sub divisions of much larger outfits who are not ramping up production and you have long waits.

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Originally Posted by Yves81

So what is happening in the SR world? Who would order about 21,000 razors?
Is this the beginning of the end for the cassette razors?

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Procter and Gamble could place such an order for their Art of Shaving stores. With, say, 200 retail stores that's just 100 per location which won't take too long to move.

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Originally Posted by Yves81

My first choice would have been a TI, but no ram's horn SR where present

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May be they tried to pay for them with €2.5 coins :w

I was shocked to run into so many straight razor users/collectors in the world that haven't heard of any online forums. Of course I always recommend SRP for a great resource but I have found that those of us here on this forum are only a small fraction of the people out there that are serious about straights. In fact last weekend I met another older gentleman that had a rather large collection and had been using them for many years. How he learned I have no idea but it was a good reminder that there are many "closet" users/collectors in the world.

Wet Shaving Is Coming Back Into Form: The Big Players Are Watching The Numbers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TFAowtFu_E

Global Wet Shave Market 2012-2016 -- LONDON, March 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

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Originally Posted by RezDog

I think there are a lot of people that purchase as an impulse but never go forward because they are lost on the what is next process. I also think that only a small percentage of those buyers wind up here and in similar places.

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I think you are right Shaun. I bought my first SR in about 1980 in a mall Hoffritz store, as an impulse. I always liked edges, and seeing a tool like my barber used on my sideburns, around my ears and my neck attracted me. I also bought a small strop at the same time.

I assumed the razor was ready to go and read the small pamphlet that came with it. I also talked to a barber, who essentially said "don't do a slicing motion with it" meaning I should only move the blade perpendicular to the edge while on my face. I am pretty sure I stropped edge first at least part of the time and got about 20 OK but unpleasant shaves before storing it...luckily dry and in its plastic case.

Came across SRP a few years ago when I found the boxed Hoffritz in my gun safe. What a revelation!!

But I agree with you that, assuming that repeat business is better than a one-time sale, I'm not sure why anyone would sell straights that can't give decent guidance, at least to other help sources. Here, the AOS folks fit that same mold. The salespeople are just that and know nothing except what their "pitch" is, IME.

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