New razor--for free!

A couple weeks ago I received a package in the mail. It said happy 18th birthday, although my 18th birthday happened in the 1980's...It was from Gillette and it was a free razor. One of their newest fancy multiblade pivot, ball, bells and whistle ones. I stuck it aside wondering why they thought I was 18, lol. After looking at it for several days I decided to use it this weekend to shave off a few days growth.

Well, after a single pass on one cheek and starting on the neck I threw it down and went and got one of my straight razors to finish. I haven't used one of those piece of crap multiblade razors in several years and after trying the "best" one out there I remembered why. It pulled and was so uncomfortable! The straight razor that I grabbed, which could use a touch up, cut so effortlessly compared to that fancy state of the art piece of modern science.

Proof that new and improved is not always better.

My experience on 'New and Improved' means "time to screw it up"..............

:rofl2:Happy eighteenth birthday!

I think the free razor on your birthday is something Gillette has done for a long time. It makes sense, the expense of one razor is made up for with a customer who will buy their blades for a lifetime.

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Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

:rofl2:Happy eighteenth birthday!

I think the free razor on your birthday is something Gillette has done for a long time. It makes sense, the expense of one razor is made up for with a customer who will buy their blades for a lifetime.

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Yes, they make their money with the blades. That is part of why I switched to safety and straights years ago. Tired of paying 4 bucks or more per blade that didn't work well or last.

Well, happy birthday anyway!

I suppose a similar marketing strategy for straight razors would not work quite as well...

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Well, happy birthday anyway!

I suppose a similar marketing strategy for straight razors would not work quite as well...

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Yes it would because if all the makers got together they would put something into the steel so after a few years (very few years) it would either not hold an edge anymore or just start to corrode.

Gillette has to come out with new and improved to get the suckers to throw away the old and buy new.

I remember receiving a Mach 3 from Gillette around my eighteenth birthday. I did use their carts for many years before I discovered proper shaving. I imagine this is a very profitable sales technique.

Used the track 2 when it came out and liked it, Used the "band Razors" and loved them. The the refills got crappy and the "new and improved" became the way to go. Back to the E-2 Schick. Then straights a few years back. Now shaky with age...E-2 Schick is back in the rotation. Good blades from reputable suppliers make it a winner on mornings when the hands don't do the straights so well. Gillettes' some times too.
~Richard

When the beard first came off a couple of weeks ago, I couldn't find the personnas I like (asda loving gillette). I ordered some cornerstone razors until I could lay my hands on some decent DE's, it was £4 for 6 5 blade cartridges and a funky handle with my initials. 1 shave and it was donated to the wife. It dragged, it was awkward and I just didn't like it one bit. A mate found the blades I like and that was that. I've just gotten a Merkur 34c and quite a few Wilkinsons (fleabay deal) and the difference is immense.

That was no "free" razor but merely a baited hook! Glad you got away (free?) quickly. :p

My first father in law never paid for razor blades. He received blades in the mail from Gillette. Some kind of Shaving Team thing.

Here's the twist. He had to use the same blade for X-amount of time and record how well the blade shaved. It was my understanding that even if a blade was pulling at say day 5 and he had to evaluate for 7 days he had to just endure the discomfort.

If my memory serves correctly (it's been a while), on my 18th BD, Schick sent me one of their injector razors and a pack of blades. I used for a while, but there came a time when cartridges were "in" and injector blades became hard to find, so I tossed the razor. With the Internet, you can find blades once again. I wish I had kept it to add to my collection of DEs and straights.

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Originally Posted by RayClem

If my memory serves correctly (it's been a while), on my 18th BD, Schick sent me one of their injector razors and a pack of blades. I used for a while, but there came a time when cartridges were "in" and injector blades became hard to find, so I tossed the razor. With the Internet, you can find blades once again. I wish I had kept it to add to my collection of DEs and straights.

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Ever wonder how that company could known when you are born, where you lived etc.?

George Orwell was Right! 1984 is here and has been for quite awhile.