Thread: "TRY BEFORE YOU BUY" idea.

Don't worry Rich, someone has to take the worst possible view and speak openly about it so the rest of us can work on evaluating and solving those problems. If you come up with anymore, let us hear them!

Is there really a need for this is my question.
With good shave ready razors readily available from our members and several reputable vendors we reference on here (either as members or as outside vendors, eB sellers, etc.) in many cases for under $40 the real benifit they would be getting is use (and abuse therein comes) of a strop and not having to worry about the condition of the razor edge after their allotted time.
If they are required to buy the soap (or cream), brush, mug, and DVD (which I agree they should) they have already spent a fair investment which will not be recovered. Personally, I think there are many relatively inexpensive ways to get into straights- some that do not necessitate a strop at all and all are perfectly suitable to try it out.

I would think a good source for inexpensive yet decent quality strops would be a more widely usable thing. Reconditioned flee-bay strops more specifically would fill a gap for newbs needing a strop but not wanting to or unable to invest initially in a really good strop, such as one of Tony's.
We all know one of those, properly cared for, will last a lifetime but in a trial basis a $10-20 usable strop could be a better option.
Also, I don't remember a case of someone deciding it was not for them and having any trouble selling their razor and strop on the BSL forum.

Remember, those who will find this will have found this site already and should then be doing the diligence to read our resources and see our newbie recommendations and suggestions, otherwise I find it hard to believe they are genuinely interested and (as has been suggested) are simply here looking for a hand out.

I think this is a really nice idea, but whether it is actually workable, or very much better than the other options available is questionable at best.
As A noob myself, when I looked at this thread first, I thought, if only that had been available when I started out with straights. Then I read on, and thought some more. I started out with a shavette because I really couldn't afford a real straight. Well, that's not strictly true. I could of afforded a razor, but a strop, soap, hone etc pushed it out of my price range. I tried the shavette for a few months and then eventually justified the cost of a razor and strop, as I knew I liked using a straight.
Now, the way I see it, only newbies will be requesting this loan. Now, apart from all the above comments about the potential woes of loaning to an individual who is new, both to straights (Damaging the merchandise), and to the forum (Questionable morals). I see more problems from the perspective of that newbie.

The way I see it, there will be 2 types of newbies interested in this type of scheme.

1. Those who genuinely can't afford a full set up at the moment.

In this case, they would most likely also be unable to afford the deposit which would be required. And would be better served by purchasing a shavette or similar in order to see if they can grasp the technique of shaving with an open razor. Then by a pre honed wapi and a strop, and work up from there. Now, that I have a real straight, I realize that it does shave quite differently than a shavette. For the peeps that want to start with a real straight, maybe it would be a better idea to make available some pre honed wapis and some 'seconds' or starter strops from tony as a set for sale to newbies with the DVD and some other options.

2. Those who simply can't justify the investment into something they don't know if they will be willing, or able to keep up.

These people do have the money available, but simply don't want to waste it. As mentioned before these individuals would most likely be able to sell their equipment on the BST forum with only a marginal loss. As they would also suffer a marginal loss in the proposed scheme due to the non returnable items. I think these people are better served by the options already available, as they would have a wider choice of equipment to choose from, which they can most likely sell again in they event that they decide to give up on straight shaving. They can try the stuff for as long as they like, and the investment may help to motivate them.

I really did want to vote yes on this one, but feel that I must say no.
I hope I have offered some insight from the newbie perspective.

Connor

I'm with Rosco somewhat, but only to a point.

I'm new to SRP and to straight razing. I hemmed and hawed about switching over for about three years, even though my Merkur left me stubbly and my beard doesn't grow in thick enough to look like a beard (the worst of both worlds). I knew this place existed, but didn't really look through it enough to see that people did loaners.

The reason I didn't switch over was price. A cheap razor, plus honing (which I wouldn't have even thought of if it wasn't an option at vintage blades), plus strop. That's quite the upfront investment. I could afford it, sort of, but it would cost me more than a couple of drinks.

Eventually I budgeted out a bit of my student loan to pick up to goods and now I'm converted. I might have gone on for years more pondering how a straight razor would work.

A try-before-you-buy, or even better a try-to-buy (as in, you like it, you pay the rest) might have gotten me into it sooner. Even without the student loans, I could've set aside a bit for a month or two and afforded the cost with ease. I just didn't want to have shelled out the money and left with a nice looking but failed idea in my medicine cabinet.

My biggest concern, however, is health. I don't know where the faces of my internet neighbours have been and if you're not putting the razor in an autoclave once it's returned, I don't want it near my face. Frankly, you should consider if this is something you should be doing because you are potentially opening yourself up to a negligence suit. It's easy enough if you can befriend a dentist or a tattoo and piercing shop, but you are looking at adding in an extra cost.

That said, I would've been all excited for this if I heard about it sooner. Going to CVS and finding the Burma shave soap and brush for about $5 combined lead me towards having a badger brush and nicer soap, but a lack of a gateway razor and strop kept me away from that.

Being a newbie here I would say that this seems like a great idea to me. I am in the process fo purchasing all of my gear now so I can even try this. Granted it is not too bad for me as I have been wet shaving with a DE for awhile so I have some of this stuff already, just need a razor and strop to get going.

Chief

Edited because I can't spell.....

Unfortunately I agree with those citing the downside problems. Human nature being what it is, the loans will at some time be assumed gifts and not returned. Most things are considered worth what is paid for them, so what is provided on the cheap will become thought of as essentially worthless. If the deposit charged will pay for replacement when needed, the recipient can pay for the purchase of same.

Let's encourage away; offer free advice; offer pithy comment; maybe even offer to hone a razor for the beginner, but stay out of the rental business. There are too many headaches behind that storefront.

Originally Posted by Bruce

If the deposit charged will pay for replacement when needed, the recipient can pay for the purchase of same.

Let's encourage away; offer free advice; offer pithy comment; maybe even offer to hone a razor for the beginner, but stay out of the rental business. There are too many headaches behind that storefront.

Is it me, or does it seem none of the newbs know about the cheaper options then??
Shapers, Injector types, Sanguines,and Shavettes? No strops, no strop technique, no honing, no hones, no honing technique, no honing expense....
I'm not saying you'll get the best shave of your life with a Weck.... but your first few shaves aren't going to be that good no matter what you use and the others use regular DE or Injector blades.....

Now, a really adventurous first razor could be a Feather and Guard blades, then sell the feather for almost what they paid for it (providing they don't pay too much by buying it from classic shaving...sorry- but they are overpriced for them) if they don't like it, get a great shave (sharp blades) and have no strop or honing issues.

Originally Posted by They Call Me Blockhead

My biggest concern, however, is health. I don't know where the faces of my internet neighbours have been and if you're not putting the razor in an autoclave once it's returned, I don't want it near my face. Frankly, you should consider if this is something you should be doing because you are potentially opening yourself up to a negligence suit. It's easy enough if you can befriend a dentist or a tattoo and piercing shop, but you are looking at adding in an extra cost.

The same goes for razors you buy.
It is at your own risk, and you'd have to agree with that before getting a loaner.

I've actually thought about some sort of "try before you buy" system for SRP.

To avoid liability problems, I'd consider it a sale rather than a loan. The purchaser has the option of returning it back within 30 days provided the razor is returned in a acceptable condition. The refund will be issued less restocking fee.

The restocking fee can cover shipping costs and maintainance costs. If the person doesn't return it within 30 days then they bought it. No fuss no muss.

I have another downside that has not been mentioned.
There have been recent postings about concerns of health risks of using someone else's razor but it's not really hard to sterilize a razor with a decent disinfectant. However, I don't think there is any good way to disinfect a strop.
Imagine an "infected" individual receiving a shaving set. He uses it for a month and transfers some amount of generic cootie to the blade. With each stropping, some of that cootie is transferred to the leather strop. When the set goes back to the provider, the razor will be sterilized and the strop will not. Thus when the set goes on to the next person, stropping will transfer the cootie from the strop to the blade and from the blade to the shaver.
Any opinions about this?