Thread: The Art Of Shaving

I know I've seen a few posts on the boards about this place. Every time I see someone mention that name I keep meaning to mention a few negative things. I'm not trying to start a bashing thread but new people to straight shaving need to beware of the possible negative consequences. Just a few points I want to mention from my past experiences with that company.

The good:
Friendly staff

Clean appealing storefront

Took care of me without an issue when I demanded a full refund for everything because of the misinformation they gave me, a warped and nicked "shave ready" razor, their barber nicked up the strop I bought from them due to his lack of knowledge, etc.

The bad:
The barber they have working does not know how to strop a straight because he does not personally shave with one? Odd isn't it? He was not very trustworthy.

The sales associate told me you never under any circumstances hone a carbon steel blade because it messes up the edge. <- Scary...Only strop the "shave ready" razor to keep it "sharp" for years of great service.

Tried to sell me a $12 dollar styptic pencil and $30 puck of shaving soap. Outrageous pricing
!!!

I could go on and on. Moral of the story is, I was lucky enough to find SRP and was smart enough to deal with Lynn when it came to buying the new razor and so forth. Newbies, just be careful if you decide to deal with the Art Of Shaving. Educate yourself here before making any business transactions with them.

Before finding the SRP, I used solely TAOS products. I walked by their storefront a number of years ago and had never seen a store like it. I went in and tried their stuff and was hooked. With their products, I was able to shave every day with my Mach3, when I needed to. I couldn't do that with my old method of shave cream and razor. From them I was introduced to the shave brush and preshave oil and then the cream. Because of them I will never go back to shaving cream in a can.

After finding the SRP, I realized that there is more to shaving than TAOS. I decided I was tired of paying through the nose for replacement Mach3 blades and wanted to try straight shaving. I also found a shop near where I work that has Tabac, which I've yet to try, Proraso, and all the others that the guys here rave about. Most all of these soaps are the same or less in price than TAOS, but some of their quality isn't the same. The point being, if TAOS weren't so expensive, I would probably by their products more often, as I like them a lot and what you said about their staff being friendly is true. However, I've found many new products that work just as well for a little bit less.

So all in all, I like TAOS for supplies when I can afford them, but I don't go to them for shave advice as I can get that here from much more experienced people. I can find some of the same shaving items, except for their soaps and oils and such, online for a lot cheaper than theirs, but there is the tried and trusted quality that I've come to enjoy over the years that I won't knock. I would much rather spend my money there than on supermarket or drugstore garbage. Take it for what it's worth. To each his own.

I don't think their pricing is out of line. T&H charges more for their creams, as well as Castle-Forbes and Geo F Trumpers. I can certainly agree with your arguments about sales staff, etc. I just don't buy your disagreements about their product pricing (no pun intended). I paid $14 for a tube of their Lavender shave cream at the Tyson's Corner Mall, which less than what I have paid for other tubes of cream. And, quite frankly, was just as good as more expensive creams. They are at the higher end, but not at the top. Plus, when you go their store you can walk out with something in your shopping bag, not wait for the postal system or UPS to deliver it, who also tack on an extra $5-$10 for shipping...

Cessnabird, the drawbacks and benefits of AOS have been kicked around here and on other forums.

What they told you about the razor (shouldn't be honed) is crazy and you may want to report that to their corp. hq.

I agree AOS is far from a Mecca of sound information. I do like their shave soap and creams. They are top quality. They are also pricey, but as has been pointed out, so is Trumper, T&H, CF, etc. Their brushes and other accessories are very overpriced and I would never tell someone to buy these items there. You can get a really nice Shavemac, Rooney, Simpson, etc. for what AOS charges for a middle of the road brush.

I've said before here that I have mixed feelings about AOS. In order to locate stores in accessible locations, pay staff, market, etc. they have to make a lot of money. Brick and mortar stores have to charge more than our favorite on-line vendors. If they didn't do this, they wouldn't exist. By being so visible, AOS does help popularize traditional shaving. I just wish they did a better job educating their staff. Sorry for my disjointed rambling, I just woke up


Jordan

AOS is arguably the best shaving store out there. Their products are of a very high quality and my personal experience is that the staff is knowledgable. The downside is the expensive pricing.

To compare the prices to other overpriced brands is a HUGE disservice to other high quality reasonably priced products. I bet everybody can come up with at least one product that is half the price of AOS or T&H and equivalent quality. We should be giving kudos to the great values out there.

That being said I patronize my local AOS for half my products because I like them being local. I also encourage my friends to use AOS at least a little if they want to continue to have a shaving store around.

Like with everything else, as they say beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. What may be a ripoff and a bad deal to one person may be acceptable to someone else or even a great deal. Actual brick and mortar stores with a good stock of shaving supplies are few and far between so if you have one nearby I would encourage everyone to visit and then make up your own mind. Just remember that these stores have to pay rent and employees and maintain large stocks and deal with poor sales and this is all figured into the price of what you buy. E- commerce sites have none of these issues.

Thanks for the input guys. It is always good to have multiple opinions on the subject. Like, I said before this is not a bashing thread, merely a warning to some people who may not have been able to make their own assumptions yet about AOS. I also think I may have had a particularly bad experience with my local AOS. Happy shaving gents.

A shop is patronized because of service, qaulity of product and pricing. Weight assigned to these variables can vary: I'll pay more for great knowledable service, supplied in person...I place a premium on it.

If you value the shaving experience enough, you will outgrow TAOS. Anyone not agree that the information, service, products and pricing ALL are far better supplied by other vendors, sources?

I have purchased and like a few of their products. But its akin to a big box fly shop (I'm a fly fisher) compared to the shop owned by a true enthusiast willing to impart a world of knowledge (ok, some of it approaches dogma) based on personal experience. Never spoken to an AOS retailer who knew more than I about shaving, and I'm trying to get answers!

My only reason for stopping is if I pass a store .... just cant help walking in. On those moments, convenience wins out. Not so much for AOS...I rarely buy anything other than a balm.

By the way....any other fly fishers out there?

Jim

Keep an eye out for Truefitt & Hill too. I know they have a nice shop and do shaves in Chicago.

I have seen AOS go from a couple shops to national in the last couple years which really speaks to the popularity and sense that wetshaving makes.

I love seeing our population grow and all the help and knowledge that our members have been sharing since the start.

Thanks,

Lynn

Just had my first experience with an AOS store yesterday in Walnut Creek, CA. As mentioned previously the staff was very nice and polite...even when I started to question some of their logic on shaving products. Some of the "info" they were giving me was wrong just as to what I have read and experienced. I'm no stranger to shaving products, admitedly I have more than I care to admit, but my fiancee seemed to appreciate the sales pitch and purchased their womens line sans brush (I gave her my first brush a Vulfix 1000A). It got to the point were the salesman was asking me about my shaves with DE's and Str8's to compare for other potential customers. I without shame advised some of the customer to visit this and other wetshaving sites. The barber chair there was simply for show btw. I have wanted to try their shaving soaps and am willing to pay the price, but I'll wait a little longer. For now I'm happy with my MWF, L'Occitane, Tabac,... I should stop now.

Serg

On a side not when my fiancee saw the Fusion w/motor and flashlight and gawd knows what else, she was tempted to buy one for me. I just gave her a "you don't know me, do you?" look. The salesmen were giving good advice however on DE and Str8s providing better shaves than a multicartridge.