Thread: Fair prices

I think your way of pricing is a good way of going about it, Leighton. I've also noticed that your prices always seem fair to me, FWIW.

With regard to the amount of work people put in vs prices they charge, it seems like some (most?) people have a limit on how much money they'll spend on a razor (varying depending on certain factors such as manufacturer, grind, rarity, size, etc, etc). So, no matter how much time a restorer puts in, they can't really ask much more than this limit, because as beautiful of a job as they may have done, some (most?) people just can't justify it or downright can't afford it. At least it seems this way.

And with regard to paying too much when you're new, consider me guilty. I've paid too much for a few things I've bought (mostly on ebay) but I'm OK with it. Value is a weird thing. When you're new (at least for me) you want everything right away. It's tough to put a value on that. Yes, I know I can get some things for less money, eventually, but how long do I have to wait for this exact item I'm looking for and know I can buy right now? Sometimes the wait is worth the extra money to me, especially when you're new and don't have a lot of everything, but you're looking for specific items. Once you're pretty well stocked up, though, you are much more willing to wait.

I am glad someone brought this up because I have asked about this and it seems no one really wants to address it head on. I have sold 2 razors that went for $300 or more. In each case I had at least $45 in one blade and $66 in the other. I also had about 24+ working hours. On the first one( a marshes adn shepherd in Marshes Club) I had six hours of polishing with turtle wax not to mention about 32 hours of sanding. Plus about 7 hours on making the scales. So by the formula below it was worth about $150. I am sorry, but that just isn't fair to me because the razor company that made it went out of business in 1840! So a new old stock razor like it probably would be very hard to find. Now, I included free honing 2x/year and each person will get another set of scales for them at a time of their choosing. The second razor recently sold for $325 I thought was a good deal. Because it was a 17/16 W&B for Barber's use and I have seen people list them for $400 in no better condition than mine. So I think its a value judgement. I listed a W&B recently for $175 for 3 days and then lowered it $50 and it sold the following day. So ask what you think, but be reasonable. Because although the Dovo's and newer brands sell for more money, to me they are less of an investment because they are still being made. To each his own, but when someone really starts trying to restore razors to compare with Glen, Max, and others, they learn very quickly that it takes a lot of expertise, time, and energy. Besides, value has nothing to do with price. You can pay$100 for a ZEEPk set of 15 razors with a strop, cup, and brush and still all you have is worthless junk.

I would just let the market set the price. if the asking price is too high it won't sell and if its too low it will sell fast. Just use other razors as a general guide and adjust according to the work you put into it.

Over time, I think that things even out. For each disappointing low selling price I receive, there is often an unexpectedly high one. You can't put a price on your labor, or the love you put into restoring a razor. But, you gotta "feed the RAD/HAD." So I keep selling, and try to imagine the pleasure that my restorations bring to new and old collectors/shavers.