Thread: Do you buy razors on ebay ?

Pretty tough to resist the amazing slection on ebay, from the comfort of my little den here. But its certainly not the best place to get good deals - given the rise of SR collecting/users. But buying from listings with properly documented pictures is crucial (with the proviso that, because it is so crucial, the only way to get a *Deal* on ebay is getting lucky no a blade that *isnt* well-documented, so others dont want to take the risk. The razor market has matured to the point where you definitely pay pretty fairly for less risk and better condition.)

I have spent countless hours searching on ebay, trying to come up with different clever searches, but have never pulled the trigger on a razor.

I haven't seen a deal worth taking.

I've become a bit disenchanted with ebay over the past couple years. The deals aren't there anymore. Since I'm still building on a collection of usable shavers, I do a lot more looking than I do bidding. Just over the past 6 weeks I've seen numerous sell for 10-20-30 dollars over what I can buy them for just going to a straight internet vendor. Then you get slammed with shipping where many internet vendors ship for free. The only ebay shaving item I have is a scuttle. Home made by a guy in Texas. Out the door for $22.00. It's a bit deep but functions flawlessly and I didn't have to spend $45-75 for a manufactured one. Works for me..!!

I suppose I should have been clearer - I was speaking mostly of razors that need restoration, or at least a little bit of clean up and honing. The razors sold on ebay that are fully restored and honed aren't deals at all. But there arent that many vendors around selling nicely restored vintage razors, and none of them have more than a few on sale at any moment - so if you're looking for something in particular....

There are still some good deals to be had on eBay. You just have to be patient and disciplined -- the first thing I always check are the pictures; some people take one blurry pic while others actually post several quality images. Consider how much you'd normally pay for the razor max, and don't pay more than that amount (easier said than done!).

Nowadays it seems you have to just ignore anything with; shave ready, Filarmonica, Dubl Duck, and fancy scales in the title, as those usually result in crazy bidding wars.

I've won two razor lots over the past year and got some awesome razors from them. Normally I don't see the lots going for crazy prices unless one of the above words are in them. It's easier for me to justify spending > $50 when it's for several razors instead of one. Plus there's usually one junk razor in there that can always be used as practice or parts.

I used to buy off eBay but it's rare today, unless it is a razor I am looking for and I can get it for less than I would expect it to sell for now. I recently purchased a C-Mon Cadillac that needed cleaning and a NOS Puma Inox, but the selling prices were well below the norm these days. In the past most sellers did not clean up their razors or perform restores on them and I knew what I was getting, most of the time, and the selling prices were much lower. Today I see a lot that were restored with even higher prices. Restored razors by reputable sellers is fine but I don't know who most of thee people are. Restoring razors can generate enough heat to anneal the steel and make the razor useless. The tell tail blue resulting from over heating can be polished out and appear like nothing happened. Buyer beware! I'd rather live with the patina, restore it myself, or send it to someone here that take the chance and loose my money. It also looks like there are a lot of people that suddenly learned hoe to hone a razor selling on eBay. I've seen some that looked like they came off a bench grinder. Buyer beware! Don't get me wrong. There are a few SRP members selling on eBay that are selling quality goods as well as a bunch of other selling quality goods. With the higher selling prices of straight razors on eBay lots of people are doing what ever it takes to get their share and more. My money will go elsewhere.

I will look for the occasional "deal", but I have definitely tapered off of Ebay because of the escalating prices..I don't get the names I used to get, but in looking at the other brands I have discovered new ones that I like better...Like Engels, they make a great razor....I wouldhave never bought one if the prices didn't go up on my other fav's. Now I am hooked on them!

Thank you all , for your responses , and votes .