Thread: Buyers of Un-sharp razors

I don't think the retailers out there can be blamed too much. They have to work against the disastrously effective Gillette marketing damage. I bet most shops that carry straights get about three inquiries per year and no sales.

I NEVER impulse buy no matter how much I want something. I always ask lots of questions and walk away. If I still want the item a few days later and can't rationalise not getting it then it's a buy. If the sales staff can't answer my questions satisfactorily (man, I'm a tough customer) then I won't have confidence and there's no sale.

When I was perusing a Crabtree & Evelyn for my recent brush purchase. I asked the lady to show me the brushes she had in stock (which included the Edwin Jagger I now have) the first thing out of her mouth was, "These are all made with genuine boar hair". I corrected her and she instantly retreated from any sales pitch. After all I was the one out of the two of us who actually shaves. It must be tough to be in a position like that. You're not knowledgeable about your product and invariably it's the expert who's coming in to buy. I felt for her, but I bought the brush at another location.

X

X,
I was thinking more of the online specialty shave shops. Most cater to DE users but still carry quite a few straights and hanging strops yet know nothing about them. I can see where C&E does not have a clue as well as many knife shops.

Tony

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

I was thinking more of the online specialty shave shops.

Yeah, that's a good point too. It was the utter lack of good response I got from my emails to most of them that kept me searching. I eventually found this place.

X

Originally Posted by xman

I don't think the retailers out there can be blamed too much. They have to work against the disastrously effective Gillette marketing damage. I bet most shops that carry straights get about three inquiries per year and no sales.

I NEVER impulse buy no matter how much I want something. I always ask lots of questions and walk away. If I still want the item a few days later and can't rationalise not getting it then it's a buy. If the sales staff can't answer my questions satisfactorily (man, I'm a tough customer) then I won't have confidence and there's no sale.

When I was perusing a Crabtree & Evelyn for my recent brush purchase. I asked the lady to show me the brushes she had in stock (which included the Edwin Jagger I now have) the first thing out of her mouth was, "These are all made with genuine boar hair". I corrected her and she instantly retreated from any sales pitch. After all I was the one out of the two of us who actually shaves. It must be tough to be in a position like that. You're not knowledgeable about your product and invariably it's the expert who's coming in to buy. I felt for her, but I bought the brush at another location.

X

X, I know what you mean six months ago I went into The Art of the Shave in Manhattan. The sales clerk while attractive, knew very little about str8 razors she was sure they came shave ready and didn't need to be sharpened for several years. When I corrected her she immediately moved tothe shaving creams and oils. Why try to sell what you don't know anything about? At least learn your trade. Needless to say I left without purchasing anything.

Originally Posted by xman

I NEVER impulse buy no matter how much I want something.

X, PM me, I'll teach you. It's very easy.

Nenad

The part I don't get is the pressure to make a sale. At my local straight razor shop "Cheasapeake Knife Co." they often emphatically state "No these are sharp and ready to shave, no honing needed atleast for the first year or two".

I would feel much better if they just said, "No, ofcourse not. Each user has to know how to maintain their razor, thats why we sell this (crappy) hone as well"

Just to add an interesting datapoint from the new guy...

I went to the local C&E in the mall here in Concord (CA) on saturday to pick up some aftershave... I didn't have any at my fiancee's house after I got done shaving with my str8 and my face was definitely feeling the lack, so we swung by the C&E because I knew they'd have something I'd be able to pick up quickly.

I ended up teaching the staff there how to properly use a brush and soap, had some interesting talks about shaving and directed them to here and classic shaving for their boyfriends/husbands. After chatting with the two salesclerks for a while they asked me if I'd be interested in coming in and teaching their staff how to use the men's shaving products so they can sell them more effectively. I left them my card and if they do call me back I'll hit them up for store credit as compensation for the training sessions

They were all *very* interested in learning how the stuff worked and were frustrated that nobody had trained them in how to use them so that they could sell them effectively. They also mentioned they've been getting a lot more interest in the men's shaving line of products lately.

They also sort of halfway offered me a fulltime job but I just sort of smiled and changed the subject heh.

-- Gary F.

Originally Posted by superfly

X, PM me, I'll teach you. It's very easy.

Thanks Nenad, but my wife teaches me everything I would want to know.

X