Thread: Hahahaha, you want how much for that razor?

Hi,
Every so often I head down town check out the local antique shops in my area. For the most part I've found some great razors priced well at these shops. Lately I've been amazed at how much the shop owners are asking for the razors they have. Most shop owners know little to nothing about the straight razors they possess. I walked into a shop today found a razor in a case, asked the owner if I could take a look. The razor happened to be a boker Red-Injun 101. The owner wanted $90, I forgot to mention the tang was broken off. I know its easier to just use Ebay but the thrill of the hunt is great when you find a quality razor hiding in a dusty cabinet at an old antique shop. Is any one else seeing this in their area?

ya its rampant out here in AZ....

Yep, prices are going up over here as well. Not only in antique stores though, but I was in our old town two days ago (I go once or twice a year) and some of the straight razors was priced a little crazy here too, to say the least. I found a boxed nice vintage DE in very good nick, for roughly 15 usd though (my only buy that day)

I just point out I collect straights, and that not all straights are worth a fortune, and none are worth anything if they cant shave, usually end up knocking them down to about a quarter what they ask

Do you think this is just a phase, or is this trend here to stay? It's really frustrating when their justification for the price is "well it's old". Also if their asking that much for razors are people really buying them? It seem like it would be simple economics, and the price would drop.

Originally Posted by Bullmoose

Do you think this is just a phase, or is this trend here to stay? It's really frustrating when their justification for the price is "well it's old". Also if their asking that much for razors are people really buying them? It seem like it would be simple economics, and the price would drop.

i don't really see it as that big a deal...would anyone even really want to buy a broken razor, even if it isn't vastly overpriced? i figure it will all even out. with our hype machine (w&b for barber's...filly's...etc) it seems like we do just as much damage in driving up prices as they do.

The broken razor is not the point. The point is everything is way over priced. The broken razor was just an example.

Originally Posted by Bullmoose

The broken razor is not the point. The point is everything is way over priced. The broken razor was just an example.

with this hobby, a vintage razor is worth what someone is willing to pay. there are people on ebay who do the same thing (see the "whoa!" thread)...then there are others who start the auction at .99 and the market determines the value. the more people start wetshaving, the more valuable vintage razors will be...because there are only so many, while there are new shavers every day...all of them with a "horrible case of RAD"

antique shops are notorious for overvaluing pretty much everything...and if you keep going to antique shops you will run into it a lot more. you will also find a few things that are a steal. most of the time with antiquing, for me, it's the journey...not the destination. but i suppose that's how i feel about shaving in general.

Back in the 1980s in north New Jersey, I used to find bargains in antique shops for razors. I once picked up a joseph rodgers stub tail, in good shape, for two bucks. Those days are long gone. The shop owners see ebay prices and think any POS is equal to a dubl duck reaper.

Earlier this week at the antique mall, the owner showed me a razor that he had just got in. It was a Dubl Duck Goldedge, complete with warped scales and and a shimmering blue edge. He said he checked ebay and saw what they were going for and offered it to me for $50. I told him that because of the problems with it I wouldn't buy it because it would never shave. Sadly he put it on ebay and someone payed $75. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that as long as someone is willing to pay higher and higher prices, the antique shops are going to sell them to the right suckers.