Thread: Something we've known for a long time exposed in this article

Are razor blade makers just ensuring a big cut? - latimes.com

Exactly, I got into straights originally because it seemed like 400 dollars a year on cartridge razors was just plain wasteful, not even counting all the shaving gel and what not. I'm not a particularly environmentally savvy guy and even I think that throwing that much out just to shave is just not right. I may not be a "green" guy but I have a utilitarian dislike of wasting money and or resources and shaving was just another area to apply this line of thought to. I also can't stand planned obsolescence, and avoid it as best I can. Planned obsolescence is the dark side of the free market IMO. Anyone that sells a product that deliberately becomes obsolete or breaks or needs to be replaced needlessly is a shyster.

Of course some would say it's marketing brilliance. It's up to the individual to buy into it of course.

Yea, consumers get the products they deserve.

Bob

The author has hit the nail on the head, but it's funny that he seems to think that Gillette and Schick are the only choices in the wetshaving world. Had he done his homework he would have discovered that a few men still use DE's and straight razors

Ah, capitalism, though the author makes an erroneous comparison between computer processors and razor blades. The consumer and the company benefit when it comes to faster processors. The consumer would only benefit with razors that would stay sharper longer.

I wonder if in 40 years there will be forums dedicated to the Gillette fusion, NOS carts fetching $180...

There is so much innovation out there..they just can't because of a couple of reasons.
1. The big guys are already established with tons of capital. And market share so the new guy needs to have such A wow factor that people would have no choice but to try.
2. A lot of big companies already hold the patents to innovation that would work against them..think energy companies
3. Last and this one is the worst of all..The consumer. People don't like change. And for A lot of things in life people are just sheep. I am not trying to degrade any one or insult but people need to make the conscious decision to look for and support something better. Most people are just ok with the status quo.

Off the soap box now...thanks for reading

Originally Posted by Grazor

I wonder if in 40 years there will be forums dedicated to the Gillette fusion, NOS carts fetching $180...

In 40 years, my son had better still be shaving with my straights and telling and converting all of his buddies the joy of the straight shaves.

Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

In 40 years, my son had better still be shaving with my straights and telling and converting all of his buddies the joy of the straight shaves.

I have managed to get my three sons, wife, son in law and daughter, and two good friends shaving with DE razors, they all love it, my youngest son is dabbling with straits already. But alot of my male friends just have a blank look when i tell them how i shave, and female friends seem to be terrified. Even my wife was a bit squirmish when i started, especially the sound a full hollow makes as you shave.