Thread: "Your Razor is Crap"

How do you tell someone that the razor they bought out of lack of experience is actually not a good razor?

I'm a first year in college and have been meeting a few guys who share my interests and hobbies. I've met one guy who shaves with a straight and I offered to hone it for him, but his razor has been sharpened more like a knife than a razor. This means giving him back an inferior edge, or a lot of work grinding the proper angle. How do you guys break it to people?

Tell the truth. Be completely honest and help him to understand what is wrong and what it will take to fix it. If you have the ability, then offer to fix it the right way or else don't hone it at all.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Tell the truth. Be completely honest and help him to understand what is wrong and what it will take to fix it. If you have the ability, then offer to fix it the right way or else don't hone it at all.

.......yep.

People apreciate the truth. Just tell it to him straight and tell him his options.

I agree with the posts between yours and mine.

Another path:

. . . Let him use _your_ razor as an experiment.

If his razor is as bad as you think, he'll feel the difference immediately. You won't have to say a word.

Charles

I agree, just be honest and tell him what the problem is.

If a knife guy sharpened it then it'll need a whole new bevel set, so if you're not comfortable with doing that job I'd advise that he sends the razor out to a pro.

Generally, I would agree with the "just tell him" sentiments above. But, your question implies some question whether this will be accepted. Alternately, you could tell him conversationally.

"I'm having some trouble honing your razor. There are several possible reasons, and I'm not sure exactly why."

See what he says to that. Respond each time just a little, never giving more than two sentences at a time.

What you are doing is "just telling him" as stated above, but breaking it to him slowly.

Yea! Two hackneyed platitudes from LarryAndro instead of just the one offered by others more mortal than myself...

• Just speak the truth
• Break it to him slowly

I am so wise!

Tact!

I keep forgetting about tact!
Thanks for the reminder.
I used to date a woman who too often had to remind me "It's not WHAT you said, it's HOW you said." Did I mention I USED to date her?

I am gonna vote on the side of, "Whoever honed your razor is a complete moron. Don't ever let him touch another of your razors ever again."