Thread: Does anyone know if the razor shown below is garbage?

It might not be too tough to implement. It appears that Badger & Blade has a working product review system and that they use the same type of bulletin board system, Called vBulletin. It's PHP based, and likely allows features to be 'plugged in' with minimal effort. The product review system may be something that the B&B folks wrote, but it's more likely that they either turned this feature on in vBulletin, or downloaded the module (possibly a piece of open source code). If so, I don't see why it couldn't be used here. System admin or Lynn, comments?

- John

Originally Posted by Namdnas

... it's more likely that they either turned this feature on in vBulletin, or downloaded the module (possibly a piece of open source code). If so, I don't see why it couldn't be used here. System admin or Lynn, comments?

- John

John,

Lots of these things are great ideas... but it requires some peole to lead the activity and do the work required to make it happen. To be blunt, I'm not volunteering to champion this one. Why you ask? Because I put considerable thought into it some time ago and I didn't see a clear set of criteria to use for the evaluation so that razors reviewed by a broad cross section of users, with varying levels of competency, could be compared in a meaningful way. Even Scarface's "Maestro=good, Paki=bad" system would likely meet with some problems... some people would rate the Paki=good, lol.

If the reviews/ratings can't be compared, then what's the point.

Further, S/W was not raised as the issue. As you implied, most forums do not write their own software... they use off-the-shelf stuff as much as possible. All vBulletin forums have access to the same software (provided they pay their maintenance fees) and, as I said, I'll help and even install whatever software is needed.

The discussion of how to meaningfully rate/rank razors is an old discussion that has mentions in many threads, both here and on the Yahoo SRP forum. I don't mean to be negative (although it probably sounds like I am being that)... I'm just openly admitting I don't see a solution which works. There are just too many variables for my poor old engineer's brain to deal with... razor condition, razor size, razor sharpness, reviewer's technique, reviewer's beard type, reviewer's shave prep, stropping, etc., etc., etc. Since many razor models are relatively rare, most would have 1 reviewer at best... so "average rating" isn't possible. If you think the answer is to have them reviewed by "highly qualified" people (eg, a honemeister), how would you establish who meets that criteria?

Originally Posted by azjoe

The discussion of how to meaningfully rate/rank razors is an old discussion that has mentions in many threads, both here and on the Yahoo SRP forum. I don't mean to be negative (although it probably sounds like I am being that)... I'm just openly admitting I don't see a solution which works. There are just too many variables for my poor old engineer's brain to deal with... razor condition, razor size, razor sharpness, reviewer's technique, reviewer's beard type, reviewer's shave prep, stropping, etc., etc., etc. Since many razor models are relatively rare, most would have 1 reviewer at best... so "average rating" isn't possible. If you think the answer is to have them reviewed by "highly qualified" people (eg, a honemeister), how would you establish who meets that criteria?

I totally agree with you! But, doesn't these 'but's' apply to anything in the world which is reviewed? Car's, novels, movies, chairs, food, restaurants etc.
Still... if enough people give their input (also the ones like me with only a few razors to review) I think it will work. Look at the amazon.com ratingsystem. Most of the ratings are done by people who are no professionals... and does that matter?

michel

Actually, we have a rating system, in an 'open source' sort of way - just use the search function in the RAZORS forum - if the razor brand you're interested in doesn't come up, post a thread similar to rgdominguez did on the Merkur straight recently - trust me, with this group, if you hit one that someone feels either strongly positive OR negative, you'll get a response, and probably, as on the Merkur thread, at least one of each (I liked 'em, thebigspendur didn't....fine by me!)

To be honest, that's what I thought the razor forum was for.

-just my $.0000000002

-whatever

-Lou

Originally Posted by michel

I totally agree with you! But, doesn't these 'but's' apply to anything in the world which is reviewed? Car's, novels, movies, chairs, food, restaurants etc.
Still... if enough people give their input (also the ones like me with only a few razors to review) I think it will work. Look at the amazon.com ratingsystem. Most of the ratings are done by people who are no professionals... and does that matter?

michel

Hmmmm... I started to write something but I stopped. I've said enough and when you actually try to write a review and/or use a razor review, you'll understand what I have already said. And Lou is right... that's what the razor forum is for.

Let me be so bold as to suggest that almost every str8 Razor I've ever owned was a good shaver. If it wasn't, it turned out to be bent or the temper was gone, or some other anomaly. So, if you had a good/average/bad rating system, you'll find that almost all razors made prior to 1950 in either Germany, the UK, France, the USA, or the Scandinavian countries will fall into the good category. Razors made most anywhere else would not. Yes, one might sharpen slightly easier than another, one might hold an edge longer than another, but by and large, they're all good shavers. Unfortunately, how easily they sharpen, how long they stay sharp, etc. are the hardest things to judge since they are the most subjective elements that are impossible to completely divorce from the craftsman that actually made the razor, the reviewer's competence/equipment/experience... ie, it's more a function of the person than the razor brand/model. Certainly there are some exceptions, but not as many as you'd think.

Now, that said, I certainly haven't liked every razor I've owned, even though they were good shavers. I prefer round points as opposed to square... I prefer thicker blades that don't "sing" as much... I prefer 6/8 over 5/8 and 7/8... etc. but those are my preferences, not something related to the razor's "quality". Someone reviewing a 4/8 DD and rating it "excellent" means nothing to me since I wouldn't like it no matter how highly rated it was. Likewise, a person who prefers smaller razors would absolutely hate a 8/8 W&B. So, I contend when you're looking for a good razor, the grind, the size, the point style, etc. are what makes it good or bad for you.

For the newbies... it wasn't long ago that a seller in the UK was importing Paki razors with the word Solingen etched on them because he'd registered that name in the UK. Perfectly legal. A year later that razor morphed into something else because the word got out that it was worthless junk. (The Chinese and Pakistan suppliers will etch and/or stamp what ever you want on the blades... they don't feel the need to adhere to any trade marks and/or copyrights.) So, if you're looking at a new blade, it is recommended that you either purchase it from someone you know/trust or a reputable company. Or, as Lou suggests, ask.

Joe,
I have to agree with your last post (eyeopener). Its true what you say... and even I can have a great shave with a minor blade right now (It took me a year to learn that with a good technique almost every blade works...). And I too have my preferences... but isn't that why we are on SRP afterall... to talk about our preferences, our discoveries... about noticing that the razor we prefered a couple of months ago is now replaced by another one?
Still I don;t believe that all is in the eye of the beholder. I still feel that there seems to be something like quality and not quality. Something like a Thiers and any other razor. (and I don't make a value point when I say a Thiers Issard... just that it has that typical feel to a shave).
And that typical of a razor... which is hard to put in words but we all seem to notice... is what makes some razors good and some bad.

Joe,
I withdraw my proposal of SRR, as you convinced me that reviewing razors isn't the thing I'm up to now. On the other hand... I still believe that if we (not me) start something of a reviewpossibility on this site now and we look back after 10 years or so SRP might have the ultimate resourse of 'amateur' reviews... But as said... I'm not the right person to propose such a thing.

sorry,
michel

I've seen the reviews on B&B and it seems the shave quality which is what we here are after seems to take a back seat to the cosmetics and value for the dollar aspects.

Joe is 100% correct. If its a quality razor which means it comes from the known and respected geographical area and it is in good condition and has been properly honed it will shave great. We already know if its from Pakistan and a few other locals stay away.

Now if your talking comparing cosmetics like scales and gold wash and dollar for the value based on those things thats another story. Basically the queation is are we here more concerned with that aspect or the shave quality. Its similar to the brush forum on B&B where people have all kinds of heated discussions about the nuances of the various brushes. We have a brush forum also but we don't really have those kinds of discussions here.

Yes there are some razors that shave better than others but its like saying or arguing which car drives better a Ferrari or a lamborghini? At the end of the day they are both great cars and perform great. The differences are minor degrees.

Good points. I think the major point is that razor opinions are more subjective, and the far fewer number of ancillary items available for shaving (soaps, creams, lotions), lend themselves better to categorization. I concede. No mas, no mas...

Thanks - John

Originally Posted by Namdnas

... No mas, no mas...

Thanks - John

WHAT!!! They quit making Maas?? I'm running down to Wal-Mart right now to buy up all their stock!

(I'll be right back.)

-whatever

-Lou

Funny you should say that. Everyone I tried looked at me like I had two heads when trying to find Maas at Walmart. One person said, are you sure it wasn't 'Mother's', not 'Ma's'? I laughed.