Thread: what is the cost per benefit ratio is for razors.

I was wondering what the cost per benefit ratio is for razors. while I'm sure the quality of the metal increases the higher you go but there must be a point where the extra cost is nothing but gold leaf, name and fancy scale materials. for example I have a dovo best quality that cost $80 would a dovo at $160 really be that big of a difference? I can't imagine the quality of the shaving being 2 times better. how many different typed of steel do they really use among their stock with ought again being just more gold leaf and scales, I'm sure they only have a few different types of metal and just slap different names on it depending on the scale color they chose.

The cost per benefit ratio is no different than for other things such as vehicles.
A 20K vehicle will do the job as well and as safely as a 120K vehicle.
My choice if I had he disposable income would be to purchase the 120K vehicle even though they both do the same job sufficiently.
It is the same with razors,....the additional cost in an expensive razor isn't going to give you twice or three times the quality of shave. Perhaps a bit more comfortable but a lot prettier.

You can get some really good razors very cheaply, esp vintage ones. Currently a few brands and types are commanding very high prices, and certainly the steel of some of these 'more desirable' razors may be very nice, yet again, you can get a very nice razor for less than 50 bucks...

A lot of the cost is just prettiness, such as the gold leaf you mention, etching, spine work, material of the scales, etc.

Yea, like anything else you rapidly hit the point of diminishing return for dollars spent. I could not say for sure but would bet the same steel goes into all models of razors from the same manufacturer. You want fancy you pay for fancy is the main difference as far as I can see.

Bob

As you go from utilitarian to fancy and luxury the profit margin goes up with the price because it becomes more of a luxury item and they sell fewer of them.

Did you see the blade PHrank posted on another thread re the $3,700.00 straight razor?
don't know how to copy the link?

Shave Ready Tamahagane Iwasaki J apanese Straight Razor Shaving Sword D 163 | eBay

Like stated above, it's all very subjective. Different grinds and shapes of razors work better for different folks. Anything beyond a quality razor that performs well and suits you is essentially the price you want to pay for aesthetics or collectability.

hmm,so basically aside from the shape getting a higher priced carbon razor over my dovo best quality isn't going to make much if any difference?

Originally Posted by keokitsune

hmm,so basically aside from the shape getting a higher priced carbon razor over my dovo best quality isn't going to make much if any difference?

Not as far as the quality of shave goes. By that I mean the biggest factors in getting a quality shave is how well the blade, any blade, is honed in the first place and if you have enough skill to pull it off if that is what you are asking. For the most part you cannot buy a better shave by throwing money at it. If you are a crappy Chevy driver chances are you will be a crappy Ferrari driver too.

Bob

Originally Posted by keokitsune

hmm,so basically aside from the shape getting a higher priced carbon razor over my dovo best quality isn't going to make much if any difference?

Yeah not really...

Price and Value are not necessarily attached at the hip

Steel is only one aspect, just so long as the steel is of good quality then Heat Treat and Grind are more important to the feel on the face

Junk steel is junk steel, Bad geometry is bad geometry, so make sure you are looking at quality and not junk, again quality does not always mean price..

Scale material does make a difference in price, decoration does make a difference in price neither affects shave quality, assuming a solid design and balance..


As you can see Cost vs Value isn't as easy to determine as we would like