Thread: A Rip-Off?

About two months ago, I finally entered the foray of straight razor shaving, which I'd been wanting to do since a child (I have odd aspirations...). So, I went to the local cigar store which I had noticed a few days prior to this, also sells shaving wares. After spending some time, I chose a Dovo #109 Schloss / Burg with plumwood scales. Here is the razor in questionat classic shaving. My gripe: I paid $190 CAD for it. That's fifty-three dollars more than at classic shaving. Was I royally ripped off? I've not heard of any one else using this razor, though it seems to have two of the qualities that make a fine razor: grooves on both sides of the tang and high carbon steel (which I did not know when I bought it).

I also bought a dorko strop there for, I believe, $70 CAD. And dovo yellow strop paste, for an amount which may or may not have been over ten dollars. Is this too much?

Thanks for your opinions.

First, take a deep breath and relax! You, my friend are lucky you have a local cigar store that actually stocks straight razors and related equipment! Most of us have to make do with mail order, buying things unseen, paying hefty shipping fees and waiting forever to get the darn things only to find out that the specimen we were sent turned out to have a small defect, one that irks us enough to have to pay shipping to send back and wait for a replacement. Then there is the issue of picture quality and the actual appearance of the item we ordered, such as a wooden scaled razor... one set of scales in plum wood can look markedly different from the next, both may be beautiful or perhaps more likely, one of them was quite plain (that's the one that would be sent to my mailbox). Of course, the plain set of scales is not defective, it's still solid plum wood so what do I have to complain about?!?!

In your case you paid $53 more for that razor than at Classic shaving... now, considering you also purchased a strop for $70 (quite reasonable, I've not seen the model you purchased but generally you can't get much cheaper than $50 or $60 and still have a usable strop. Those two items alone would cost you at least $30 in shipping, possibly more, then there's the transit time... from Classic Shaving to Winnipeg, an easy 3 week+ wait. Then we have the CPC $5 handling fee for collecting the GST and possibly the PST. In the end, it *MAY* have cost you an extra $15 to buy local but you also helped keep that store in business, it's in your own city and you can go there any time and buy something else if you need it. You had the chance to inspect that razor before you purchased it, you were able to see several models perhaps and you might have decided that NONE of the razors you saw there looked as good as they did in the brochure or on the internet website you may have been looking at and thus been able to walk out the door without spending a single $. Had you purchased something you didn't end up liking or something defective on the internet, that paltry $15 you saved would get eaten up awfully fast.

No, I'm afraid I'm quite jealous of you..... I have no such luxuries here in Winnipeg, I'm stuck dealing with the internet dealers and while many are great, those damn shipping charges really get my goat. And I won't mention the Customs agents who like to play with my stuff at their leisure, never mind saving me from such hazardous materials as aftershaves and colognes!

Well, now that you know the various places on the net to check prices, you can always ask the proprietor if he could discount the price should you wish to buy another razor or what have you. While that price did seem a bit high, it would also depend on when his stock came in... remember, it's not that long ago when we had a lower dollar, not to mention there's probably not a huge market for straights in that area although if some of the gents on this board find out it's location, business might just pick up!

Regards

Christian

Originally Posted by Presently42

About two months ago, I finally entered the foray of straight razor shaving, which I'd been wanting to do since a child (I have odd aspirations...). So, I went to the local cigar store which I had noticed a few days prior to this, also sells shaving wares. After spending some time, I chose a Dovo #109 Schloss / Burg with plumwood scales. Here is the razor in questionat classic shaving. My gripe: I paid $190 CAD for it. That's fifty-three dollars more than at classic shaving. Was I royally ripped off? I've not heard of any one else using this razor, though it seems to have two of the qualities that make a fine razor: grooves on both sides of the tang and high carbon steel (which I did not know when I bought it).

I also bought a dorko strop there for, I believe, $70 CAD. And dovo yellow strop paste, for an amount which may or may not have been over ten dollars. Is this too much?

Thanks for your opinions.

Keep in mind that businesses that operate exclusively on the internet can offer items at a lower price as they don't need to pay rent on a retail location. I'm also guessing that mail order businesses tend to deal with fewer government regulations and the corresponding expenses.

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

First, take a deep breath and relax! You, my friend are lucky you have a local cigar store that actually stocks straight razors and related equipment!

You are too right. I am very lucky and I know it

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

In your case you paid $53 more for that razor than at Classic shaving...

I did. But, you have brought up excellent points. I had known before I went there that I could buy over the internet. I had even gone to classic shaving to look at their selection (though I did not recall the prices). Yet, I still chose to buy it from Vasco, the cigar store. Why? Because, as you say, they are local and I like to support the local economy, if I can (I did the same when I bought my headphones for which I again over paid, but had a nice experience selecting).

And as to the strop, I must admitt a bit of ignorance price-wise on my part. I tried to find a photo or some such thing, but in this endeavour I failed. It is a fairly standard beast with rough leather on the reverse.

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Well, now that you know the various places on the net to check prices, you can always ask the proprietor if he could discount the price should you wish to buy another razor or what have you.

A thought, though I'm not sure I could: I'm rather shy (hence the lord of lurkers bit under my avatar). But I will keep it in mind: They also sell Trumper's and T&H (though not Taylor's; rats) and I suspect I shall be acquiring some at some point.

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

[T]hat price did seem a bit high[.]

Aha! You admit it!

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

[I]t's not that long ago when we had a lower dollar, not to mention there's probably not a huge market for straights in that area although if some of the gents on this board find out it's location, business might just pick up!

Your dollar point is quite true and I had not thought of this. As to the location, I think I put it on the site's shopping map. No need to hide it, after all!

Thank you for your swift and informative (not to mention humourous) reply.

Heh, I like the smilies on this forum. And I usually hate smilies.

Originally Posted by Presently42

A thought, though I'm not sure I could: I'm rather shy (hence the lord of lurkers bit under my avatar). But I will keep it in mind: They also sell Trumper's and T&H (though not Taylor's; rats) and I suspect I shall be acquiring some at some point.

Let's see... a total of 5 posts on SRP so far.... Based on this thread I think I'll take that "I'm Shy" comment with a wee pinch o' salt.

As for only having access to Trumper and T&H locally... tsk tsk..... you should be here, you could have your choice of Florena in the old style box and Florena in the new style box!

Do they have both the creams and soaps from Trumper and T&H? I find I prefer the Trumper soaps and the T&H soap is great too. I've not used T&H creams though I hear they are quite nice. I have used *ALL* of Taylors creams and soaps, they are a bargain and are as good as anything I've used, but I seem to have moved towards soaps after switching to straights, thought I still enjoy the occasional flirt with my creams.

Originally Posted by Presently42

Thank you for your swift and informative (not to mention humourous) reply.

You are most welcome, I'm always happy to chastise a fellow Canadian when he doesn't know how good he has it!

By the way, the name Vasco reminded me that there may be a few other haunts for you to check out.... I think there is an ethnic market or two that carry a variety of wonderful inexpensive shaving creams from various places... perhaps Rustyblade will read this and chime in. I'm pretty sure he's got a line on where those places are. Also, I think you have a Toronto barber and beauty supply outlet as well... if you do, you can pick up a bucket of J. M. Frasers shaving cream for ten bucks which is a great deal and they might have some of the Booster aftershaves as well...

Originally Posted by Presently42

Heh, I like the smilies on this forum. And I usually hate smilies.

As do I.

Regards

Kaptain "Hey, what am I smiling for? I'm the one stuck in Winterpig!" Zero

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Let's see... a total of 5 posts on SRP so far.... Based on this thread I think I'll take that "I'm Shy" comment with a wee pinch o' salt.

Five posts, but I've known of the site for more than a year and been a serious lurker for a number of months. I am shy, though in my own way.

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

As for only having access to Trumper and T&H locally... tsk tsk.....

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Do they have both the creams and soaps from Trumper and T&H?

They do

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

By the way, the name Vasco reminded me that there may be a few other haunts for you to check out.... I think there is an ethnic market or two that carry a variety of wonderful inexpensive shaving creams from various places... perhaps Rustyblade will read this and chime in. I'm pretty sure he's got a line on where those places are.

Very nice. I would be quite interested in knowing of other sellers. I only know of Vasco and a place called The Old Europe which sells at least Proraso. But so do the pharmacies.

And now, a gratuitous shot, in phosphorescent green, of my current collection, followed by a smily which I like: