Thread: Dovo "Special" or "Best Quality"?

I recently purchased what was advertised as a Dovo Classic "Special" with black scales. What arrived does not say "Dovo Special" on the blade as I expected, but rather "Solingen Best Quality" (with "DOVO Solingen" stamped on the tang). Have I been had? (Dovo "Best Quality" razors were also advertised on the site for about $5 less than the "Special" ones.)

I would bring it up.
There is a difference. Having had both, while the Dovo best quality took an edge, it never gave quite the comfortable shave that the Dovo Special did (for me, at least) and in the catalogs, the Dovo "best quality" blades have always been the "economy" models, whereas the "Special" versions were IMHO nicer, perhaps with better steel.

I'm sure you'll get other answers on this too, but this is my opinion.

John P.

I don't know that you were "had", but someone sent you the wrong razor! I would contact the seller and have them make it right!

Thanks for the encouragement, guys. I have sent an email to the service department.

I read on another site that the Dovo razors at this level might all use the same steel and process, that just the finish is different. If so I might just keep the Best Qual and ask for the difference in price refunded. Sounds like that's not your experience though? Anyone else know if the blades would be more or less the same as far as shaving and keeping an edge?

BTW, what should a Dovo Classic "Special" look like? How can I identify it?

My guess would be most razors use either swedish Steel or Silver Steel with the Silver being the cat's meow with the exception of course with stainless. TI has this new fangled steel they are using in their razors now but since we're talking Dovo I would guess it swedish. I have their Mamouth scale razor which is their top of the line razor and it uses Swedish Steel. I don't know if there are different grades but my feeling is its all the same just different decoration and sizes and grinds and scales and scale materials.

This seller (who shall remain nameless for now -- but they're a big name around here!) is looking into it and informs me that Dovo switched the blades on them - the ones they got from Dovo that were supposed to be "specials" had the "best quality" blades. They tell me that Dovo seems to be considering the blades interchangeable/equivalent, but they are looking into it further (and apparently having to learn some German in the process).

I used to offer both of these interchangeably in my sets. I would advertise which was being used each time I switched but always paid the same wholesale price for either and always retailed them at the same price. To me they looked and performed similarly and obviously if bought and sold at the same price point by Dovo must be nearly identical.

Tony

My only razor is a Dovo "Best Quality"... therefore I have no way of comparing it to the "special" or any other razor. Despite this fact I can tell you that I am quite satisfied with it. I can get very decent shaves with it and they are very confortable, at least when compared to my DE or my previous methods (the infamous BIC single blade!).
My opinion, though, is that you paid for one thing and got another. Try to get to the bottom of it and get what you paid for... but if you end up stuck with the "best quality" you won't regret it. I think...
Good luck!

I just heard back from the company, which I will now reveal to be none other than the beloved classicshaving.com. It seems Dovo has discontinued the "special" blades without giving any notice. However, the descriptions of the "special" blade and the "Best Quality" blade appear to be the same, with only the etching/finishing different. So I have decided to stick with my "Best Quality," and classicshaving is refunding me the $4 difference in price. They are also removing the "classic Special" listing from their web site. I will say that their service has been great -- courteous and timely -- throughout the process of trying to resolve this issue, except that it sometimes takes several tries to get through by phone.

Those of you with "specials" -- I guess this makes them a collector's item now! Congrats!

I also ordered a "special" last week and got a "Best Quality."

I emailed them this afternoon (6/4); we'll see how long it takes to get back with the explanation and / or resolution.

It's a nice razor (from what I can tell, I'm a n00b), it honed up well and is a pretty comfortable shave.

Thanks for bringing it up as a topic.

Scott