Thread: Advice about ebay purchases

I started buying razors on ebay a couple months ago and have been very happy with the results. I also need to STOP.

First, I bought "Standard Guide to Razors" by Roy Ritchie & Ron Stewart. It gives an exhaustive list of brands and values them. That gives you some basic idea of what brands are acceptable, because if they are in there they are probably ok, and he list zillions of brands. The actual valuations don't at all reflect ebay reality, but they are a great sanity check. For example, the book gives high values to american steel razors, and those are generally underpriced on ebay compared to German brands.

Then, I picked some brands from the book to "track" on ebay, and did a bunch of searches, and watched for a while to see what differint razors went for. I contstantly keep razors on my watch list that I don't intend to buy, just so I can get a sense of what costs what. The last hour of bidding often doubles or triples the price, so you need to track the final price, not the 3 days left to go price.

Also, pay attention to which razors seem to draw in bidders with high purchase counts. That's a blunt tool, but if a bunch of guys with 200 razor purchasers bid on a razor, that probably tells you something. I only guys with 2 razor purchasers are looking, that might tell you something too.

Also, occasionally do searches spelling things wrong. I saw a dubl duck go real cheap because the idiot seller listed it as a "Twin Duck". I think I got an ok deal on a green lizard because cattaraugus was spelled wrong.

Here's what I've bought just as anecdotal perspective, and roughly what I paid (ie what I remember) minus shipping:

1. Robeson NuBack 4/8s in great shape - $5 [seller put up a terrible picture - this was an anomoly]
2. Robeson Shuredge 6/8s in very nice shape - $50.
3. Geneva Cutlery 6/8s in very nice shape - $30
4. W&B 7/8s wedge in great shape for a 150 year old razor - $41 - had this one rescaled by another member and it is now SWEET.
5. W&B 8/8s wedge in great shape for a 150 year old razor - $40
6. Henckels 3 pin Twinworks 9/16 with inlaid scales in great shape - $38
7. Cattaraugus 5.8s green lizard - $28
8. Puma 5/8s in unused shape - $61
9. Friodur 5/8s untouched or close to it - $108.
10 Wustof 5/8 - $110
11. Engstrom 5/8 swayback untouched - $26
12. THessenBruch 5/8s in good shape - $19

This reminds me I need to stop buying razors - I'm glad I went through that exercise.

These razors are all great (though the lizard is still defying me on the honing, but I cracked the rest), and I've been able to see a lot of diverstiy in grinds and widths and steel feel, and I've learned a ton about honing (and developed tendinitis, but that's another issue). You can see you can get great american blades under $50, and alot of good german ones too for $50. Likewise very nice Beau Brummels go a little over that all the time. And I've seen gorgeous lesser known but great Solingen razors that haven't been used go around $50.

So do some lurking on ebay and you'll get a sense of what to look for.

Also, ask a lot of questions before you buy - does it close smoothly without rubbing the sides of the scales, any chips or scratches on the blade, etc. You can't pick everything up on the pictures they post.

Finally, get a sense for the good sellers.

Yeah, I'm not expecting the razors to stay at their starting prices. Also, learning honing on a new razor actually makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't have thought of it, but now that you mention it, it does make a lot of sense.

I'll definately have to pick up that book, and your listing here is a solid guide. Its good to see I'm not the only one to get the "itis".

What makes you think the Twin Duck was not a "Twin Duck"??? I listed my Bresnick Twin Duck with Dubl Duck razors and had the listing canceled due to spamming. Twin Duck Special #1 is equivalent to the Bresduck Dubl Duck Special #1 It's not nice to call people "idiots"

Originally Posted by RazorTalkin

Twin Duck Special #1 is equivalent to the Bresduck Dubl Duck Special #1

Not when you do a search it isn't. Dubl Ducks are highly respected and people will search for them. Your auction listed as "Twin Duck" will be seen by fewer people and hence will likely sell for less than it could.

Agreed with getting a practice razor that has no other defects. However, I think a cheaper and possibly better route might be the classifieds. I always see razors there for less than the cheapest dovo. Theres also the BST on badgerandblade.

Originally Posted by theworldover

As a newb, I don't have the experience to accurately assess the condition of a vintage blade from pictures. I know to look for rust, hone wear, pitting, etc., but my eye isn't keen enough to tell a pit from a speck of rust, from a watermark. If you guys could assess these pics and tell me if this razor is worth $25, and then tell me how you reach your conclusions, that'd be wonderful!

Specifically, wear on the tang on the bottom picture, and what appears in the pic as a little black speck in the bottom picture on the bottom left of the blade.

If you'd like to see larger pictures, PM me your email and I'll fwd you the email that the seller sent me.

Thanks again guys!

Sorry, but it looks like someones been messin with that W&B. Personally I would either pass or offer a very small amount of money on a razor that appears to possibly have been a reject from someone's foray into restoration.

Chris L

Is it just me or does it look like the shoulder on the Boker has been nipped a touch by the hone?

Oh, and that was a genuine question, not a statement. I'm waiting for my benefits to kick in from work before I finally go get some damn glasses. :P

Originally Posted by Rajagra

Not when you do a search it isn't. Dubl Ducks are highly respected and people will search for them. Your auction listed as "Twin Duck" will be seen by fewer people and hence will likely sell for less than it could.

I listed a Twin Duck with Dubl Duck in the title a few months ago, and my listing was canceled and my account was given a strike from the ebay administration for "Browse Manipulation" ! They said I put "Dubl Duck" in the title to get more views, and that was against their policy. Some jerk reported my razor to eliminate his competition, and my account suffered for it. They even moved my listing further down the ladder in search results, to further keep my razor from being seen. I've found it very difficult to put anything anything in the title that helps get the razor a higher price. New rules are added everyday it seems that make it harder for a seller to sell anything.

Originally Posted by RazorTalkin

I listed a Twin Duck with Dubl Duck in the title a few months ago, and my listing was canceled and my account was given a strike from the ebay administration for "Browse Manipulation" ! They said I put "Dubl Duck" in the title to get more views, and that was against their policy. Some jerk reported my razor to eliminate his competition, and my account suffered for it. They even moved my listing further down the ladder in search results, to further keep my razor from being seen. I've found it very difficult to put anything anything in the title that helps get the razor a higher price. New rules are added everyday it seems that make it harder for a seller to sell anything.

The case I mentioned, the razor said dubl duck on the blade in the picture but the seller listed it as twin duck, which isn't wise any way you slice it.