Thread: Modified Gold Dollar

Boy are you guys going to be surprised when you figure this all out. I'll be reordering from Gold Dollar in the near future. If there are enough guys wanting to do a group buy thing. I could tack this on to my order. I'm also going to be ordering a couple additional models in an addition to the normal entry level razors. Newbies need to be aware of what work these razors need when they show up. Gold Dollar says they are ready to use. They obviously don't use them. When I prep these for sale the heels of the razors typically extends below the edge and requires grinding to bring it line with the edge. I usually have to grind down the excess on the pins and then peen them. I take the sharp edges of the back of the scales. I make sure the blade closes properly. If it doesn't I'll make the adjustments so that they do. They ones I reject for scale reasons I'll rescale the blade. Sometimes the blades are not acceptable, I just write them off. The Gold Dollar is a good razor, just not ready to use of the boat. It is still the best quality entry for the price I can find.
I'm not afraid of competition. Thanks to my loyal customers, I have plenty of business not only in start-up sets but in strops, honing and in restorations.

Originally Posted by Kenrup

Boy are you guys going to be surprised when you figure this all out. I'll be reordering from Gold Dollar in the near future. If there are enough guys wanting to do a group buy thing. I could tack this on to my order. I'm also going to be ordering a couple additional models in an addition to the normal entry level razors. Newbies need to be aware of what work these razors need when they show up. Gold Dollar says they are ready to use. They obviously don't use them. When I prep these for sale the heels of the razors typically extends below the edge and requires grinding to bring it line with the edge. I usually have to grind down the excess on the pins and then peen them. I take the sharp edges of the back of the scales. I make sure the blade closes properly. If it doesn't I'll make the adjustments so that they do. They ones I reject for scale reasons I'll rescale the blade. Sometimes the blades are not acceptable, I just write them off. The Gold Dollar is a good razor, just not ready to use of the boat. It is still the best quality entry for the price I can find.
I'm not afraid of competition. Thanks to my loyal customers, I have plenty of business not only in start-up sets but in strops, honing and in restorations.

I really think ading the 200 model to your lineup would be a great addition. The quality level is a few notches higher than the model 74.
The 800, also is a much higher quality model, and is stainless, but not everybody is a stainless fan.... The price on that one is also significantly higher.

Here's a shot of a set of three random GDs to show what Ken is describing with the heels. The one on the bottom doesn't look too bad, the top one has a bit of heel overshoot, and the middle one has a bit of a wavy edge.

Nothing that is un-fixable with some time and effort. But certainly don't think you will necessarily just be able to hone them up and go (on some of them you can, on some, it takes a fair bit of work).

And of course, I I can attest to, if you do like to mess around with them, they are perfect for doing so!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Shipping is about $100 extra.

If you want to become another distributor, then go right ahead, it's a free market economy.

After you recieve your box of GDs, you will soon notice how much work KenRup actually does put into each one to make it shave ready, and thus charges the price he does.

If you want to follow the Stamps222/Mr Parko business model, I think you will find that their prices are not unreasonable either, after factoring in the fuss and whatnot of handling orders, and dealing with shipping etc.

If you want to buy a shipment and sell them at the same $1.83 you purchased them for, then I'll be first in line as a customer of yours!

From what I recall the 200 models were like ~$5 or so each, and the 800 were like $17 or so.

Ditto! If you end up getting a shipment of them, I'd be glad to take one as well. Not sure which model that's a quote for tho.

It's a stark reality that many precision tools made in China are less than precise. So, Gold Dollar razors needing tweaking is sadly almost to be expected.

I have interest in small mini metal lathes. The Chinese 7"x10", 7"x12" and 7"x14" lathes have cult followings and large Yahoo groups of those who own them. They readily acknowledge that those types of lathes, brand new are NOT ready to go out of the box and are at times even unworkable. They tell prospective buyers to view these brand new Chinese lathes (that anyone should rightly assume are ready to use for precise work) as KITS. Depending on how you view it, it's either crazy that numerous modifications and fixes need to be done to a new piece of machinery before using it fully for its intended purpose or a fun project in and of itself to get it to work before using it.

Putting myself in the shoes of a Chinese worker who maybe has the choice between working in a factory or having his organs harvested for resale while he's still alive, I could see where doing what's considered passable or acceptable rather than outstanding would be a passive way of giving the oppressive government the proverbial finger?

Sorry for the tangent.

Chris L

Originally Posted by Seraphim

I really think ading the 200 model to your lineup would be a great addition. The quality level is a few notches higher than the model 74.
The 800, also is a much higher quality model, and is stainless, but not everybody is a stainless fan.... The price on that one is also significantly higher.

Here's a shot of a set of three random GDs to show what Ken is describing with the heels. The one on the bottom doesn't look too bad, the top one has a bit of heel overshoot, and the middle one has a bit of a wavy edge.

Nothing that is un-fixable with some time and effort. But certainly don't think you will necessarily just be able to hone them up and go (on some of them you can, on some, it takes a fair bit of work).

And of course, I I can attest to, if you do like to mess around with them, they are perfect for doing so!

I agree! the 200 line are what I would love to get as well.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

The 800, also is a much higher quality model, and is stainless, but not everybody is a stainless fan.... The price on that one is also significantly higher.

Seraphim do you already have an 800 in your possession? Or are basing the above on the info you got from Gold Dollar? So far we know that the steel for the 800 is 440 and will be imported from Japan. You also mentioned that they will run about $18 from the manufacturer. Anything else you know and haven't mentioned?

Originally Posted by Kenrup

Boy are you guys going to be surprised when you figure this all out. I'll be reordering from Gold Dollar in the near future. If there are enough guys wanting to do a group buy thing. I could tack this on to my order. I'm also going to be ordering a couple additional models in an addition to the normal entry level razors.

Ken good thing you chimed in. Especially for us noobs in the forum. I have some questions for you.
1. Which models are you going to have?
2. How much will they be if you sell them right off the boat? Without even opening the package that a given razor came in.

The thing is I keep a Kosher home. And my stones will be used to sharpen my kitchen knives as well as my razors. So I prefer that no other stone touches my razor except my own.
Also, I think many people want blades to practice on.

Rudy

I'm interested in these things for several reasons. First and foremost I don't want to use my nice vintage razors to practice honing and scale replacement. Secondly, you can never have too many razors, and third (ly?), and this is specific to the 800 series, I want a couple stainless blades to see what all the fuss is about.

what is the price dude?

Originally Posted by RudyG

Seraphim do you already have an 800 in your possession? Or are basing the above on the info you got from Gold Dollar? So far we know that the steel for the 800 is 440 and will be imported from Japan. You also mentioned that they will run about $18 from the manufacturer. Anything else you know and haven't mentioned?

Rudy

Yes, I have two Model 800s, and that is what I took a picture of earlier in the thread. I haven't honed one up yet, as I'm making some mods to it first (I know, I know....shocking, isn't it?).

As said previously, the issue with the 800 is that to do a group buy for those, someone is going to have to pont up $18-1900 bucks for a shipment of 100, which is significantly more than the ~$300 for a shipment of 74's, or ~$600 for a shipment of 200's.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Yes, I have two Model 800s, and that is what I took a picture of earlier in the thread. I haven't honed one up yet, as I'm making some mods to it first (I know, I know....shocking, isn't it?).

As said previously, the issue with the 800 is that to do a group buy for those, someone is going to have to pont up $18-1900 bucks for a shipment of 100, which is significantly more than the ~$300 for a shipment of 74's, or ~$600 for a shipment of 200's.

Thanks for the reply. This is interesting considering Nancy clearly told me in the email that the 800s have not been manufactured yet and therefore are not available. So was I misinformed? Or did I misunderstand what she said? I sent her some follow up questions. Let's see what Ken and gdaddy come back with.
May I ask where you purchased your 800s and how much they were?

Rudy

P.S. I still think the large cash outlay of the group buyer can be handled by requiring a deposit. Considering how flaky people can be, this will insure that only those interested enough to lay out some cash are considered in the quantity ordered. So that the group buyer does not end up with a lot of left over stock. There seems to be a lot of interest in Model 200 and 800 not least due to them being your recommendations. However, to this moment I have no idea what the differences are between all the models (108, 208, 200, 300, 800). Does anyone know?