Thread: Modified Gold Dollar

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Then I can't help you...

thanks for trying tho...

Here's the thing I don't get about GD:

They have the factory and all the machinery and tooling required to mass produce razor blades.

If they were to tighten up their quality control a fair bit, and spend an extra dollar per razor on better plastic for the scales, and a better grade steel for the blades, they could turn out good entry-level razors. Even if it doubled or tripled the end cost of their products, they could take the entry level razor market by storm. Their cost would still be 50% of what a company like Dovo charges for their entry level 'Best Quality' line.

I've wondered about that too, Caydel.

Originally Posted by Caydel

Here's the thing I don't get about GD:

They have the factory and all the machinery and tooling required to mass produce razor blades.

If they were to tighten up their quality control a fair bit, and spend an extra dollar per razor on better plastic for the scales, and a better grade steel for the blades, they could turn out good entry-level razors. Even if it doubled or tripled the end cost of their products, they could take the entry level razor market by storm. Their cost would still be 50% of what a company like Dovo charges for their entry level 'Best Quality' line.

If it was that cheap and easy, I'm sure they would do it. Quality control is largely related to grind, and grinding razors was a well respected trade back in the day (thus it must not be easy). Just changing the steel would require changing everything that is done to the steel, because different steels need different treatments. They might also need a different supplier for a different steel, too. I do think better scales would be easy, though.

Those are just the obstacles that come to my mind based on the little I know about making razors. And I know next to nothing. I bet any of the guys who actually make razors could point out lots more complications. The factory might have to completely retool.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Elephants are grey, but not all grey things are elephants.

There are GDs which can be good shavers, and there are those which can have a ton of issues. There is a very wide spread. Some have too thick shoulders, some rust very easily, and some have a blade that protrudes from below the scales if it is fully closed. That's why we started that infamous GD thread a long time ago. that does not mean that all GDs are bad. And if you buy them from someone who corrects whatever issues it may have before reselling it, you probably will end up with a cost effective shaver.

The reason that we posted a warning about them was that the way they come from the factory, they're not good razors for beginners to buy, because a beginner typically does not recognize the issues it might have, or will not be experienced enough to correct them. This is also why a beginner should probably not spend big bucks on ebay. He or she won't know all the things to look out for.

I agree..Ken Rup gets em from the factory in China and he fixes em all up perfectly and DOES modify them..rounding off the sharp scale corners..etc to the razor..I heard he does a great job with them..his strop's are also good for the wallet..thought I would comment in all good respect to the GD razor

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

If it was that cheap and easy, I'm sure they would do it. Quality control is largely related to grind, and grinding razors was a well respected trade back in the day (thus it must not be easy). Just changing the steel would require changing everything that is done to the steel, because different steels need different treatments. They might also need a different supplier for a different steel, too. I do think better scales would be easy, though.

Those are just the obstacles that come to my mind based on the little I know about making razors. And I know next to nothing. I bet any of the guys who actually make razors could point out lots more complications. The factory might have to completely retool.

I agree 100%. But that's why I allowed for a tripling of their per-unit cost, which I think is quite generous.

Still dont get whats so different about a Gold Dollar razor.

Let's keep this going! I don't know how people can get sick of Gold Dollar threads!

If I may, I will try to summarize what I've gathered from a multitude of Gold Dollar threads.
SRP management has taken an official stance that GD razors are not recommended for those new to the straight razor. They feel as though the bad eggs among the GDs are too high in number to be a reliable brand. This is not to say they are all, each one of them, junk. How am I doing so far?

Thus, the unsuspecting new person may acquire a GD razor and be disappointed with straight shaving in general because of a low quality razor. This is not to say that people haven't acquired them in great condition from the factory, I've seen plenty of those accounts to know it's happened.

They (GDs) can be acquired--with some work already done on them by a reputable dealer--in good, shave ready condition. (I've ready this many times, too)

The bottom line, as I see it with respect to GDs or anything else on earth, is buyer beware. You spends your money, you takes your chances.

my ebay shipper said it would be another day added to my shipping time... apparently the razor i bought went on a 6 state crack smoking and robbery binge...

those GD razors must be bad.....

Originally Posted by paco664

my ebay shipper said it would be another day added to my shipping time... apparently the razor i bought went on a 6 state crack smoking and robbery binge...

those GD razors must be bad.....

This is the human equivalent of a GD: