The art of shaving store

Well gentlemen today I took a drive to San Francisco and visited my first art of shaving store. What a disappointment, From the time I walked in I was never acknowledge with a hello or I will be with you in a minute. The only employee working at the time was helping the only other person in the store. I couldn't help but listen in disbelief the garbage she was feeding the young fella with credit card in hand. He was purchasing a straight razor and had no clue as to what this type of shaving entails nor did the employee. Although I'm new to SRS I feel I'm getting a top notch education from this board and all my fellow board members.

I don't know, I for one like when I go into a store and nobody acknowledges me with silly sales techniques. This would be a plus in my opinion. Allowing the customer to browse and if they have questions, then approach a representative.

Also, I have visited two Art of Shaving stores and yes, the employees do know nothing about straight razors. Understandable given they are not marketing to only straight razor users. In fact, they are marketing to the average Joe shaving with a cartridge razor who is looking to spice up their shave experience.

I have found that the AOS stores I have visited, the employees were actually very knowledgeable about their products, including the soap, cream and balm.

Also, I happen to really like Art of Shaving Products.

If you have read any of my old posts about AOS you'll know I am NOT a fan, having said that, I won't sit here and bash the place. I agree with you that most employees know nothing about straight razors, but the person buying one could always take it upon themselves to research before getting into it anyway. I just wish they would tell the poor people that the razors are in fact, NOT shave ready... That would save many men time and razor burn when initially getting started. Lynn should market his dvd with all SR purchases at the AOS.

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Originally Posted by Fbones24

I don't know, I for one like when I go into a store and nobody acknowledges me with silly sales techniques. This would be a plus in my opinion. Allowing the customer to browse and if they have questions, then approach a representative.

Also, I have visited two Art of Shaving stores and yes, the employees do know nothing about straight razors. Understandable given they are not marketing to only straight razor users. In fact, they are marketing to the average Joe shaving with a cartridge razor who is looking to spice up their shave experience.

I have found that the AOS stores I have visited, the employees were actually very knowledgeable about their products, including the soap, cream and balm.

Also, I happen to really like Art of Shaving Products.

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I have also made visits to the AOS and their big thing
is to improve the humdrum wet shave with a cartridge thing.

Their selection of brushes, soaps and creams... do a good
job to this end. The sponsors of this forum do it better.

I do like the AOS hard shave soap. It is a bit expensive
but an excellent triple milled shave soap.

Brushes are decent but the one I selected way back is
a no backbone floppy one that works best on shave creams.
I like my Thater better across the board.

I have never seen the same sales person twice and
none of the sales girls knew much about shaving whiskers
or building a lather. Some AOS products show
up in better bigger stores like Macys and Nordsrom.

Not worth a special trip but do visit if you are near one.

Watch for sales and samples.

I can't hold it against AOS that their employees are not as knowledgable about straights as we are. We are the odd ones; the razor nerds. I'd bet that no matter what you are looking at, people who spend time on a forum specifically about a given product will know more than the average person who works retailing the same product.

It does make me wonder, though, how easy it would be for someone from SRP to get a job working at AOS. My own thought is "not very." Stores seem to prefer people with sales experience over people with product knowledge.

I always thought it slightly hilarious - in LA at least - that the stores are staffed with women who might be easier on the eyes but let's be honest: they have never (hopefully) laid a razor on their face

First off, I agree with holli4pirating--although I hardly know anything as a noob, I knew more about razors from reading these forums than the sales clerk did at the AoS in the mall. That said, she did know a lot about their products such as shave creme and brushes. I wound up buying a badger brush (probably over paid) , but she also showed me how to whip up a good lather with shave creme and the brush and gave me some nice samples--the after shave balm is nice, just IMHO a bit pricey. It's just another boutique kind of store in the mall. I know they have a barber spa salon and give straight razor shaves (35 and 55 dollars) at the store I went to, but I didn't have one so I don't know what they use or how good the experience is.

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I can't hold it against AOS that their employees are not as knowledgable about straights as we are. We are the odd ones; the razor nerds. I'd bet that no matter what you are looking at, people who spend time on a forum specifically about a given product will know more than the average person who works retailing the same product.

It does make me wonder, though, how easy it would be for someone from SRP to get a job working at AOS. My own thought is "not very." Stores seem to prefer people with sales experience over people with product knowledge.

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I don't know. If you go into Sears to buy a refrigerator the salesperson probably knows squat about the appliance and if you go to your local car dealer the sales guy probably knows minimal about the vehicles. On the other hand if you are dealing with a specialty or niche item (which straights are) most places specializing in these items have people who are well versed. Think of the sales guys in a gun store or knife shop or woodworking shop. They usually know their stuff.

As far as AOS goes they are just selling these products and straights are just a minor item so I don't consider them a specialty straight store. On the other hand many of our vendors are pretty knowledgeable.

I was in the AOS store yesterday also. I treated an old freind to his first ever Str8 razor shave. The baber used a feather blade but did a great job with beard prep: Hot towels, warm oil, hot lather which was done after each pass. My freind enjoyed the shave tremendously. They even told me if I were to bring a razor, they would be happy to use it.
The sales person was pretty knowledgable about their products, but not the str8's, which she admitted. They even asked me if I thought they were shave ready.

I think someone who was very familiar with wet shaving and str8s would probably be a welcome addition to their sales staff.

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Originally Posted by Mvcrash

I think someone who was very familiar with wet shaving and str8s would probably be a welcome addition to their sales staff.

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I'll have to move in with you and apply for a job at the local branch. :-)

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I'll have to move in with you and apply for a job at the local branch. :-)

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I have plenty of room!!!

I agree 100%, they know their products, but not SR's. Also as a newbie I feel I 'm learning more on this site then AOS told me. I wish I had found this site before I had made my first SR purchase from them. I was given a 2 page flyer on how to shave, strop, lather, etc. At least I got a good SR (Dovo 5/8), which will be heading to LYNN in a day or two to be honed properly. "ITS SHAVE READY", at least thats what I was told! Think I would have better results with a butter knife!!!! :mad:

I went to Art of Shaving. Enjoyed chatting with Kourtney. She started with her regular speech what I'm using now for shaving, I told her that I am using brush and a soap (variety of them). I didn't tell her about me using straight razors though :)
I sniffed all their creams and liked the sandalwood (I already had bought the lavender before). She gave me her card and one of their promotional sample packs with the oil/cream/aftershave. Now I have an excuse to go back, buy something else, and chat with her more. Totally positive experience but I think I knew how to make it one :)
If I want to talk about straight razors I come to SRP.

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Originally Posted by gugi

I went to Art of Shaving. Enjoyed chatting with Kourtney. She started with her regular speech what I'm using now for shaving, I told her that I am using brush and a soap (variety of them). I didn't tell her about me using straight razors though :)
I sniffed all their creams and liked the sandalwood (I already had bought the lavender before). She gave me her card and one of their promotional sample packs with the oil/cream/aftershave. Now I have an excuse to go back, buy something else, and chat with her more. Totally positive experience but I think I knew how to make it one :)

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There is an AOS near you? That's not as far to move as NJ...

No that was in nyc, there's one local vendor who stocks some of their products (or used to), but he's no Kourtney... :D

I love the AOS products. My first razor is an AOS TI.....with the aluminum scales. My first shave with that "not shave ready" razor was slightly better than any shave I've ever had with a Mock 3. It's still one of my favorites.

To be honest with you, I wish those TI's were shave ready out of the box. They're a darn good blade. I remember shaving with that same blade after sending it to Lynn......what a difference. I wouldn't mind paying the extra $20 to have a honemeister at a factory do what really should be done as part of the finishing and quality control process. AOS probably fails at not teaching their sales staff enough about straight razors, but since I'm not an employee I cannot really comment on that. Any sales person needs to apply what they know about a product to their sales technique.

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Originally Posted by gugi

No that was in nyc, there's one local vendor who stocks some of their products (or used to), but he's no Kourtney... :D

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Bummer. Cause had I moved in with you I'd have a fresh supply of horn all the time.

AOS actually got me interested in SR shaving. I was in NYC about 5 yrs. ago, around the time they were opening up their first store there, which included a salon for shaves, manicures, etc.. Still using my Gillette at the time, I bought a kit from them with soap, a brush and oil, all for sensitive skin. Their skin products were okay, but not the brush, which I had to stop using because it would not stop shedding.

In general, I must say that they are much better at estbalishing and marketing a brand name than at delivering quality product and service. The razors, brushes, strops and skincare products that I have bought from various sources in the US and Europe since first seeing AOS in 2006 are far superior than anything AOS has to offer.

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

There is an AOS near you? That's not as far to move as NJ...

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Originally Posted by gugi

No that was in nyc, there's one local vendor who stocks some of their products (or used to), but he's no Kourtney... :D

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Bummer. Cause had I moved in with you I'd have a fresh supply of horn all the time.

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Stuck with me now....Haaa

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Originally Posted by Mvcrash

Stuck with me now....Haaa

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Who's stuck with who? Bwa ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!

I have never been to an AOS store, there will most likely never be one near me but I often realize when I go into a specialty store that the person behind the counter may or may not be an expert in exactly what I am looking for. Point being, be grateful you have a local resource to go look at, touch and yes even purchase products. Many of us mail order everything and hope we get what was described or that the description writer has the same mindset we do. As far as not being greeted when you walk in. I did my time in retail and learned that not everyone wants to be talked to when they walk in. i used to give them a minute and then just say hi, if I can help you with something let me know, otherwise I will let you look around a bit. Its how I like to be treated, does not make it the rule; 65caddy, you like to be met at the door, thats OK too. But its also hard when your one in the shop and dealing with someone.

Takedeadaim, point taken I believe a simple greeting is not annoying or intrusive to anyone who is looking in a retail store. We go into stores knowing that there job is to sell us a product. The point of this thread was to let people know that this board is a great resource.

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Originally Posted by 65caddy

Takedeadaim, point taken I believe a simple greeting is not annoying or intrusive to anyone who is looking in a retail store. We go into stores knowing that there job is to sell us a product. The point of this thread was to let people know that this board is a great resource.

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Thank you!

I am currently employed with TAOS as a barber at the Canal Shops in the Venetian. The store carries Dovo and I believe they are all 5/8 or 6/8 half or full hollow grind. Prices vary according to handles and designs on the blades. They are all carbon steel round or spike point. When I am out front speaking with customers that are interested in straight razor shaving I find most have zero experience or knowledge. Trying to determine whether they will have the tenacity to learn to hone, strop and shave with a straight is difficult. I often refer them to a shavette like we use in the barber spa. We use 1/2 of a Gillette DE. We clean and sterilize the handles and holders after each use as well as inserting a fresh blade. At home I use cut throats and when traveling I take a Monsieur Charles. The staff up front are very knowledgeable regarding the use and benefits of the TAOS product line. I for one believe these products perform as advertised. Preparing and maintaining a straight razor for shaving is not the sales staffs forte. You may always ask a barber if available to help with the understanding that most are younger and have never delt with anything but disposable blades. I am one of the exeptions. The barbers are exeptional as are the sales consultants. Every sales consultant that is hired goes through a training program and of course there is a learning curve. Try to have understanding that you may know more about shaving than the sales consultants. I personally can hone, strop and shave but have no clue as to how to restore even a slightly damaged blade. I hope this helps clarify a few things for the laypersons out there. I believe this post to be acceptable to the context of this thread and disclosing my relationship to TAOS. Let me know if I am out of line.

the sales people are very knowledgeable about their products but nothing else. we don't have an AOS store in Houston.. but the AOS section at our nordstroms is pretty big. the ladies were nice, except for this big african one.. she was pushy and kept trying to make me buy something! she even tricked me into trying to get a nordstroms credit card! >:( the ladies were amazed at my age (21) and my knowledge of SRS and DES..their products are great (bit over priced) but i think those $100 Gillette razors are hilarious! i have bought one $100 shave set and will never spend that kinda money again!

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Originally Posted by lvbarber

I am currently employed with TAOS as a barber at the Canal Shops in the Venetian. The store carries Dovo and I believe they are all 5/8 or 6/8 half or full hollow grind. Prices vary according to handles and designs on the blades. They are all carbon steel round or spike point. When I am out front speaking with customers that are interested in straight razor shaving I find most have zero experience or knowledge. Trying to determine whether they will have the tenacity to learn to hone, strop and shave with a straight is difficult. I often refer them to a shavette like we use in the barber spa. We use 1/2 of a Gillette DE. We clean and sterilize the handles and holders after each use as well as inserting a fresh blade. At home I use cut throats and when traveling I take a Monsieur Charles. The staff up front are very knowledgeable regarding the use and benefits of the TAOS product line. I for one believe these products perform as advertised. Preparing and maintaining a straight razor for shaving is not the sales staffs forte. You may always ask a barber if available to help with the understanding that most are younger and have never delt with anything but disposable blades. I am one of the exeptions. The barbers are exeptional as are the sales consultants. Every sales consultant that is hired goes through a training program and of course there is a learning curve. Try to have understanding that you may know more about shaving than the sales consultants. I personally can hone, strop and shave but have no clue as to how to restore even a slightly damaged blade. I hope this helps clarify a few things for the laypersons out there. I believe this post to be acceptable to the context of this thread and disclosing my relationship to TAOS. Let me know if I am out of line.

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By no means, are you out of line. I had a wonderful experience with two recent trips to AOS, at two different locations. The first trip was quite rewarding, as I was able to acquire a fine brush and soap with a birthday gift card. The saleswoman there was quite friendly (attractive, of course) and was actually quite interested in wet shaving, altogether. She did disclose an experience with B&B, the first and only forum she had tried, where she told the members she was from AOS trying to learn about wet shaving in general, and they completely ebarrassed her, telling her how much they all hated AOS and they charge customers ridiculous prices and don't offer any decent services. This all, of course, was coming straight from her, so I'm not sure what 'actually' happened. Either way, it left her with a sour taste in her mouth.

Of course, I then directed her to SRP, where the members are nothing but friendly and open to all. Also, we actually have a ladies' section, which quite appealed to her.

The second store I visited during a slow part of the day and had quite a nice chat with the saleswoman over there, too. She, too, had no shaving experience outside of disposables, but had alot of sales experience through Nordstroms and such, and was quite interested in wet-shaving and introducing it to the community. Both stores, however, had alot of information about prep and skin-care, which helped me out alot.

All in all, both experiences were positive and I plan on going back!

I am a professional painter... I have several certifications from international organizations and am very well respected by the tradesmen who know me. With out trying to brag about my qualifications I am probably one of the most over educated painters you will ever come across... And I buy paint at home depot. Not all the time, but i find myself there quite frequently. Are the salesmen as qualified or knowledgeable as I am, regarding the product they are selling? Probably not.... But does that make them unqualified to sell it? It does not. When I go there I don't try to get into a urinating contest or a let's stump the salesman game... They are marketing their product to a different type of consumer than me, and I know that going in. That being said you also have to look at things outside of your own experience level sometimes. When I first went into an ZAOS store I knew nothing except I wanted to try a new experience. At that time I would classify the salesman as very knowledgeable... Now through the eyes of someone more educated, by having trolled these forums for just a short while, I am much more knowledgeable and I look at the salesmen through different eyes. While the average AOS salesmen probably don't have the experience or knowledge that many members here do.... You must remember this is a site created for enthusiasts or hobbyists , and I would venture to say that the average AOS salesman looks at his job as just a job and not necessarily a labor of love. Looking at my own experience I am grateful to the AOS salesman who sold me my first "shave ready" razor, because he introduced me to a new world that I knew nothing about. Now I probably have more knowledge about this new hobby of mine than he does regarding the products that they sell, But that does not make me any better or sully that first experience at all. When I go to AOS, just as when I go to home depot, it it not to get into a "razor" measuring contest, it is to look around, to shop or to experience. Maybe I'm still a noob but I love the store and whenever I make my way to South FL I usually stop in. It also give me an excuse to hit Teavana and indulge in another expensive but relaxing hobby of mine.

AOS got me interested in wet shaving. Me and my wife went into the one near me when they first opened and got the whole 30 minute spew on how their stuff will make my shaves much better. We bought the travel kit for $50 since the lady spent so much time with us, that night i shaved with it and my fusion and was hooked. I started looking online for de razors figuring if it was so nice to shave with fusion with this it must be even better with de. I stumbled on this site and a few weeks later i was using a straight and have never looked back. Gor christmas i got my dad the same set sandalwood next thing i knew he was tlking about getting a straight. My point is they might not know about shaving but they do have the ability to get people into wet shaving very easily.

They have an AOS by me ,you cant expect expertise on straights in this store. they have a selection of maybe three brands when I went there
and the girls job was to sell $2oo cartridge holders.There creams and stuff is there brand only and at least there's one store trying! Anyone who just out of the blue buys a str8 is going to cut them selves anyway.I'm so surprised at how many people have to learn that you can shave with water is astonishing. I grew up using a DE and my father used to get all these samples from Gillette and Schick (remember free samples?)
but through all of it remained the DE as others came and went,remember the one that wound a band of steel? any sorry about the rant-the point was that if they had 15 different kinds of straits th try from and someone to teach them-it ain't coming back strong enough to take back the market,so I applaud them for even trying. If the laws changed to just sterilizing you could have a selection,and see what you were getting into.
JMHO
Griz